The North Fork of Big Pine Creek is a popular backpacking route in the summertime, but now in the fall there was almost nobody on the trail. I did it as a run, hoping to make it to Sam Mack Meadow and at least 3 of the 7 lakes.

Not far from the trailhead, the trail splits into South Fork and North Fork. I'd been up South Fork a couple of times , but this was my first time going to North Fork and I was excited.

I made it up to Third Lake after a couple hours, and turned onto the Glacier trail toward Sam Mack Meadow. Another few hundred feet of climbing led me to the meadow, which was beautiful but very windy.

I filled up my water bottle here and retraced my steps back to 3rd lake. Since it was still early in the day and I felt pretty good, I continued on toward Fourth, Fifth Lakes, and Black Lake before making a loop and heading back to the trailhead.

I have been working on my cardio this year and it was nice to see that pay off here. Normally the high elevation would have destroyed me but this run felt okay!