The Trail That Splits at Grouse Ridge

In the summer of 2014, two friends set out to hike the Pacific Crest Trail through Washington's Glacier Peak Wilderness. They had planned the trip for months — shared maps, divided gear weight, synchronized food drops. But on day three, standing at the junction near Grouse Ridge, one wanted to push twelve more miles to make up time. The other insisted on stopping to filter water and rest a swollen knee.…