We left our beautiful settings at Merced Lake to begin what would be our longest day of hiking - 15 miles. Knowing that it took us 6 hours to go 9 miles two days before, we wasted no time in getting off early. One more view of Merced Lake, and we headed out on what would be a very different day of hiking.  Two mule deers greeted us as we picked up our trail beside the Merced River.