And we are back. Sorry Campers, took a little time off in the Desert Southwest, where, oddly enough, it was chillier than my current home state of MN! What an upside-down world we live in, huh?

Well, the sniping continues, much to Genie’s dismay:

Below we find Mama Bear giving lessons to her cub: Stay the hell away from those upright walking beasts, that is unless yo want a face full of mace…

… a Selfie! HA HAW! That’s a pretty good one, Mark! Note the last line, though, we haven’t seen Mark pull out his camera once!! There has been no attempt by Mark to catalogue any experiences thus far!

… as the trap is baited and set…

Sprung! Mark has really figured out how to get under Camel’s hump, hasn’t he?

*****

OK, now for something completely different. I recent switched up papers in my daily routine and discovered this gem: Zippy the Pinhead. Or just “Zippy” for short. I am guessing that the “Pinhead” reference had to go in the day and age in which we live…

I love the references that are made regarding the struggles of maintaining a daily strip, so-called “Sequential Art.”

“Lumbago Masterfile!” HA HAW!

I’m guessing that there isn’t a cell tower within a 5 day ride from where they are now… so it must be a Smart Sat Phone… do those even exist? It would seem the answer is no…

Cryptozoology is a thing, though… I stumbled onto this the other night- a dude Named Nick Redfern, noted UFO-ologist to boot… His credentials are deep… One need only spark curiosity and intrigue and find an audience…

Or wait, maybe we did see a Tiger? And a Rhino, and a Hippo… I lose track, honestly…

Just a lot of random, manufactured drama…

And yes, darn good on you, Pemba, for having your Bear Mace holstered and ready for use! Beats digging around in your pack (now where did I put that?!) while Dr. Camel is getting crushed and mauled…

No, one can’t, can one? Well, pheeeewww… that was a close one!!

Nerves on the Trail are wearing thin… HA HAW… See what I did there?? Nerves on the TRAIL? That’s a joke, son… But with Mark looking sheepish, Harvey only looks peeved… And why do we need to see Mark’s left hand and forearm in panel one? Was anyone afraid that maybe his extremities are gone?

Like Linus in the Pumpkin patch, or Ralphie on Christmas Eve… You just gots to BELIEVE! All while live streaming…

A shed? Mark, your White Western Sensibilities are showing… I’m guessing that this was A HOUSE- who has the wherewithal or the resources to build a SHED in these parts? And what would they put in it, anyway?

But what’s behind door #3, Johnny? Why, it’s not that random dude dressed like grandma sitting in an oversized rocking chair … (according to Mark) it’s a Himalayan Red Bear! Which appears to be about 20 feet tall! And Pissed off! Good lord. Despite the suddenness and force of the appearance of the Bear, decimating what is left of the “shed,” Mark is able to make a full ID, and Sherpa #2 is able to calmly declare what he has on his person that might be of use in this situation…

Poor Mark…

He is trapped on an expedition with a quack Doctor (no, not that kind…) who so far has the distinction of having zero emotional intelligence and a laugh that literally adorns the world’s highest peaks…

…and after ten years or more, even Genie is starting to question her choices, things that have led her to this point in her life…

What is it they say? (whoever ‘they’ are…) When you only have a hammer, then every problem looks like a nail… When you are convinced that Yeti are everywhere, except where you can see them, then every answer you seek has something to do with them… I think the technical term for this phenomenon is ‘Confirmation Bias…’

OK, two things… Mark Trail of old would have verbalized his internal monologue… not have us reading his thoughts…

And… a Lawyer? Really? That would mean you would have to actually work, Mark. I could see you as an employee of the Forest Service, as you are used to being taken care of… Government work would be more to your liking…

Nice Shooting Star in Panel 2!

As Mark sits up in his cot…

…and stands outside his full-height wall tent…he wonders what that sound is!

Yes! Quickly! Grab your six-D-cell Maglight! The one that doesn’t add much weight to your pack! Because that wouldn’t scare anything off!!

It’s a rock! Ha! Mark, you dummy. You really had yourself going, didn’t you? At least you can keep this to yourself, should you choose to…

And a Toddy of some sort? Seriously. What are they going to do at altitude? Maybe stumble onto a yurt or two?

No, you wait, Mark Trail… Where’s the typical “What Th-?!”

There are NO Feelings in the Trailverse! But apparently Dr. Camel has some- for the YETI!

But there is sexism… “wears a girl out fast?” Really? And good heavens, honey… in these harsh conditions, how on earth are you to keep your coiffure in order?

As personal wall tents (except for the Sherpas, presumably, who are doubling up…) appear out of nowhere, we are left to wonder whether there is a supply line tucked conveniently off-camera, providing for the traveling party’s every need, including that disposable plastic bottle of water is Genie’s hand…

I see a roaring campfire, too, but fueled by what? Again, the supply caravan with loads of split and seasoned firewood? While we are invited to join Mark Trail on his latest “adventure,” it would be nice to not be constantly assaulted by illogical and inconsistent images. Assuming that anyone who shows even a passing interest in this strip might have spent some time on the trail him- or herself, one is left to wonder whether James Allen ever has…

…and seemingly without gear…

I am picking up a deep-seated envy from Dr. Camel… despite his command of Social Media, and Mark’s relative lack of interest in it, he is picking up on the fact that Mark Trail is a household name- and international brand.

… that is unless you know about Microsoft and their efforts to help track and identify the Snow Leopard using technology…

Genie, wasn’t it you who warned Mark that it was going to be cold once at elevation? Mark, why do you feel it necessary to continually point out the obvious? And dear reader, do you realize that we are already in our 4th month of this story arc?

As we go from Red to Blue…

Let’s hope there were supplies available! At least there were beds (cots, anyway…) and a change into matching blue jumpsuits! How awesome!

I have trouble reading all of Mark’s new facial expressions… Is he surprised? Happy? Who knows…

Oh my… Mark’s disdain for Harvey Camel is on full display now!

But that’s only until Mark goes into pure PSA mode (Public Service Announcement)

Good advice, Mark. I doubt it will do any good in this case… Harvey is hooked on clicks views!

The Ram in the foreground is looking about as excited as I am feeling about this story line…

As the rumble dies out, we are left to take stock of any damage…

Brought to you by the latest sounds, Crunch and Krump. And the afrementioned disappearing backpacks…

…just waste ink…

How much longer will we be subjected to this?

…again. But that’s nothing new… Mingma, apparently the head Sherpa, regards Mark’s observations and concerns with requisite ennui…

…as we go from dry to wet in a blink. Not to mention what appears to be a tidal wave of biblical proportion rising in the background…

Prepare to get wet(ter) and cold(er,) everyone. What’s a little hike without running into Mother Nature?

As Mark continues to suggest the obvious, look at Mingma’s eyes! They open!! What Th-?!

…and walking…

It will be amazing to see them all don extreme weather gear, as if it was being stored in their tiny packs.

As Mark and Genie continue to tolerate the boorish Dr. Camel, the looks on their faces reveal their true feelings… but Genie has been with the good Dr. “for years…” How is it she is finding this emotion only now?

A little foreshadowing. Someone is going to take a tumble. <ho-hum…>

And I thought Mark was the socially obtuse one!

Dr. Camel is proving to be an absolute monster! And another new facial expression for Mark! Wow, I have never seen such disgust! Usually reserved for poachers and polluters, Mark has found a new nemesis, one who is content to poach time and pollute minds…

Should have seen this coming… All the world is an internet stage, and Dr. Camel is one of its stars… at least in his mind…

The world of the You-tuber, the fact that this is an actual and viable career choice these days… is a phenomenon that probably very few saw coming until it was already happening. The Influencer… working for clicks, tracking actual consumer likes and dislikes, with laser precision. Measurements we could only have guessed at in the days of Radio and Television advertising… The world is littered with click-bait. News-gathering entities less about the truth and more about sensationalism, the hot take- more about getting people to click through to the story, only to come face to face with a pay wall. Get used to it, I guess…

As Mark Springs into action, complete with a full load weighing him down…

…all he can bring to this party is his oversized walking stick… Whack Ka-Whack? Who the hell are we channeling? Fozzie Bear??

Unlike the African adventure when we met “Dirty” Dyer, and Mark saved the porter using a flaming branch… Who knew that Hippos respond to English commands? I guess if it works for T-Rex, then it would work for a Hippo…

But seriously folks, check out the artwork from 2016 compared to now. There is no comparison. It’s like we have been saying… James Allen has grown tired and is mailing it in…