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…

Anything for a little manufactured suspense! And by the time Mark could get the warning out of his mouth, Genie would be (literally) eaten… or at least taken under with a dramatic body roll…

But this is the Trailverse, where laws of time and space sometimes take a back seat to expedience…

This appears to be the (aptly named) Mugger Crocodile...

OK, I’ll say it. Those eyes. Or lack of… I mean, what’s the deal, here, James Allen? I get that these local folks, but really? You might be willing to give them some eyes with which to see…

…not if they see you first! Haha!

“Spring Water?” Uhmmm… it’s more like melted snow water, but okay… As Mark calls out to Genie like she’s a furlong away… She’s taking no chances as she heads to the stream with oversized walking staff in hand…

Mark, you passive-aggressive goon… So the Good Doctor has a little hitch in his giddyup, and this is what you want to know about? With Genie? How clumsy.

It’s apparent that Mark is still not very happy about his assignment…

…with Dr. Camel huffing and puffing along, Mark gets in a good smirk.

I will say this, though… Mark has new facial expressions now.  I don’t think I have seen that on before…

Riveting, I tell you!  imply riveting!

While the Yak/Cattle Hybrid (Dzo is much easier to say…) looks on, Dr. Camel has grabbed the tiller and called curfew!  As usual, it’s a regular tent-city, replete with full-height wall tents that magically appear, since there is no way that much canvas could have been stored in the backpacks… Time, space and the laws of physics have no dominion in the Trailverse!

Higher elevations!  Which means we will now get to see what cold-weather gear Mark has brought!

As Mark holds forth using his vast knowledge of hybrid species, Dr. Camel sits gobsmacked at the thought of Genie climbing into her sleeping bag…  err… sack.

What have we learned so far?  That Nepal is largely temperate until one gets to elevation,  Sherpas are still available for hire, the flora and fauna are almost jungle-like, One-horned Rhinos are easily perturbed, Cattle mate with Yak, Mark has but one outfit that he wears every day, and that Dr. Camel is a fraud.  Can’t wait to see what tomorrow will bring!