Its Always Sunny On Rainy Pass

Stehekin was a wonderful stop.  I wish I had more time to spend there but Canada beckoned.  We set to leave on the early bus in the morning, and Kick, Annie (little jerry), and Buck all strategized to squeeze the maximum amount of sleep from the night, deciding to wake at the last possible moment.  They had become accustomed to operating in the final seconds of deadline and schedule.  It made things exciting, but difficult at times.  It was no longer a problem however, because Canada seemed inevitable.  There were no longer any intimidating barriers or problem spots or major concerns.  That which had been so far was now closer than ever. 

I woke earlier than the others.  I wanted to enjoy a bit of the morning on the lake so I headed over to the lodge around six.  I took a booth in the restaurant with a view of the lake and ordered some breakfast.  It was mind boggling to think that it would end soon.  I turned my mind to new projects and adventures that I could plan when I got home.  I worried about being able to find a job and readjusting to a mainstream existence. Sleeping in a bed and eating whatever I wanted should not be a tough adjustment, yet I worried anyways. 

The bus ride back to the trailhead was filled with excitement.  All of the other riders congratulated us on our having come so far and for being in a position to finish.  We stopped at the bakery again on the way out and we loaded up on muffins and cinnamon rolls.  Our final breakfasts would be the most delicious of the trail.  Having caught the bus in a rush of activity, getting their boxes from the PO and then heading straight to the departing bus, the guys had to sort their food at the ranger station where the bus route ended.  Once everything was in order we were on our way.

I took off a little faster than the others.  I wanted to get to Highway 20 as soon as possible because Mom and Dad were meeting me there with my final resupply.  The trail meandered up a river canyon for almost the entire way and I took a short break at a cascading stream to eat my lunch.  It was warm and dry, a condition fairly unique to this section.  I noticed that the trail was at such a point on the Cascade divide that traveling on the eastern side of one mountain yielded dryer thorny shrub and long-needled pines.  Traveling on the western side of the very next mountain would reveal dug firs and mushrooms, moss and greener vegetation. 

So excited I was to see my family, I had arrived over an hour early to Rainy Pass in record time.  I had average just over three miles per hour including my breaks along the way.  I eagerly awaited the arrival of my family and snacked on what I had left of the wonderful bakery stop earlier that morning.  As I went to walk around the parking lot of the trailhead and check for my folks Denise, Pamela and Brianna arrived.  It was wonderful to see them but I think I tainted the new-car-smell of Denise’s new ride by throwing my rucksack in the back.  Mom and Dad, Grandma and Uncle Tony followed a bit later and we all had a wonderful dinner in the Rainy Pass picnic area.  Kickstep, Little Jerry, and Buck followed a bit later.  They still couldn’t believe, even after all the other family filled Washington stops, that my family kept coming out to the trail with wonderful goodies for us all.  Buck felt like he was on a fully supported thru-hike now.  Then it started to get dark and family and friends departed so we retired to the other side of the highway to camp.  Some rangers warned us about an aggressive bear that frequented the picnic area.  So we pitched our tents close to one another for safety.  Rangers were always good for some unwarranted worry or concern.  No bear ever bothered us.

In the morning we all set out together.  It was a pretty uneventful day of hiking.  Of course, the scenery was amazing.  We passed quite a few weekend warriors out for a good time.  There were a couple stops to explain our curious commitment to high mileage.  The mountains here were steep and gravelly.  There were these wonderful trees that I forget the name of now, but Kick and Annie were excited about them because they also grew in Montana.  They are the only conifer to loose their needles and before doing so they turn a bright yellowy golden color.  We eventually made it to a lovely spring high in a bowl of one of the peaks.  The water was ice cold and delicious.  We were to camp fairly early for this bunch so we took the opportunity to make a campfire.  It was a lot of fun.  We rarely had time to relax in the evening so this was a treat.  We all made dinner together then bedded down for the night.  A deer persisted to eat up all the grass I had peed on before going to bed.  It kept me up for a while but I eventually found rest. 

Next was the last full day of hiking.  We wanted to put in a thirty so we would be in close position to hit the border the next day early.  There were some wonderful views that day.  We passed some long mule trains bringing supplies in for the coming deer-hunting season.  They looked very pretty and rugged from a distant but very smelly up close.  We also ran into Burney and Stacy.  It was good to see them again.  They were headed back to Harts Pass to get picked up by family.  They had just hit the boarder then turned around to hike back.  I was excited for Stacy to be getting some much-needed rest soon.  They are both super nice and it was wonderful to share in the success of a common victory. 

Soon after our little reunion there was the final climb of the whole tail.  It took us up to an unnamed mountaintop over 7000 ft.  From there it would be all down hill to the border.   We were stopping however, at a small lake to camp for the night.  It was a wonderfully small lake and there was one other camper there.  We said hi and then set camp a little ways away.  He was an older gentleman and was content to sit on a rock and gaze upon the lake for the entire time we made camp and dinner.  It was weird to think this was the last time I would use my tent for some time, and I’m glad I put it up because we received a light sprinkle from some passing clouds during the night.  Buck had to put his shelter up quickly in the dark when it started to fall. 

Kick and Annie never caught up to us that night.  We assumed they stopped on the ridge and camped there.  We rose a bit later in the morning than we had previously planned knowing they would take a bit to catch us.  We all wanted to make it to Canada together.  Shortly after packing up we heard a voice up the trail yelling, “Canada! Canada!”  It was Kick and Annie.  Annie was so excited to being finished.  She was also excited because Kickstep had used their last evening on the trail to propose.  It was a happy day.  They had had such a trying hike.  I was definitely challenged on my journey but not like they were.  Sickness, injuries, and deadlines had made the trail very difficult on them both.  But they had made it just the same, and now they had even happier things to look forward to. 

We closed the final seven miles quickly.  The anticipation building and building until we ultimately laid eyes on the monument.  It was rather meager, I thought, for such a grand trip, but it would certainly do.  We took pictures and then signed the register.  Then who would show up but Fred Laun?  He had hiked the eight or so miles in from Manning Park to see us finish.  Not only that but he brought some chocolate and pretzels and a six-pack of beer.  I’d imagine that no one else had ever had such a celebration at the border as we were having.  There we were, nine in the morning, toasting our success with a cold one. 

Eventually we had to reconcile ourselves to another 8 miles and a thousand foot climb just to top things off before reaching civilization.  When we arrived at the trailhead Grandpa and Uncle Tony were waiting for us and shuttled us to the park for lunch.  Grandma and Mom were there in the store getting some food for everyone and missed our triumphant entry but it was just exciting to be done.  I got a shower at the lodge and then we had another toast in the parking lot with the family.  It was sad to leave my friends but we had to get going back to the states. 

And just like that the Pct was over.  It was almost startling how the end or even a goal can sneak up on you.  Of course it was wonderful to be home and have a bed, good food, time to relax a bit, but the trail had provided a different kind of comfort.  There was almost a sense of security in its simplicity, in its community, in the lifestyle.  To some extent I found identity in what I was doing.  I found likeminded people and minds unlike I have ever encountered before.  There was relief in daily progress.  There was purpose in the challenges that the trail presents and shared experience endeared the other hikers to me.   The trail was special to me because of the people I met. 

Well, I hope everyone enjoyed the blog.  Thanks for taking an interest in my little trek.  Sorry for taking so long to wrap things up.  I think maybe I didn’t quite want it to end so I left the last page open as long as I could.  All good things come to and end they say, but there will surely be other trips, other adventures and new people to meet.  In the meantime I’m fortunate to have wonderful people around me now.  I’d encourage everyone to go adventure for their self, either for just the day or for the duration.  Let no reservation anchor a restless spirit. 

God bless.

The Suiattle Scoot

  We woke up in Skykomish to a cloudy blustery day.  With the rain coming down none were excited about waiting around in the weather to hitch a ride so we put a call into the Dinsmores that live up the way and gave rides to hikers.  There was a little confusion about where and when to get picked up but it was eventually sorted and we made it to the trail.  It would be a long four-day trek to Stehekin. 

We hit the trail, quickly becoming soaked as the rain began to fall.  Shortly along our way we ran into a south-bounding equestrian who’s treacherous adventure had preceded her.  The story she confirmed to us was that she was taking her two horses around the washed-out section in the Glacier Mount Wilderness on the forest service detour.   She had only been off her horse for less than a hundred yards when the trail gave way and her horses took a thousand foot fall.   She fell about 50 ft but was more or less okay.  Her horses did not fair as well.  They choppered her out of there and retrieved her gear but the horses stayed as they were.  I couldn’t believe she wanted to continue after something like that.  It was the saddest story I’d heard on the trail.  We were all concerned for her thinking of all the treacherous spots that we had just passed.  We spent the rest of the day hiking through the rain. 

The morning brought still more wet weather.  It was colder too.  We made it about six miles before we had had enough.  We all decided to pull up early by a small creek to wait out Mother Nature.  It was a long and miserable day.  I was completely soaked; wet tent, wet sleeping bag and clothes.  It was a cold soggy day.  All in all, we would spend over twenty hours in our little shelters waiting for morning.  I think I would have been warmer and generally happier if we had just hiked through it but I wanted to stay with the group.  It was encouraging to know that better weather was forecasted for the next day.  All there was to do was to make a warm meal and curl up to sleep. 

When we got moving the next day we were all feeling the pressure.  A short six-mile-day had left us far behind schedule and to make Stehekin at a decent hour we would have to move.  Aside from being a little behind we had perhaps the most beautiful day of the trip to enjoy.  The rain that had fallen on us the previous day and night had no chance to melt a thousand feet higher and when the clouds cleared from the rising sun we enjoyed a plethora of wonderful sights.  As far as we could tell it was the first snow of the season.  It was only a light dusting but it was enough to brighten the surrounding peaks.  Just beneath the snow level the foliage was changing color.  There were breath-taking shades of reds, yellows and browns below the crystal clean white snow.  We were most excited for the blue sky and eagerly waited for the day to warm so we could dry our things. 

Later in the day we decided to hike late, which I absolutely loath, so that we would be in better position to get in earlier to Stehekin.  I had only hiked the one night out of Hikertown before meeting up with Kickstep, Annie and Buck 30.  I always liked hiking early, getting my miles in, and then relaxing in camp for the evening.  But there I was, hiking into the darkness after nine pm, desperately searching for a suitable campsite.  Kickstep Annie and I lost heart early and settled for a mediocre spot and made camp.  Buck went only about 10 more minutes and found a very nice spot but we didn’t know that until morning.  I was just glad to finally be going to sleep.  The next day had quite exciting potential. 

There was a certain potential for disaster the following day.  We had to cover over 25 miles in order for the 3 0’clock Stehekin bus to be possible and it would be a 5000 + ft day of climbing.  On top of that we would also be crossing the infamous Suiattle River.  It is a long log crossing over a lot of fast moving glacial melt, impossible to climb out should some poor soul fall.  Many have advised not to walk but to scoot across the log for stability.  Annie was especially nervous, but she had made it this far and it was hard to think any of us could be stopped at this point in the journey.  

Before I continue I should probably tell a bit about Kick and Annie’s trip.  It differed greatly from my own.  They had started 3 weeks after I did on May 1^st.  I suppose they had enjoyed half of the zero days of which I indulged.  Annie had foot problems for most of the trail it sounded, and she had contracted Guardia at one point.  They had been under the gun to finish so they could make it to her brothers wedding in Omaha the third week of September.  It was a tough way to thru-hike.  There wasn’t much room for error. 

In any event, after a navigation error between some old, new and incomplete trails below Glacier Peak we were now dropping toward the mighty Suattle.  The error had cost us some time and we were meeting the river at the worst time, late in the day.  The glacier has had all day in the sun and the river would be running at its strongest when we arrived.  Closing in on the sound of rushing water, we had to navigate an enormous wash.  It was obvious that the river would not be crossed at certain times of the year.  The entire valley floor had be uprooted by the river and countless logs had been scattered throughout the gravel wash.  Fortunately, like most things it seems, the river was all hype.  It could have been forded, but wanting to stay dry Buck 30 and I eventually found the right log and walked across without incident.  Kick and Annie caught us while we were trying to locate the trail on the other side of the river.  Annie made an executive decision that they would both be scooting across the log on their butts.  Kick told us later that the conversation went like this, “I think we could walk across.”

Annie replied calmly I’m sure, “If you walk across that log I’m breaking up with you!“  They both scooted to safety. 

The evening ended with more night hiking.  Two nights in a row was rough but I really wanted to stay with the group so I bit the bullet and hiked into the night for the last time.  We had not seen anyone outside of our little group through the whole wilderness area and then happened on some other backpackers in the night.  It was very strange.  He was quite nice though, offering a flat spot right next to his tent, but not wanting to disturb more than we already had we chose another site near by. 

In the morning we took off at a break-neck pace to catch the 3’oclock bus into Stehekin.  Kick and Annie were going to shoot for the 6pm bus.  Buck and I wanted to make it in time to hit the bakery we had been hearing so much about and have time to clean up in town.  Stehekin was amazing.  High mountains shot right up out of the lake and it was littered with wonderfully old log homesteads.  Because of the rain delay earlier in the week we were getting to the bus with little food and huge appetites.  All we could think about was the Bakery.  After confirming its hours and that it was still opened we eagerly climbed aboard the bus.  We quickly grew frustrated when the bus did not leave immediately.  There were a number of other on the bus and Buck was becoming outraged when everyone wanted to stop at the waterfall for pictures, the old school house for a look, dropping people off at the Ranch Resort.  We were pulling our hair out by the time we got to that bakery.  WE finally arrived and they had everything we needed; pizza, cinnamon rolls, muffins and cookies.  The bus finally made it down to the lodge and we went over to the public bath for showers and laundry while we waited for Kick and Annie to come in on the next bus.  As if the bakery were not enough we had dinner at the Lodge before retiring to the campground down the street for the night. 

It was hard to fathom that there was only one section left.  It was a mixed emotional paradox.  There was an excitement to finish such a lofty goal but at the same time it was sad to think that such adventure could end.   We were all pleased to hear that the weather should not be a problem through to Canada.  Canada, I don’t think I had ever considered the possibility of actually getting there until it was the only objective left to reach.  My thoughts quickly turned to other adventures that would come along.  I thought Stehekin would be a really nice place to bring a canoe or if I could find other places further away that would be like it.  I thought about the friends I had made and wondered how much we would stay in touch or what their next adventure would be.  Still there was another section to complete.  No need to get all sappy just yet.  I guess there is an appropriate time for such things but it would have to wait.  For now I would just concentrate on savoring the last days. 

Back in the Backyard

We left I-90 in the afternoon. There were wildfires burning in the next section so we were taking an alternate route that would take us around the hot spots. Starting from the Alpental trailhead, we started up a sharp but short climb to Snow Lake. It was a pretty popular spot, and as it was a beautiful day, there were plenty of poeple out. The nicely groomed trail quickly gave way a few miles beyond the lake to a rugged steep brush covered path. The alternate was to shave a few miles but the nature of the trail probably evened things out timing wise. Our goal was about 10 miles and when we arive we made camp. It would be a long night.

I fell asleep after a quick dinner and slept for a few hours. I was awakened by a strong rain against the tent and if that hadn't rousted the others the following thunder certainly did. It was quite the storm. What it lacked in wind it made up for in sheer volume. I could feel the thunder in my chest. It was rather startling. After a sky splitting explosion, I thought it was the very loudest thunder I had ever heard, only to be proven wrong by the following blast. When I opened my eyes the tent repeatedly lit up with the flash of lightning. They were so close together it was impossible to count the seconds between the flash and the thunder, but it was aparent that the storm couldn't get any closer.

The morning finally came and the rain subsided. We packed up our soggy tents and complained of the extra weight we had to carry now that things were saturated. We put in about 24 miles and made it back to the PCT. We all were thankful to be back on good tread. It was pretty uneventful hiking. It was raining most of the morning and we were rather soaked. Luckily when we joined the PCT some other hikers had stopped for the day and had a fire going. It was a lovely surprise and a nice little break before moving on. Near the end of the day we found ourselves in the middle of a climb and couldn't camp exactly when we wanted to. I've been hiking later into the evening with Buck, Kickstep and Annie so I get a little cranky when camping cannot be found and the day stretches toward 8.

We wanted to wake early and get a good start, but it was a rather cold morning and we all lingered in our tents before making our move to the trail. It was a nicer day from the start and we dried our things at lunch. There were some nice climbs. 2000 ft took us over a ridge and we came out with a nice view of Glacier Peak. We'd camp within 8 miles of the pass at a lake. It would be another rainy night.

In the morning it was not raining while I ate breakfast but when I went to get out of the tent of course the drops started to fall. That made packing up a very quick operation and we were soon on our way. More climbing and Buck 30 and I had broken away from the couple. Dad was at the pass with the BBQ so we didn't take any breaks on our way to the trailhead. It was funny being back at Stevens Pass. The trail follows the chairlifts up the backside of the resort and everything was familiar to me. I told buck about a bunch of trips up to the resort and where we would go; the cat tracks and shoots and diamond runs as if he cared. Up and over the last ridge, right next to the Tye Mill chairlift, we quickly made our way down and ran into Uncle Tony as he was coming up the trail to meet us. Then my cousin Josh came around the corner and we all walked down together. There were a bunch of people there to great us. Dad had the BBQ going just like he said and we ate to our hearts content.

It was fun to see everyone. After all the festivities we made our way into Skykomish and found a hostel type place to relax and dry out. I can't believe this is our second to last town stop. We'll get to Stihekan in about 4 days and then its only another four into the boarder. Somehow, even after the whole summer and all the miles, I'm quite surprised to be this close. I don't know how a goal that I've had my eye one for more than a year could sneak up on me, but it did. I'm sure it will be all over all too soon. I'm taking every opportunity to enjoy the time I have left and I'm glad I've made some good friends in Buck 30, Kickstep, and Annie to share it with.

The Dude Abides

Finally into the final state, my spirits lifted and I hiked with a new confidence that I might actually, truly reach the Canadian boarder. The beginning of the WA trail was a slow and steady climb through some clear cuts and under power lines. The only real scenery was a look back down the Columbia River Gorge behind.

I soon caught Steve and Bethany, a couple whom had past Uncle Tony and me a couple days ago. They are both teachers and have taught across the country at different intervals which allow them to travel and participate in a number of trip and adventures between teaching gigs. Steve is a tall slender dude with a billowing low baritone voice. He grew up in South America and has wonderful stories of the people and culture of his youth. Bethany is a soft faced young women with dark hair and a warm personable presence. She's from Seattle and it sounds as if they will end up there after the hike. I really enjoyed hiking with these two. The seem to have a wonderful passion for living well and with an intention and purpose. The are both vegan so it is always interesting to see what they have for dinner. Their main staple is an Andean grain called quinwa that is high in calorie and a good source of protein. We eventually linked up with I Spy and Booty, and it became for me, a first rate education in relationships on the trail. Both couples worked wonderfully together. By now there was a system and procedure in place for cooking meals and setting up camp. Would be nice to have someone to share the work and help motivate a hiker out here. They sure brought a unique perspective to the idea of dating or marriage. It really doesn't seem too bad if you can get out and go places like these couples were doing.

So close to the end now, we all talked of other trips and hikes we would like to do. There are marathons to be attempted and triathlons to train for. Much research is needed in the areas of the Idaho Centennial Trail, paddling the Inside Passage, or trekking abroad in other countries. I exchanged contact info with Steve and Bethany in hopes of doing some cycling and running together in Seattle after the trail. They are getting off at I-90 to attend Bumper Shoot so I'll be finishing a few days before they'll get done.

We all hiked together through the Goat Rock Wilderness south of White Pass. We also saw Buck 30 and Kickstep and Annie as well. It was a challenging section with wonderful views of Rainier in the distance. We saw mountain goats and elk. The great weather and beautiful sunsets made it the most scenic area yet, I think. There was a great section, trekking on the top of a "knife blade", that is the top of a very slender ridge. It was near the end of the day and we were all trying to get off of it before dark. Booty, I Spy and I made it a little more difficult by taking the stock trail around a steep section. It only added a bit of distance and about 800 ft of climbing but we had amazing views atop of Old Snowy Mountain. Anyhow, we all made it safely off and then took off for White Pass in the morning.

I tried to be up and moving early but I never caught Buck 30. He is a wild man on town days, trying to get in as early as possible. I made it to the small store and gas station around 12:30, a good hour after Buck. Dad was there waiting for me with the resupply. Its so much fun to see family on the trail. Eventually all the couples made it into the store and we hung out eating the fried deli food in the gas station for the afternoon. There was laundry there too so that was a plus, but the only shower was a hose behind the station. I made it work. Unfortunately I Spy and Booty didn't receive their resupply box so when dad was leaving he gave them a ride to I-5 and they were going to hitch back to Cascade Locks for a trail days weekend. I was bummed to not be hiking with them anymore but we vowed to stay in touch. We all left the store around 6 and hiked in 3 miles to camp at a lake. Since it was a short trek to camp Kickstep packed in a 6-pack and we all enjoyed a cold one at dinner.

In the morning I was up and going early. I wanted to get thirty in so it would be a short hike to the cabin the next day. I was again saddened to leave Steve and Bethany behind because they were drawing out their hike to Snoqualmie, getting picked up on Wednesday the day after we would be getting, so they could get to Bumper Shoot. I saw a ton of elk that morning but it was impossible to get a picture through all the underbrush. I hope I can eventually get a good picture of the massive beasts. I hiked most of the day alone and got my thirty in. The next day I took my time making miles as I was only trying for 20. There was a cabin built by a snowmobile club that we wanted to stay at. It was on the edge a the very beautiful Government Meadows, called Camp Urich. I got in at about 4:30 and waited for my friends. Avo showed up. I thought he was ahead of us but he had taken a zero and was now catching up. Buck, Kickstep and Annie followed shortly and we all had a nice evening in the cabin with some dinner and hot chocolate.

First to get going in the morning again I spooked yet another heard of elk just beyond the meadow. Still, in the dim lighting and with all the brush I could not get a decent picture. They are quite stealthy as they move slowly through the forest grazing on branch and limb but when they are spooked they move through the undergrowth with all the grace and silence of a boulder crashing through the trees. Its quite startling when they decide to up and go. I ended up hiking a few miles extra that day on account of not finding suitable camping. I was able to get a cell signal and catch the folks to let them know what time I would be into Snoqualmie the next day. Then finally I made camp just before dark at Stirrup Creek. Town in the morning.

Up even earlier with the excitement of family and town, I set off to close the 13 mile gap. I hiked quickly through a foggy and damp forest. Clouds moved through the trees as I went up and down over the ridges. It was very muggy for how cool it was and the moisture just clung to my cloths and pack. About halfway there I spotted a wonderful sight. It one of the prettiest features that nature cannot produce, a small white styrofoam cooler. It had a trail register with it so I signed in and looked inside. There were a few sodas. I took a 5 and drank one down before continuing. Coming over the last rise to the ski resort I looked down to the highway below and left the trail to make a B-line for the Summit Inn where we all decided we would stay. Buck caught me right at the bottom of the slope and we made haste to check in. Shortly after getting showered I got a call from Grandma and Grandpa who had come to visit. After that the welcoming committee continued to pull in through the last of the morning. Mom and Dad were there. My friend Mike and Carol and Cousin Dana came. Grandma and Grandpa Rogers came and even Uncle Tony had recovered to come and visit again. Even our friend Kelly came from the Stanwood/ Camano paper to ask me questions for an article. Yeah, I'm gonna be famous. It was quite the party.

We all went down the road to a little picnic area to have lunch and hang out. It was so much fun to see everyone and they all brought wonderful food to enjoy. Its already so nice to be close to family again. We spent the rest of the afternoon together but eventually everyone had to make the drive home. After goodbyes I headed back to the room to start relaxing.

I really enjoy hiking with Buck and Kickstep and Annie. We are trying to make plans that will finish out the trail together. I'm getting excited to be finishing up soon. I have been nervous about reentering society and looking for work, but with the folks I have met on trail I've gained a confidence that I know things will work out. Whatever happens or whatever I end up doing I know I'll be happy. However you what to say it, "come what may", "thou mayst", or " the Dude abides", the details in life don't matter but the people they associate with do. Plus its more fun not knowing whats around the corner all the time.

Oregon I Bearly Knew You

After breakfast I yogied a hitch out of Sister after a bit of doing. No one was stopping after a fun weekend in the mountains, so I headed across the street to just ask for a ride at the gas station. There was a prime candidate fueling up. It was an SUV with a kayaks on tops. When I ask if he was headed over the pass to the PCT, he pointed out his two boys in the back seat and said there was no room. I told him briefly I was just trying to continue my thru-hike of the PCT and then I went back across the street to spring my trap. To leave the gas station they would have to pull up to the intersection facing me and then turn left across traffic to pass directly in front of me, so I waited. When they pulled out I put on my most desperate and pathetic, needy face but all while managing a meager smile and hoped. Sure enough, after turning they pulled onto the shoulder and said, " Ah we can make room." I was very grateful and we enjoyed a delightful round of Q and A regarding my trip during the ride up the pass.

Happily on my way again, I made great time passing many a day-hiker and the weekend warriors making their way back to the trail head after their weekend wilderness adventure. I was sad to be leaving Hop Skip but I knew I would be catching I Spy and Booty soon. At the end of the day I met Doug, a thru-hiker from the east coast and an AT vet. He kept a brisk pace and we made it to camp early. We hiked together for a few days and made good time. We constantly quoted Monte Python to entertain ourselves and fantasized about the glorious breakfast that awaited us at our next stop, Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood. I was particularly excited to get to the lodge because my grandma and grandpa were dropping off my Uncle Tony who would be hiking with me to the WA boarder. The section was mostly uneventful. The only excitement were three black bear encounters. One I didn't exactly see, but he was close. I could hear him moving through the brush away from me. The other two times the bears were also quick to run away.

The day before we were to get to Timberline, Doug and I were determined to get as close to the lodge as possible before making camp. We ended up hiking my longest day yet of 39 miles. I was exhausted but we were only 5 miles out. The next morning we were up and at it early. There was a steep climb up the south slope of Mount Hood and it would have been even shorter to the lodge but there was a huge ravine that had to be hiked up and around and then back down to the lodge. We were there before breakfast was even being served and we were first in line to get some. It was quite a feast. There was fresh squeezed orange juice, waffles, eggs, bacon, sausage, the works. We sat and ate several helpings a piece and finished by the time the family drove up.

After the long day before, I was looking forward to hiking with my uncle and scaling back the mileage for a bit. The trail just skirts around Mount Hood with great views of Mount Jefferson from which I had just hiked. We put in about 10 miles after breakfast and made camp. The next two days were a cool 15 miles a piece and we took a recommended alternate route to the Columbia down Eagle Creek. It was a gorgeous trail. It followed the creek as it winds toward the mighty Columbia but it was on a ledge for a bit of the time, high above the running water below. There were wonderful waterfalls, even one you could walk behind. When we got to the trail head Wolfman was waiting there for some hikers. He was hoping another thru-hiker could take him up to a trail and then slack his car back to the trail head. Tony wasn't to excited about the final 3 miles into the town of Cascade Locks so he drove him up there and then when the folks got into town, they were able to grab him from the trail head after the car was back. Then we were finally at the Bridge of the Gods.

The Bridge of the Gods is the bridge from Cascade Locks into Stevenson, crossing into the last state of the trip. It was a huge milestone, but there were other reasons to be happy to be so far. My friends Zach and Rachel that live in Gresham were able to come out to visit and Marc and Nicole even made the drive down from Seattle. Its been amazing to make new friends on the trail but it is very special to have old friends come out to visit. We had a great time in town. We swam in the Columbia and then had dinner at the Walking Man brewery in Stevenson. We spent the night back across the river in Cascade Locks. I couldn't believe that after spending three months in California, Oregon was over in a matter of weeks. The next morning we had breakfast and then in was back to the trail. Dad slacked my pack across the bridge and we walked together back into the home state.

Oh the Possibilities

So Mom, Dad and Andrea dropped me off at Mazama Campground where I had left off and started the long drive home. I missed them immediately. As I've said before, its the miles just following a visit from a loved one that can be the toughest. Being so close to the finish does make it a little easier. Even though its been a bit colder in Oregon I feel a little more comfortable now that I'm back in the Northwest.

That afternoon I made the quick climb from the campground to Crater Lake's south rim. As I made my way through the trees, I noticed a rather large deer grazing in a small meadow. Just as it was noticed, its head snapped to attention upon my arrival. It quickly turned and sped up the slope through the underbrush and as it did I realized it was not a deer at all. It was quite obviously a cow elk. Furthermore, as it retreated, though they were not seen through the thick forest foliage, the sound of many more of its friends could be herd charging up the same hill. Hard to tell just how many there were, but I would guess it to be about a dozen from the mighty rumble the stampede made.

We had just completed a full drive around the lake with the family but to walk up over the rim into plain view of such a massive watery expanse was incredible. I'm not sure if its allowed but I made a nice camp on the crux of the rim. I made an effort to hide myself in the shelter of a few trees just in case some overzealous rangers were working late. After a few pictures I bedded down for the night, sure to be up in time for sunrise the next morning.

Camped on the southwestern side of the rim the sun rose directly across the Lake to me. Sleeping a bit through my alarm, I awoke to the sky already bright with an orange horizon, slowly dulling as the sphere rose higher from the dawn. The far rim of the lake hung silhouetted against the oncoming glow and its waters below a deep and chilly blue. I took my time breaking camp and didn't get hiking until the last of the morning's performance was over.

The miles went quickly as I dropped elevation from the tall rim. Though the next section to Willamette Pass was quite level, as far as PCT miles are concerned, they would prove to be rather treacherous in their own right. The trail to highway 58 connects countless small lakes and ponds. Mosquitoes by the swarms stalked one's every move. The miles accumulated quickly because breaks were cut rather short on account of being so molested by the tiny vampires. It was easiest to just keep moving. On my own again, I set my own pace and schedule. I found that I enjoyed waking early and hiking in three hour increments. Most three hour stints took me just shy of ten miles and with one morning break I could have as many as 17 or 18 mile in by the time I broke for lunch. A somewhat arduous morning pace was rewarded by a leisurely evening with time even for a bit of reading. I'm embarrassed to say that I've been carrying the same novel since Kennedy meadows, some two months ago. With the miles flying by, I quickly found myself near Willamette Pass where I put into Shelter Cove Resort for some food and showers that came at a resort price but I got something even better for free; Friends!

Shelter Cove was a nice little resting spot. It was right on the west shore of the grand Odell Lake near the top of the pass. As I sat sorting my newly washed clothes and stuffing my rucksack with food another hiker strolled into the resort. The kid had style. Sporting an oil slicked felt hat with a few feathers in the band, bandanna around the neck but falling to the side over the shoulder, he had custom wooden trekking polls with leather handle straps and wore his sheet of bug netting around his waist like a sash to pull his pack tight against his back. His name was Cody and he had put on to the trail at Crater Lake and was section hiking up to Portland where he is from. Cody impressed me and inspired me. I came to find out that along with his custom trekking polls he also sewed and stitched the pack he carried along with his tarp tent that doubles as a poncho. I wish I could be that handy and have resolved myself to becoming so. I was delighted that we would be hiking on together for the next few days.

We left the resort late that afternoon and made it about 7 miles beyond the pass to a cabin shelter maintained by the forest service. We took up camp there for the night and shared it with some other Oregon section hikers. There was Mace, Gwen Bug, and Wildman all of whom were delightful company. Later just before we were turning in I Spy and Booty came in to join us. They are a young couple from Colorado and are hiking on through to Canada as well. I've had a ton of fun hiking with these three. Great conversation, joking, and new lives and personalities to learn about make for really pleasant miles. After the cabin we were spread out along the trail the next day and camped in various spots. I was up early the next day and being a little low on food, I put into Elks Lake Resort for a meal and a few snacks. I made the 8 miles by a little after 8 a.m. The only problem was that the restaurant didn't open until ten. It started to rain so I wasn't going anywhere and I took up refuge on their deck under canopy. With my rarely read novel in hand, I was ready to wait them out.

I didn't get too far into the pages before Billy Goat sauntered up to the Deck. He had just beat the heaviest of the rain. I had run into Billy Goat a number of times on my trip. He jumps from section to section and, as I learned, hikes pretty much year round. At 70 years of age he bookends the age spectrum and is quite the trail celebrity. An article about him was front page of the LA Times at one point and every hiker knows him. I reintroduced myself to him and we chatted until the diner finally opened. As it did and we took our seats Cody, I Spy and Booty arrived and we all enjoyed a delicious meal out of the rain. With a gloomy day in progress we took our time leaving and only made 15 or so more miles that day. We all camped together at a small lake and took off at different intervals in the morning. I made my way out to the front of the pack but it wouldn't be that last time I would see them.

That day I was headed for Big Lake Youth Camp on the other side of highway 242. It was about 28 miles away and I wanted to get there for dinner so I wasn't wasting any time. Even at a brisk pace I had to stop frequently to take pictures of such a unique and impressive landscape. We were passing the Three Sisters mountain peaks. We couldn't exactly see the peaks for they were obscured by clouds but beneath them lay a vast and treacherous volcanic landscape. Huge fields of volcanic rock stretch down toward the valleys below. They reach for miles until the forest finally bleeds onto the rocky soil. Uphill from the trail not a single shrub rises from the rugged and solid formations. I couldn't help but think of the massive forces lurking below that could have created such an amazing scene. Though the volcanic mountains of the Cascade Range are barely half the height of the mighty Sierra Nevada, they posses a power, an intimidation that the Sierra lack. Walking over the sharp pumice and obsidian rock I wondered what manor of plant or animal lies berried beneath and how many times such violence has come to pass in the lifetime of these mountains. It is very much a beautiful danger but a danger none the less.

Through the ever present geological danger, I managed to navigate the lava fields and arrive at the youth camp safely before dinner was served. The staff set me up with a visitors pass and I was able to get showered and wash my clothes. Unfortunately my resupply box did not arrive so I arranged for it to be intercepted in the Town of Sisters and I would pick it up there the next day. Cody, I Spy and Booty never caught me that day. They had either pulled up early or hitched to Sisters from the closer highway. I had dinner amidst a mass of campers in a very loud and very crowded mess hall. There were a couple other hikers there too. Donuts, a young man just out of college from Puyallup as well as Easy Rider and Snow Berry, two section hikers from Oregon finishing their home state.

The next morning I was up early again and closed the 6 mile gap to Highway 20 by 7:15 am. The cars were moving rather quickly, probably on their morning commute to Bend, but I did manage a hitch without much of a wait. Dan was on his way into Sisters to see about a pair of kayaks he was looking to buy and stopped to help me into town. He was super nice and very impressed with my hike. The excitement people have for the trip is very different in the Northwest than in California. Californians seemed to be amazed at the entire feat in general, while Northwesterners seem to be excited at the prospect of one day doing it themselves. It was fun to talk about outdoorsy exploits. He is a transplant to Oregon from Vermont if I remember right. He had hiked some of the AT but enjoyed the west coast much more. He dropped me in town at the best breakfast spot where I was reunited to Cody who was now Hop Skip for he sometimes jovially skips and bounces on some of the downhills. Sure enough the three of them had hitched into town from the 242 where I had had lunch the day before. Cody was staying in town another night so decided to stay too after my box did not arrive in town either. I spent the day resupplying at the super market and filling my body with calories; pizza, soda, hot fudge sundae. I Spy and Booty left around noon and Easy Rider and Snow Berry arrived and share the room with us because the place was booked up otherwise.

I'll make tracks in the morning after breakfast. The next stop is Timberline Lodge where I'll be meeting my uncle who is hiking to Cascade Locks with me. I can't wait to see him and I'm so excited to be so close to the final state of the trip. Oregon has been wonderful. The trail has been great. The people have been amazing and the weather has held off for the most part. Its a little scary because my mind has been wandering lately, thinking of other trips that may be exciting and skills that I would like to learn. The trip has become an exercises in possibility. But possibilities are nothing really, neither possible or impossible until they are reached for with bold attempts. Whether these will bring success or failure is not known but hardly important. For they will inevitably bring stories, experience or better yet; relationship.

Into Oregon

We had a bit of trouble leaving Etna. Ther isn't a large commuter pool in a town of 700, but we were finally saved by the Mayor of Etna himself. He was just on his way up to the summit to get away from all the stresses of civil administration, and after a very winding and steep twelve mile drive we were back on the trail in the heat of the afternoon.

Wild Child and I quickly left Atlas behind. He hikes at a slower pace do to his unique walking stick. A gymnast in real life, he ducked taped two four foot sticks of rebar to keep his arms in shape, but the stick must weigh 15 lbs. The two of us pulled up at a lake about 12 miles along. We made dinner and then Atlas caught us in time to go for a swim before bed. It’s always nice to go for a dip before crawling into your sleeping bag.

The next day we passed a number of people on horseback with pack mules. They’re always interesting to see but the animals take a toll on the trail. One man, by the name of Bronze, had a pack mule and was using only equipment available to backcountry travelers in the 1800s. He had wool blanket bedding, buckskin trousers, wooden framed stock saddle, and only moccasins to protect his feet from the trail. He said it is a trough way to travel as anyone could imagine but he was enjoying the experience and he was only going from the Oregon border to Big Bear.

The following day was spent losing a lot of altitude and a gaining a lot of heat. It was a long decent down to the Klamath River just a bit over 1000 ft and well over 100 degrees. There was a long road walk to the store and the post office once the trail came to the bottom of the valley. I passed a few old country houses with barn and garden out front. The property around one such house retained a strong and interesting fragrance about their vegetable garden that seems to be very prevalent in some of the rural mountain communities the trail passes through. Along the highway there were countless black berry bushes growing into the lanes and other hikers reported seeing a black bear enjoying them right from the road. I didn’t see any bears but I did see the largest four point buck I’d ever seen on the walk into town.

Beautiful Mt. Shasta

The town of Seiad Valley consists of only a few houses and a café, small store, and post office all in the same building. Seiad is home to the famed pancake challenge. I knew I had made the right decision not to partake when I saw Atlas attempt the feat. It is five one pound pancakes, and most thru-hikers can barely eat half the stack. It was terribly hot and we all took refuge from the heat at the RV park next door that let us use their showers and sit inside their office with our ice-cream from the store. We decided to not start the 5000 ft climb out of the valley until 7pm. Unfortunately it was still almost 100 degrees when we left but as we gained in altitude we reached a light breeze and conditions quickly became manageable at the very least. I had left Seiad with Too Obtuse and Buck Thirty. We had a good time giving each other a hard time about just about everything. Obtuse is a veteran of the AT from New Hampshire and had hiked the PCT in 04 with $1.30. I quickly became familiar with personalities of the 04 hike from the many stories they reminisced over. $1.30 grew up in Rochester but was now living Pacific Beach just a few minutes’ drive from where I had been living in Ocean beach. We spent hours talking of all the places we missed around San Diego and, I think, drove Obtuse to a desperate boredom of our conversation. It was a relatively short hike into Ashland from there. The second day out of Seiad we finally left the confines of the great state of California. The trail had stretched and meandered for almost 1700 miles in this, the first state on the trip and the cross into Oregon was a great relief, making us feel as if we could very well make it into Canada after all. Our high spirits were quickly tested however, as a violent thunder and lightning storm welcomed us to Oregon on our first night in the state. Just as we had made camp and climbed in our tents it began to rain. The thunder grew louder and louder and at a point there were lightning flashes every few seconds. The rain turned to hail that quickly grew to the size of marbles. Luckily the tent held its ground and I stayed warm and dry, but I didn’t sleep particularly well.

Headed toward Oregon and then on to Washington.

Nick and Too Obtuse

It was a pleasant and uneventful trek into Ashland. We were fortunate to get a hitch right away. Thomas picked us up in his Toyota pickup and was more than helpful with explaining the layout of his fine town. He was a free spirit in transition, moving from the large metropolises of downtown Ashland a few miles away to the house he had just completed in the hills surrounding the town. Ashland did feel like a larger city after the last two town stops could not muster more than 1000 residence in the both of them combined. We ate lots of food and watched Blazing Saddles on cable in the motel. At the library we met Chuck Norris and Tigger, two PCT hikers that were taking turns hiking the trail this year and giving rides and help to other hikers in town. We got a ride to the trailhead from them the following day. Every hikers they meet signs their van, so we all made our mark and then made our way up the trail.

I was anxious to make miles, because my parents would be meeting me at Crater Lake so the family could go to a wedding in Salem. Dad had been able to make the drive all the way to Lone Pine for a short visit but the fam had not been together for a long time and I had been missing my mom and sister quite a bit, plus weddings are always good for some tasty chow and dancing. The day we left Ashland we pushed it to Hyatt Lake 25 miles away and took advantage of good camping and showers before turning in. The next day we were up early and I put in the longest day yet. Trying to get in as early as possible in the day that I was meeting mom and dad, I put in 35 miles. The plan was to make another 35 the following day but I was ready to shut things down after 30 which left 15 to Crater Lake the following day. I made it to Crater a little after noon and met the folks. It was so nice to see them and after getting cleaned up and a bite to eat we headed for the wedding. It was nice to see Andrea, my sister up from Mexico to fulfill her duties as Maid of Honor. It was weird putting on some nice slacks and a clean shirt for the wedding. I even shaved my dirty facial hair off to complete the look of a normal person who might live in an actual house or have a job.

Hanging Out at the Wedding.

I had a lot of fun at the wedding and driving around Oregon with the family. I’m excited to keep hiking now that I’m on through to the second state in the trip. I know I still have about 900 mile left but it really feels like I’m getting close. I’ve had a couple days off so I’m curious to see who will be hiking around me this time and if I can catch up to my friends. I’ll be so excited to continue some high mileage and get into the home state. Hopefully the weather will hold for us and we won’t hit too much rain. The towns start getting a little more spread out from here. Just a few more stops till WA and then there are only five more resupply stops till Manning Park BC. The end is slowly approaching, but its just a reminder to enjoy what I have while I have it. I’m still eager to see what each day will bring with each challenge and blessing.

Dropping Nick back off at Crater Lake

Crater Lake