Snuffy’s 2013 Pacific Crest Trail August 8

Up and on the trail by 6am again today, high hopes for another smooth day. Not so, the trail threw us some obstacles!

We started with a steep climb out of Deep Lake with amazing views of the ridge line and water cascading down from Circle Lake. The sunrise lit up Cathedral rock but it turned the heat on early.

Then, about 9:30am I came to a “potentially hazardous” river crossing. It’s marked on the map and there is a 15 mile detour but I wasn’t worried as plenty of hikers had already managed to cross it. I came around a corner and could hear the roar.

Looking down as I approached, I knew we were in for some adrenaline!  As I got closer, I noticed a couple on the other side who either were beginning to cross or had just finished. It was clear they were stalled, so I sat down and ate breakfast to wait for Barb so we could cross together.

The trail crossed the river, but it splits so there are two areas to cross. No way to do it without getting wet. The couple took about 20 minutes to cross the second part, I hoped to learn from them!

I realized the first part was relatively easy, slow moving where the trail crossed, and the second part must be more tricky. So I waded through and waited in the middle for Barb. What a divine place to stop. The sound of the rushing water, the sun shining down, and a cool place to soak the feet.

Barb arrived and quickly made it across the first part. She was about to put her shoes back on when I told her we had a second part to traverse. The water came down and makes it so you have to cross then quickly climb up the side of rock to the trail. I was glad to have Barb there, she made it easy. I remember when we did the hike from Rainy Pass to Stehekin and there was a a river to cross. We all took the skinny suspension bridge but she put on her Crocs and forded the stream!

I ran into the couple a bit later, Seth and Cindy (or the Honeymooners because she says she yells at him a lot). They had struggled at the river, crossing at the wrong spot and having to share their one pair of flipflops.

It is more apparent on this section of the trail the amazing forces at work in the woods. The trail is a living, breathing thing. Twisted trunks of trees, huge root balls taking up sections of trail, water crossing at it’s will, sides of trails washed into ravines, and huge boulder fields. Many dry stream crossings, defined by trail work. You can almost hear the memory of water as you hop across the dry rocks.

I don’t want you to think that I judge the other hikers I meet, I’m amazed at the wide range of folks on the trail. Today, however, I must mention a set of gentleman I encountered. I call them the 2 Machos and a Friend. If it is possible to be a Bull in A China Shop in the woods, these guys were it.

I was sitting relaxing at the junction for Marmot Lake, when they came up from a side trail. They threw their packs down with bravado and huffed and puffed as they ate, applied bug spray and tied sweatbands on their heads. It all made sense when they mentioned they were personal trainers. It explained why as one pulled out his almonds, he offered them to his friends along with the nutrition data information. They were proud of their heavy looking packs (“We have air mattresses for floating the lake!”). They poo paahed our little long distance packs. Hee, hee.

Although I passed my 300th miles today, it was a hot draining day. We made it to Deception Lakes with a shorter 12.5 mile day.  We shared the lakes with a 30 day trail crew. It was a good place to stop as the trail begins a steep ascent up to Pieper Pass here. However, it meant an 18 mile day tomorrow to make it out at Stevens Pass. Barb’s loving husband will be waiting for us!

First post: Snuffy’s 2013 Pacific Crest Trail Journal July 20 & 21, previous post: Snuffy’s 2013 Pacific Crest Trail Journal Aug 7.  Look to next Thursday for more of my journey on the Pacific Crest Trail!

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