#ThrowbackThursday
This is part of a series of journal entries I have made while section hiking the Pacific Crest Trail since 2013 over on Trailjournals.com. I am moving them here to Must Hike Must Eat and updating them with photos (and maybe fixing typos). Look for them on Thursdays or you can head over to Trailjournals.com and read as many as you would like!
http://www.trailjournals.com/journal/entry/429541
Okay, Mission Make It Out. We woke up at 4am and started up the slope before the sun was up. The beauty of getting up this early, the bugs aren’t up yet! We passed Seth and Cindy who had found a nice campsite at the top looking down into a crystal blue lake.
The night before I had eaten everything I could in my pack, leaving only enough food to make it out. I told myself, I would Yogi food from anyone who offered. To “yogi” is to act like “Yogi the Bear”, basically sly pity-seeking opportunity begging.
At the second pass we climbed, I met another couple and scored some hard candy and homemade coleslaw. The hiker told me it was an old Boy Scout recipe she found and it was delish. I did pass on an offer of Top Ramen. Have to draw the line somewhere.
I finally ran into Meander, another old hippie on the trail, well known in the PCT hiker community. His entries have been in the registers I have seen at my stops along the trail, always a day or so ahead of me.
I stopped at Mig lake and he had just finished a little swim and break. He asked me about my journey and when I told him I was doing the Washington section, he said, “A fellow PCT hiker, come give me hug!” We chatted a bit about his adventures so far (he had some of his maps stolen at the Camp Muir cabin).
He, also, asked me, “Do you smoke pot?” When I told him I didn’t (there was only that one time in college), he said, “Okay, I won’t show you where I hid a stash for PCT hikers.” Seems to be a running theme here…
I also had another revelation as I was relaxing by Mig lake. As I stared down at my 3 week shirt and all it’s dirt stains, I realized I have not spilled food on myself ONCE this whole trip. An amazing feat since in my everyday life, I manage to spill something on myself as a daily basis. Especially as I am getting ready to go out the door in the morning.
We pressed on, passing the deep blue waters of Lake Josephine and stopping for a break at Lake Sally Ann. We were there by 4pm with 4 miles to go. However, we were both exhausted and knew these last miles would be slow. You have to go up and over the ski lifted and powerlined hills of Stevens Pass and back down again to the trailhead.
It was hot, the trail was lined with distracting (but yummy) wild blue blueberries but with a little help from some Snickers bars we made it up and over to our destination by 7pm, well ahead of our expected 8pm or later.
I was so proud of Barb, eeking out 18 miles was an amazing challenge. Of course, knowing that Phil was waiting for her was a mighty powerful incentive. They have an enviable, God graced relationship. When she texted him we would be late, he said he would “wait a year for you”.
Phil arrived shortly after, meeting us at the steps of the resort. After taking some “after” pictures, we headed down the pass towards home. They dropped me off in Gold Bar at my friend Candace’s house, as I intend to go home via Canada!
After a shower, Candace made me a divine steak, potato, sauteed mushroom and pepper dinner (I’m no vegan) and blissfully floated off to sleep. I guess there were thunderstorms, but I didn’t hear a thing…
First post: Snuffy’s 2013 Pacific Crest Trail Journal July 20 & 21, previous post: Snuffy’s 2013 Pacific Crest Trail Journal Aug 8. Look to next Thursday for more of my journey on the Pacific Crest Trail!
Editor’s note: Phil passed away in a climbing accident in the Olympic Mountains in 2020. He was on a trip that included his daughter, Barb was not on the climb but nearby. My heart still breaks to think about it.
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