#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/428584
Destination: Snoqualmie Pass
Today’s Miles: 21
Start Location: mile 2329
Trip Miles: 195
Woke up and left camp about 7:15am. Beautiful morning walk up to Chinook Pass, lots of bright meadow blooms!
I know that my words and pictures can help give you an idea of how beautiful it is here. I was telling Dreamlaugher I wish there was a way to share the smells as well. Scents to rival anything Yankee Candle could put out: Mountain Flower Bouquet, Crisp Clean Rain, Alpine Forest Evergreen, and Worst Homeless Person Ever. Wait, what would be more PC? Hmm, Ode de Human. Sometimes I think I smell a horse coming up the trail and then I realize it’s just me. I feel sorry for my family I am about to see.
Got to the rest stop about 8:45, passed a few early morning day hikers. Didn’t wait long and my brother and his wife Liz arrived with my resupply and a different pair of shoes. Also switched out my filter for the Steripen.
After a short visit, I was back on the trail. My brother Bob hiked into Sheep Lake with me, then back out. Liz gave it a good effort (they are both active and hikers) but she’s due with their first child any day, so well, she made it a bit up the trail for a view.
Most of this next section runs along the sides of the mountains and over saddles of passes so the views were nice. That is, until noon or so when the clouds rolled in. No need for pictures so I made it to 2350 and camped for the night. Other than the day hikers at the pass, I didn’t see anyone else today. Heavy clouds meant rain overnight and a wet cool morning to wake up to. First fairly cold night, fell asleep pretty quickly. I have hiked in the rain and camped in the rain, but not much of both at the same time.
http://www.trailjournals.com/journal/entry/428585
Destination: Snoqualmie Pass
Today’s Miles: 24.50
Start Location: mile 2350
Trip Miles: 219.50
Woke up to the sound of rain and decided to sleep a little longer. I had great expectations of an early start, but not so. Packed up best I could and strapped my wet rain fly on top of my pack and away I went. 5 miles further is Camp Urich, a nice cabin I hoped to eat breakfast in. I passed hiker Todd on my way who had stayed there the night before, he said it was toasty warm! I stayed for an hour or so ( okay, maybe 2) and dried my things by the wood stove. Left there about 11:15.
Then it was rain and wind the rest of the way. Or should I say, it was like walking in the clouds and every time the wind blew, big globs of water would cascade down on me from the trees. And the vegetation at my feet was saturated, and thus, so were my shoes and pants. But I’m not complaining. It helped me keep moving, no where dry to sit. There’s a little game I play. “If you make it to here, then you can make it here.” “If you make it 26 miles today, you could make it 26 tomorrow and be in a real bed.” I made it to 2374.5
What a wet and cold miserable day. Don’t get me wrong. I am a true PNW Blue Tarp Camper Profile #Whatever, but today sucked.
Let’s look at the bright side. 1. No bugs. 2. I needed less water. 3. I did not have to wash dirt off my feet and legs, they were nice, white and clean from being wet all day. Albeit pruney. Crammed some more food in my mouth and went to bed. Not sure if the fact that I don’t have to unbutton my pants to get them off is due to weight loss or the fact I’ve been wearing them for 2 weeks straight now.
http://www.trailjournals.com/journal/entry/428586
Destination: Snoqualmie Pass
Today’s Miles: 27.50
Start Location: 2374.5
Trip Miles: 247
Big day today. I want to be at Snoqualmie Pass to tonight. 27. 5 miles away. Tried to eat as much as I could, not a lot of water but there is supposed to be a creek up ahead. Shoes are still wet but what to do. Strapped my wet tent on top of my pack and left camp @ 6:15. I have the most miles so far in my trip to go and my reward is a clean and dry bed. Non rehydrated food. A shower.
It is cloudy but the sun looks like it will break out today, maybe I’ll get a chance to dry them out. Not much water at the creek, will hold out for some springs coming up. I put my rain skirt, hiking this morning was bushy and wet but my pants stayed dry for the most part. About 9:30 I ran into Richard and Andrea, heading southbound from Stevens Pass and we talked about the food to be had at Snoqualmie Pass. Motivation!
This next section of the PCT is popular for runners as it is not particularly hilly and lots of roads intersect it. This became apparent as I walking and a man came up behind me with nothing but a hydration pack on. He flew past and let me know that there were about 40 more coming behind him. I was really glad I had already gone to the bathroom! When you are not used to seeing anyone, you just go to the bathroom whenever. When you know you might see someone, you have to be a bit more discreet.
After pulling over several times to let them by, I came on a stream about 11:30am, so I sat for a bit and hoped most would pass. Not sure if it was a race or not but they were headed to Snoqualmie as well. The sun was out, I ate a bit and changed my socks for new ones. Walked a bit more to come to a road where a pit stop had been set up for the runners. “Are you a PCT hiker?” “Why, yes I am.” Scored some water and a banana. Best banana I’ve ever had.
All that was left of the runners by 2pm was their shoeprints when I stopped again in the sunshine trying to dry off my feet. My right knee was really acting up and I was starting to get new blisters from wet feet and walking differently with my knee. I was starting to have doubts about making it to I-90. Luckily it is an easy trail, just long. With 10 miles left, I started to see more day hikers and newbie overnighters coming from the pass. Hope!
It was the hardest day yet. I was in pretty bad shape when I dragged myself up and over the ski lift trail and down to the trailhead. Blood sugar low, stopped at the Chevron for some OJ and then got myself a room at the Summit Inn. Nearly cried when the room key didn’t work and I had to go back down to the desk. Restaurant was closed so I got what I could at the Chevron, did load of laundry, showered and went to bed. Pooped.
First post: Snuffy’s 2013 Pacific Crest Trail Journal July 20 &21, previous post: Snuffy’s 2013 Pacific Crest Trail Journal July 29, 30, 31. Look to next Thursday for more of my journey on the Pacific Crest Trail!
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