Snuffy’s Final 2013 Pacific Crest Trail Journal August 24

Destination: Manning Park

Start Location: Hopkins Lake

Trip Miles: 511.73

I woke up this morning to a beautiful, clear sky. It always amazes me how you can watch the sun come up on one side as the moon dots the other. The blue sky over the orange rim of the cirque surrounding Hopkins Lake made me pause.

With a chill in the air, I kept all my layers on, including my fleece hat. As I was packing up, Diesel rolled by at 6:30, saying Good Morning and that he would see us at the monument. It wasn’t long before Steve, Marcy and I were headed up the trail ourselves, around 7:30am.

I enjoyed getting to know these hikers, Steve with just a few more sections to finish up his complete PCT hike and Marcy, his daughter, joining him on short sections as she finished up her college degree. With a quick pace, we made it down and across the US/Canadian border shortly before 10am.

 

 

One of the reasons I had hoped to cross with someone was so that I could share this moment and picture taking would be easier. I think another was that if I had been alone, I would have sat down and cried with all that I had accomplished. It is amazing how easy it is to tear up when you are exhausted! After all my planning and dreaming about this moment, I was here.

As I showed Steve where the PCT register was hidden in the replica of the Washington Monument, I could see the names of hikers I had met along the trail who had written down their thoughts.   There was such a variety of experiences and emotions. I didn’t start from Mexico but I did something not everyone can do! We sat and savored the moment, snacked, and then continued on our way.

At this point I was totally spent. My feet and legs were stiff and sore. The muscles of my right knee complain with every step, so I take the last of my pain reliever.   Continuing to move actually helps, so as I am afraid to stop and won’t be able to start again, I leave Steve and Marcy when they stopped for lunch at a view point before the large campsite along this section.

I also decided it was time to put on some music, so I put in Third Day’s Make Your Move one more time and put one foot in front of the other. I must have looked like quite a sight; singing, waving my arms to the beat and welling up with tears as I neared the completion of this journey.   I spent these last four miles thinking about what I may be meant to do next. Where do I go from here? Other than to a shower and nice comfy bed, of course. And a salad.

The PCT junctions with the trail to Windy Joe Mountain about 4 miles from the end and becomes an old unpaved and unused road down the hill. Then, it joins the forest again for a nice meander to a paved road. I saw day hikers, mountain bike riders, and horsemen.

As I came out the trailhead, there was part of me that hoped to see my brother conveniently parked there. I knew they planned to hike today when they checked into the resort, but what are the odds they would pick this trail?  I was early anyway.

Scanning left and right, no such luck. I walked on the road to the right a short bit to the Manning Park Resort and inside the lobby, I called my mom to tell her I had made it and asked when she thought my brother, Stephan, and his wife, Sarah, would get here. She said they should be here because they had left at 5am this morning. I checked at the desk, not yet. They must have gone hiking first.

I saw Diesel at the lobby computer and he told me about the hostel attached to the resort where he was staying for $40. He also let me know where everything was as he had already cleaned up and eaten. Then I headed over to the restaurant to eat and wait for my brother.

As I sat down at my table, a tall white haired woman approached me and said she had seen me come up off the trail. Had I just finished the PCT? I told her I had done the Washington section and she shook my hand and congratulated me. Her face lit up and she asked me several questions. Her table of friends also called over congratulations. I couldn’t help but smile, I think it’s a big deal, too.

Afterwards, I picked up some juice and joined Diesel at a picnic table outside where I could conveniently watch the parking lot for my brother’s car. We chatted about his thru hike and our daily routines on the trail. Some similarities, except for the fact he made 40 miles a day. Geez. He was excited because he was able to get a flight out tomorrow to be home for his wife’s 40th birthday. Incentive for fast hiking!

It was about 4pm when I saw a familiar van with Washington plates pull into the parking lot. I nearly scared my brother, they didn’t recognize the wild woman running over to their car at first as I was a day early and blubbering excitedly yet incoherently. Joy, joy.

It turned out they HAD been hiking up Windy Joe that morning and I probably missed them at the junction by 20 minutes. And if I had looked hard enough, I would have seen their car in the parking lot at the trail head. Good thing I guess, I would have just sat myself down at their car and not moved until they got down from the trail.

Manning Park was a cute little place and they were fortunately a little lacking at the front desk. I say fortunately because as my brother went to check in and I to see about a room at the hostel, they realized they had given his room key to a large group that had checked in earlier. Thinking it a hassle to move someone out, they offered us a 2 room cabin at the same price. Why, yes, yes we will. It was a good thing, too, because the cabins were away from the hotel area and the large group was college students on some kind of retreat that included drinking games and loud music.

The rest of the evening was dinner in the pub, and well, me going off to bed. Not exciting, I know. I must admit I didn’t sleep well due to leg cramps but it felt good to once again have sheets and pillows. And I know that I would be heading home with family tomorrow.

 

http://www.trailjournals.com/journal/entry/432156

Needless to say, I made it home.

Sunday, we leisurely left Manning Park, checking out the local campgrounds and lakes for possible family camping in the future. I had a chance to talk with Diesel more as he waited for his Greyhound to Vancouver. He mentioned finishing, “Wheat Belly” on the trail and I shared that I have read that book and what giving wheat up a year and a half ago meant to me. Sounds like he’s got some dietary goals when he gets home. He also shared how he cleans his pack after trips and I must say that was a disgusting sight when I did that Tuesday (in the bathtub with dishsoap). Gross, gross, gross.

The past few days have been filled with the mundane tasks that I don’t take for granted in my wonderfully stable life. Monday morning greeted me with the annual back-to-school event; picture packets to decide from, a yearbook to pay for, health history to complete. None of which we could find from when they came home in June.

Luckily, Grandma took him shopping while I was away. Thank you, Grandma! Bills to pay, planning meetings to attend, raspberry canes to cut back, a fridge to stock with fresh food and a son to remind that it is Tuesday morning and the garbage truck is making it’s way down the alley.

I’ve been to both library systems in my area to stock up on reading material (Pandora’s Lunchbox, for one and the movie, A Place at the Table) and started filling my calendar with work schedules for both jobs that I go back to next week. Had lunch with two amazing friends. Still waiting for the latest baby to be born (doesn’t he know I’m here now?).

I am a little less sore each day, although my right knee is holding out with some possible nerve sensitivity. Just like on the trail, the hardest step is getting out of bed in the morning. I just have to start moving and keep going. Did I mention my sister-in-law so smartly had us pull into the Canadian pharmacy on our way out for Tylenol 1s? I hope to go on some day hikes before I go back to work, but I’m taking it day by day. It just might have to be a stroll in the neighborhood.

I am eternally thankful that I have a life that allows me to go off on adventures to my heart’s desire, yet return to take me back up again where it left off. A video I took as I crossed the border into Canada says it all. I am thankful to God for this amazing adventure, to all the family and friends who supported me both on the trail and in your prayers. I am blessed. Thank you.

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.