Day 131: Kindness of others

August 28, Day 131: 2280.9-2295.9

Miles Hiked: 15

Gratitude of the Day: I’m thankful for this group of hikers I’ve met on the trail. They are insightful young minds and gives me hope for humanity. 

 

Last night was chilly and windy but we all camped in the trees so I’m sure it was better than sleeping in the meadow below. Since starting Washington I’ve been finding myself waking up around midnight or 1 hungry and I’ve been snacking on food, so at 1 I made a peanut butter and jelly wrap and ate some candy, then snuggled back into my toasty quilt and slept until daybreak. The sunrise was wonderful this morning and I actually hung around camp drinking coffee and enjoying the company of everyone.

 

I didn’t leave camp until 8am which is a very late start for me, but it was just 15 miles to White Pass and the groups planned zero at Clancy’s families cabin. His parents, Steve and Jeanne were so kind and picked all of us up off the pass, brining snacks and cold drinks and driving us into the town of Packwood. They prepared a huge dinner of pasta and meatballs, Caesar salad, warm bread and steamed broccoli. Today is also Clyde’s 27th birthday so they also had a birthday cake for him. Such kindness and hospitality from them. 

Birthday boy Clyde 

 

Day 130: Best Day on Trail

August 27, Day 130: 2254.7-2280.6

Miles Hiked: 25.9

Gratitude of the Day: I’m thankful to finally hike the Knifes Edge in the Goat Rocks Wilderness. 

 

Last night it rained all through the night and the loaner tent I have from Zpacks did out but it’s a one person tent and had a ton of condensation build up. So to prevent my sleeping bag foot box from getting wet I had to sleep in a little bit of a ball. No one wanted to get up early either because it was chilly and everything was wet. But there was an epic section of the PCT coming up and I was so excited to hike through it. So I finally crawled out of my tent and packed up all my wet stuff heading up trail at 7:45. Most of the morning was spent climbing in the trees with the fog rolling through. But at noon, the sun burned off the clouds and the sun peaked through the clouds. We started getting views and I could see Walupt Lake to the west and the dramatic valleys below us.  

As we gained more elevation to go over Cispus Pass we could see Mt Adams behind us with its dramatic glaciers coming off the northern face. The exciting part for me was when I started hitting the Snowy Grass Flats area where I’ve say hiked and backbacked before.

 The stellar section I’ve wanted to do for years was coming up, the Knifes Edge. As we approached that sections bank of clouds appeared to be hanging on the ridge and I was disappointed to say the least to see what I was seeing. I debated camping early to try to walk that section in the morning but who’s to say what it’ll be in the morning so I pushed on with the group. What a great decision!

 

As we crested the section next to Old Snowy the clouds were just rolling over that section and the Knifes Edge was open and had stunning views. We were all in amazement of the views and we could even catch glimpses of Mt Rainier’s peak. Photo and photo doesn’t do this section justice. It was probably the best day on the entire trail for me. So beautiful, a perma-smile on my face all day. 

 

Day 129: Mt Adams

August 26, Day 129: 2230.0-2254.7

Miles Hiked: 24.7

Gratitude of the Day: I’m thankful for the ability to hike straight through the day with little breaks. 

I woke up this morning and opened my eyes to Clancy staring at me with a big cheesy smile on his face, a little creepy but it started my day off laughing.  I got up and started packing up to start my day and was out of camp at 6:45.  It was a beautiful start to the day even if it was uphill for the first 7 miles. The cool air kept me at just the right temperature as I climbed and not too sweaty.  When I reached the top of the hill Mt Adams was hiding in the clouds but the view to the west was stunning to say the least. I stood there for 10 minutes with probably the stupidest smile on my face so happy.

I stated back down trail and Adams was making an attempt to break out of the clouds and finally did as I walked through a meadow. I could see the stunning northwestern glacier as it poured down off the summit ridge, words don’t do it justice as to how beautiful it was. I ran into Maverick around 10:30 having breakfast at a nice lake but I wanted to push until noon before I stopped. I’ve got a new habit of waking up and walking the entire morning until noon, to try to get the majority of the days miles behind me and so I can enjoy more breaks in the afternoon. So I pushed on another 4 miles or so to another tiny lake where I stopped and set up my hammock to have lunch. Once all situated though I had eaten but after 25 minutes the PNW clouds started to roll on and I feared being caught in some rain. So I packed up and started hiking again, with the groups planned camp spot for the night 10.5 miles away. It seems today my legs where the energizer bunny because I pushed to camp only stopping in another meadow with a cascading waterfall to filter water. Then back to business of the trail. Not shortly after I saw my third pine marten on trail, this one was auburn colored and it was hoping through the blueberry bushes to the trail and back into the bushes. I tried to get a video of it but it didn’t turn out, I wish I could have watched it for hours, it looked so playful. Soon after I walked out of the Mt Adams Wilderness and onto the Yakima Indian Reservation. By 4:20 I had covered the miles for the day and arrived at camp. The clouds are still looking like they’ll started seeping water at any moment but my tent is all set up and I’m in all my layers laying in my hammock. 

Day 128: Trout Lake

August 25, Day 128: 2220.4-2230.0

Miles Hiked: 9.6

Gratitude of the Day: I’m thankful for the trail family I’ve made, they are wonderful people who always put a smile on my face. 

This morning it was a nice 9.5 miles to the road that leads into Trout Lake. I woke up at 5am to take a bio-break, the inside of my tent was wet from the condensation of the meadow that we camped in and my foot box of my sleeping bag was wet as well. I crawled back in my tent and just decided to start packing up and head down trail. At 5:45 I broke camp and started hiking into the morning with my headlamp lighting the way. Soon there was a nice uphill to conquer but I was hiking by huge Douglas firs and soft duff under my feet. By 9:15 I was at the road hanging out with several other hikers waiting on the shuttle, which is just Trout Lake locals who drive the hikers into town. In Trout Lake I quickly resupplied and then went to cafe for a burger and a huckleberry milkshake. We all sat around until 5pm for the last shuttle out of town with everyone completing their chores.

Once back on trail we went all of 0.1 miles and all camped together hanging out in the dinner circle enjoying each other’s company. 

Day 127: Last 30+ ???

August 24, Day 127: ALT-2198.9-2220.4

Miles Hiked: 31.5

Gratitude of the Day: I’m thankful for the ability to go from having a plan to hike 25 miles in a day to 31.5 in a day. 

The whole Salty Butt Bandits camped at Panther Creek Campground last night with the intentions of taking the alternate route, which was a 10 mile road walk past Panther Creek Falls. I left camp at 6:30 and started the walk up the road. Soon after a truck went by and Sunshine was sitting in the back hitching the road walk. I didn’t realize it but Zippy, Clancy and Shakedown had all hitched by me as well. I took my time getting up the road and back to trail, taking breaks along the way and enjoying the green tunnel that was the road and the trail.

Shortly after I passed the 2200 mile mark and walked a ridge that gave me views of Mt Hood to the south, Mt Adam’s to the east and Mt St Helens to the west. I stopped at Sheep Lake to filter water and take another break thinking the crew would catch up soon but no one came along. So I walked a little further to Blue Lake and took lunch there setting up my hammock and relaxing… still no Salty Butt Bandits. Finally I messaged the group and that’s when I found out that I was behind. So I left the lake at 3:30 already having done 19.5 miles and hoofed it an additional 14 miles to catch up. The trail was super beautiful all day with the views, lakes and trees. Tonight I’m camped 9.5 miles out from the road into Trout Lake where I’ll resupply and get a meal before heading out to walk one of the most anticipated sections of the trail for me, walking the Knifes Edge in the Goat Rocks Wilderness. 

Day 126: Chilly Washington

August 23, Day 126: 2160.0-2183.0

Miles Hiked: 23.0

Gratitude of the Day: I’m thankful for the chill in the air and beautiful green lush trail of Washington. 

Last night was the coldest it’s been on trail since the night at Kearsarge Lakes in the Sierra mountains.  I was so thankful for the extra layers I got back and that my sleeping quilt and pad are extra warm. I woke at 6am and slowly got everything packed away as I ate breakfast. I started on trail at 7am and enjoyed the green tunnel of Washington.  The climb today was steady but it was along a ridge walk and I could see Mt Adam’s to the north. The clouds were rolling over the ridges to the north and it was a beautiful but crisp morning. All day I got to walk through old growth forest and I was happy to be back hiking through Washington. I ate lunch in my hammock next to a clear stream and then took a nap for over an hour. Then I headed down trail and came to Panther Creek road, and there was trail magic of soda, beer and fruit by a young lady from Portland named Taylor. Her friend is doing the Appalachian Trail currently and she wanted to do something today and had asked her friend what she should bring for trail magic. She was so nice and about 15 of us hikers got to enjoy her company. Tonight all the Salty Butts plus some additional hikers are all camped at the group spot at Panther Creek Campground. After dinner we played bocce ball and then crawled into our tents for the night. 

Day 125: Hello Washington

August 22, Day 125: 2148.1-2161.0

Miles Hiked: 12.9

Gratitude of the Day: I’m thankful to enter the state of Washington and to be nearly done with the trail. 

The past several days have been refreshing. Ali scooped me up from the Eagle Creek Trail and took me into Portland where her and Adam pampered me and welcomed me into their home. Showers, laundry, wonderful food and beer, friends, hot tub, driving me around to run errands, a cozy bed, delicious street truck food (which I ate 3 meals for lunch in one sitting) and just wonderful time was what made my stay so amazing. I truly have the best friends a person could ask for. On the 21st, Adam drove me out to PCT days in Cascade locks and hung around with me as we walked the vendors and then grabbed a burger and beer with me before heading back home. The rest of the day was spent hanging out with the Salty Butt Bandits and enjoying the hiker vibe of PCT days. Today we all got up and had breakfast, slowly packed our things then went to have lunch and finally we all as a group walked across the Bridge of the Gods into Washington together. Our final state and “just” 500 miles to the border of Canada. What lies ahead are major elevation gains and losses, the changing of the season, clouds and rain but, also epic views and stellar parts of the trail that I’ve personally been looking forward to since the beginning of the trail.

Today was a big climb out of the Columbia river gorge but tonight we’re all camped together and we all plan to stay together through the final portion of the trail and reach the terminus together. Today was surreal for me, I’ve driven across the Bridge of the Gods a lot and have seen the PCT emblem on the bridge, today I’m walking across it having walked through California and Oregon. I had a permanent smile on my face as I reached the other side and stepped into Washington. 

Day 122: Eagle Creek

August 19, Day 122: 2115.1-2128.6, Eagle Creek ALT

Miles Hiked: 26.0

Gratitude of the Day: I’m thankful for the trail maintenance crews who tend and care for the PCT.

The trail magic party continued past hiker midnight, 9pm, but I had crawled in bed early so I could get up and start hiking early in the morning knowing I was going to get to hike through one of my favorite hikes in the northwest, Eagle Creek Trail. So at 6am I was the only hiker stirring I walked out of camp. The morning consisted of walking a ridge line that kept giving me constant views of Mt Hood and the burned trees of the 2017 Eagle Creek fire. I reached the junction for Eagle Creek and then took the steep decent into the slot canyon. Ali is meeting me with her puppies along Eagle Creek today, but the trail was super cruisey and I was ahead of schedule, so I messaged her so she’d know I was making good time. I reached the Eagle Creek Trail and found that even though the fire ravaged the area, the trail was still beautiful. Everything was exactly as I remember, Twister Falls, the iconic Tunnel Falls, all the bridges you cross. I stopped and took a dip by the first bridge to cool off, the water felt so nice. Then continued down the trail making it to Punch Bowl Falls. I took the side trail down and oh my in 4 years the scene had changed. To creek had made a new path and a ton of rock had fallen in from the cliffs above. You can now make your way along a very interesting path in the punch bowl of the falls. So I took another dip there waiting for Ali and the dogs to show. I made my way back across the rock scramble to find Ali waiting for me with a beer in hand. We sat enjoying the scenery and talking about how so much of this trail had changed. Then it was just a 2 mile jaunt to the trailhead and I was soon whisked away to Portland and Ali’s house.