Mile #2586, South Fork Camp, North Cascades NP

Today was a difficult day, but for reasons different than the past few days.  I woke up this morning with an easy, 15-mile descent to the Stehekin River and its High Bridge ranger station/campground.  With my mind finally off of bushwhacks, blowdowns, and bridge collapses, it quickly signaled hunger.  Apparently all of the physical strain [...]

Mile #2558, 3 Miles North of Suiattle Pass

Another long, challenging day.  I’m past Glacier Peak however, so success!  Today’s highlights:  Bushwhacking into oblivion trying to follow flags going down to Milk Creek (I ended up losing the flags and just scrambled downhill, luckily landing on trail), negotiating miles of blowdowns, some twice my height!  Lots of ups and downs, but the gradient [...]

Mile #2532, Bench Below Mica Lake

Today had the distinction of being incredibly challenging and spectacularly scenic, making it possibly the best day on the PCT to date.  I took the original route along the west side of Glacier peak in perfect, clear weather.  
Highlights included walking a log 20ft above the White Chuck River, losing trail amongst a tangle of [...]

Mile #2505, Ward’s Pass

 
Off to a good start with new “breakfast in bed” routine, which is actually more time efficient with less packing and unpacking to do.  Plus, I stay warm when I can do everything from my sleeping bag.  I hiked an extra half hour before and after my morning snack to make up for the time [...]

2.5 Miles Beyond Steven’s Pass

 

Hands and feet cold this morning until about 10:30AM when sun finally came through and I crossed to the east side of the slope I was hiking across.  New routine for tomorrow:  Will have breakfast before hiking as I chill too easy now if I stop to eat breakfast after an hour of hiking, which [...]

2 Miles Beyond Cathedral Rock

 

 
NOTES:  Good night and everything stayed dry.  Woke this AM and left just as rain started.  temps in low 40s and my feet were soon wet.  Climbed up to Escondido Ridge for a very truncated and chilly breakfast where temps neared low of 40 for the day w/ drizzle.  Clouds slowly cleared through afternoon and [...]

Alpine Lakes Wilderness

Had a good breakfast at Summit Inn w/ four section hikers, one of whom volunteers for the forest service.  He bought my meal and also gave me 25 ft of rope so I could hang the food that doesn’t fit in the bear canister.  After breakfast, a long, well-graded climb up into Alpine Lakes Wilderness [...]

Mile #2402, Snoqualmie Pass

 
This is it:  Final resupply point from here to the Canadian border.  Over the next 261 miles I can look forward to some of the finest scenery on the entire PCT; and some of the most challenging terrain.  I’m hoping to get through in just under 10 days.  Steep climbs and often bad weather characterize [...]

Mile #2302, White Pass

PART 1
    I’m writing this entry in two parts mainly because I haven’t gotten the urge to write and  the second part really deserves it’s own entry.  True to prediction, I haven’t seen a single northbound thru-hiker since crossing into Washington.  Thanks to the trail register at Panther Creek, though, I know that Jen, [...]

Mile #2175, Rock Creek

 
I took a zero yesterday at Ross and Sherrie’s house in Hood River.  It was my first day off since Old Station, about 800 miles back.  What a treat to have a day off in such a cool town and to meet family at the same time!  Ross is mom’s cousin on the Hoag side.  [...]