I have gained ten pounds so far and had my physical last week. For whatever it’s worth, lowest cholesterol level in several years. But I haven’t used my Dairy Queen gift certificate yet. What’s next? In the short-term, some camping and hiking in Southern AZ, particularly the Chiricahua and Dragoon Mountains. A long distance hike is probably not in the cards this coming year – will be busy hiking and fishing in Idaho and Montana. A trip to Italy is…
I took 28 zeros and 9 neros (less than 7 miles) on this hike, a few more than planned due to illness and weather. But I still finished a week ahead of plan because of higher daily mileage. The biggest day for me was 35 miles which got me close to Timberline Lodge on Mt Hood – quite the motivation! So my “best” list: Best Hiking Day: Best Off-Trail Hike: Best Week of Hiking: Best Trail Town: Best Pigfest: Best…
Hard to believe that three weeks have passed since I completed the trail. I am happy to see that all missing hikers have been accounted for. The weather at the finish line was not very cooperative in late September/early October. We had a slow trip home. Visited friends in Washington, did some wine tasting in Walla Walla, spent some time with my son and family in Helena MT, getting reacquainted with grandson Charlie, and returned home to see our house…
Daily Miles: 2.9, Total Miles: 2660.1 It rained off and on all night. I also had my first mouse visit – he was perched on top of my tent just under the rainfly looking at me. No need to rush this morning as our meeting at the border is set for 11am. So I finished the second Longmire book, Death Without Company, by Craig Johnson, a good read. A leisurely breakfast and on the trail by 8:30am. I caught up…
Daily Miles: 16.2, Total Miles: 2657.2 The thunderstorm and rain started about 9pm and was pretty steady for three hours – a definite cold front is moving in for a few days. A quick descent to Holman Pass then a climb to Rock Pass, in the clouds most of the way. The trail switchbacked a few times then leveled off across a very steep talus slope towards Woody Pass. The trail was badly washed out in five or six places…
Daily Miles: 23.4, Total Miles: 2641.0 The morning started with a climb up Brush Creek Canyon to Glacier Pass. Then another uphill push up several switchbacks to a high ridge below Tatie Peak. Great views of the North Cascades. A gradual descent to Harts Pass and then a climb back up along Slate Peak and my first good views of Mt Baker to the west. I entered the Pasayten Wilderness just past Windy Pass and skirted the edge of Tamarack…
Daily Miles: 23.3, Total Miles: 2617.6 I soon left North Cascades NP and followed Bridge Creek almost all the way to Rainy Pass and Highway 20. Now I started a more serious climb to Cutthroat Pass at 6,840 ft. Good views of craggy peaks including Tower Mountain, vertical cliffs, scree and talus slopes. Dropped a bit to Granite Pass and traversed along the side of Tower Mountain to Methow Pass. The trail was washed out in a few places from…
Daily Miles: 14.1, Total Miles: 2594.3 Stehekin is still recovering and cleaning up from a rock and mudslide that flowed down a creek, jumped the bank and flowed down Main Street into the community. Even with this mess, what a beautiful setting by the lake. Saw the morning ferry come in and watched a float plane land and take off. I had breakfast at the lodge with Wendy and then got ready for the last leg of this journey. Caught…
Daily Miles: 9.7, Total Miles: 2580.2 A relatively easy hike this morning following the Agnes River and gorge downstream. I entered North Cascades NP just before arriving at High Bridge over the Stehekin River – several bright red/orange salmon in the river below. Caught the first shuttle bus from High Bridge – first stop was the Stehekin Ranch and the second stop was the Stehekin Bakery, another PCT legend. I picked up a chicken pocket, a slice of pizza, a…
Daily Miles: 26.0, Total Miles: 2570.5 A new bridge was built over the Suiattle River two years ago and adds about five miles to the PCT. Hikers previously had used a log crossing, high above the river that most would straddle the log and inch across. I headed down to this impressive new bridge – proper concrete footings and steel beams. Probably would survive a tree falling on it but a big avalanche or flood could still wash it away….
