PACIFIC COAST TRAIL

Daily Miles: 21.5, Total Miles: 2544.5 More of the same today with stunning vistas of snow-capped peaks. Some with glaciers, deep canyons and ravines, wild churning creeks and the ever present green forests. I hiked down to Kennedy Creek – the bridge had broken in two with the middle inches above the raging creek. Still passable but may not make it through another season. I climbed up Kennedy Ridge and skirted around Glacier Peak to Fire Creek Pass. I enjoyed…

Daily Miles: 25.0, Total Miles: 2523.0 An absolutely beautiful, memorable day. Sun shining, clear skies, nature’s colors sharp and vivid, birds chirping, marmots whistling and bees buzzing. I headed up along Skykomish Peak and passed Lake Sally Ann to Ward Pass and then on to Kodak Peak. Beautiful views back to Mt Rainier and the Stuart Range. I entered Glacier Peak Wilderness and traversed the north slope of Indian Head Peak on the way to White Pass. Had lunch at…

Daily Miles: 22.0, Total Miles: 2498.0 A bright and sunny morning! I hitched a ride to Stevens Pass with a young man who was heading there to participate in a downhill mountain bike race. He has broken his wrists several times in these races – ouch! The first part of the trail in the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness was relatively flat but badly overgrown making for a wet start. I gradually climbed to inviting Valhalla and then past Lake Janus…

Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 2476.0 Even though trains run right across the street from the inn, I slept like a log. I had a chat with Doublet and Gumby at breakfast – I had met them at Cascade Locks. Looks like we may finish on the same day. I thought the skies were clearing today but not so far – rain this morning and sprinkles in the afternoon. A good day to finish a science fiction book, Wool, by…

Daily Miles: 20.3, Total Miles: 2476.0 The storm started about 10:00pm last night and rain continued for several hours. Quite soggy in the morning. A gradual rise to Deception Lake and Piper Pass put me above the fog bank. Then a steep, wet descent to Glacier Lake. Started raining again but I kept moving, high above Surprise and Trap Lakes. Crossed under some powerlines, climbed to a crest at the top of a ski chairlift, and then a long descent…

Daily Miles: 27.1, Total Miles: 2455.7 The thunder, lightning and rain all started at 1:00am. The storm was right over me for a time – quite a light show. I expected the morning to be socked in but it was surprisingly clear. I finished the climb to the top of the ridge passing a few cirques and tarns. Nice views of foggy Waptus Lake and then descended 2,200 ft to the Waptus River. I proceeded along a contour above the…

Daily Miles: 26.4, Total Miles: 2428.6 My son called last night with news on my fantasy football league draft – he’s the league commissioner. I had to put the draft of my Purple Haze team on automatic because I was hiking. The results do not look good – only a few players I recognize as good ones. Shortly thereafter I had what I think was some kind of food poisoning that kept me close to the bathroom for hours until…

Daily Miles: 13.6, Total Miles: 2402.2 An owl glided over my head just before sunrise this morning and started hooting from a nearby tree. He had been at it all night long. Here in Washington, you can get sopping wet on a clear, sunny day. Heavy dew on the high vines and bushes crowding the trail. A climb to start the day and then down to Yakima Pass – why are the passes the low point? Back up to pretty…

Daily Miles: 28.2, Total Miles: 2388.6 Elk were bugling in the valley below me at sunrise. I crossed a clearcut covered in fireweed and climbed up the west side of Blowout Mountain to the crest. Great views of Rainier and now the distant Goat Rocks. The rest of the day was mostly hiking through old logging country, several clearcuts, reforested areas and lots of logging roads. After crossed under three sets of large powerlines. I was really impressed with one…