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….
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…
