PCT Day 143: Woody and Castle Passes

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 requiring a diversion down and across deep ravines full of loose rock. Felt like I had done a few hundred squats by the last ravine.

I climbed some more to Lakeview Ridge and had lunch at the highest point on the PCT in Washington. The clouds lifted a bit so good views in all directions.

I headed down Devil’s Stairway past Hopkins Lake and Castle Pass to my last camp, a nice flat area off the trail near a creek.

Much colder tonight – for the first and only time on the trail, I had dinner in my tent. I ate just about all the food I had left including a fair amount of chocolate.

I am only three miles to the PCT monument and Canadian border. Mrs. Haze is hiking the seven miles to the monument from Manning Park tomorrow morning and I will meet her there!

Hard to believe my last night on the trail and this journey is almost over.