PCT adventures

From where I camped at Woody pass, it was only 11 miles to the US-Canada border and it was all down hill. I made great time, watching the rocks change color as the sun rose. At 10 am on August 8, four months and five days after I started, I reached the northern terminus of … Continue reading »

On my penultimate day on the trail it was cold in the morning and there was fog all around. I was bummed that I might miss some views, but as I switchbacked up a hill side, I got above the clouds and everything changed. It was like being in an airplane, looking down on the … Continue reading »

After breaking camp at Bridge Creek, I climbed uphill to Rainy Pass. There were a few low clouds, but blue sky above and it looked like the storm had moved through. After Rainy Pass, I continued the 2500′ climb up to Cutthroat pass, where I stopped for a break. The view was, once again, stunning … Continue reading »

I had a leisurely morning in Stehekin because I had to wait for the post office to open at 10 am to get my packages. I watched the fire fighters some more and wandered around. At 10, I went to the post office where I got two of my three boxes. I had ordered a … Continue reading »

On August 4, I awoke early and was on the trail by 5:45 am. I had a few pleasant, flat miles to walk along the  Suittle River, among an old growth forest. The trees, some of which are over 1,000 years old, towered above me and I could not see their tops. I was a … Continue reading »

August 3 marked four months on the trail for me and I only had 150 miles to go. Of course, there was that fire closure, ever in the back of my mind. I still didn’t know what to do but had another day to figure it out. From my camp by the creek I went … Continue reading »

While in town, I got some information about a wild fire near the PCT. 15 miles of trail was closed just south of Stehekin, my next and final resupply location. There was good information about the fire detour, which went through the small community of Holden. I downloaded a map and written directions. The detour … Continue reading »

I awoke early on July 30 and was hiking by 5:45 am. The sun was just hitting the tops of the mountains and the gold color created was stunning. After a short climb to a pass, I went over a series of rolling hills, although there were some short, steep sections. From the high points, … Continue reading »

The morning after the hotsprings I continued to climb up the ridge, enjoying wonderful views along the way. I had breakfast at a gap, with this view. Going down the other side I saw a series of waterfalls flowing into Lake Ivanhoe. The lake is big and I couldn’t capture all of it in one … Continue reading »

When leaving Snoqualmie pass, I had an immediate decision to make: follow the PCT or take an alternate route to some hotsprings. After consulting the maps and the internet, I decided to go to the hotsprings. From the pass, I followed a road for a mile, then started up a different trail to Snow Lake. … Continue reading »

I was awoken in the middle of the night by the sound of rain drops hitting my tent. While in White Pass, I had heard that it was supposed to rain either Saturday or Sunday, bit the storm was to last less than a day. I was warm and snug in my sleeping bag and … Continue reading »

On Friday morning I hiked the remaining 12 miles to White Pass, getting some nice views of Mt. Ranier from a cold and windy ridge. The hiking was pretty flat and easy and I made it to White Pass by 11 am. There’s not much at the pass except a gas station with a small … Continue reading »

I started off in a thick forest this morning with a few flat miles before I started to climb. Suddenly I came to a saddle and out of the woods. The view stunned me with its beauty. I had entered the Yakima Indian Reservation and was greeted with scenery I can’t describe in words. These … Continue reading »

After leaving my campsite near the spring, the trail was nice and rolling. I passed a small lake in the morning and saw a black bear drinking on the other side. It paused for a moment while probably smelling me, then ambled off into the woods. I managed to get a photo with my camera, … Continue reading »

On Sunday afternoon, Jacob, Jean, and Jerry drove me back to Cascade locks so I could get back on the trail. Jacob walked across the Bridge of the Gods with me then I bade everyone farewell on the Washington side. It was 4 pm and I had a few  rocky miles of hiking before starting … Continue reading »