Day 110 (August 27th)
Mile 2395.8 – 2400.2
Today: 4.4 miles
Total PCT: 1945.0 miles
We spent our morning in North Bend, enjoying our slow day and each other’s company. We went out for a nice breakfast at a cafe that ended up being connected to the gear store in town, so we looked at maps of Washington and books about hiking while we ate our brekkie. After breakfast we went back to the motel, where Mike the manager had kindly allowed us a late checkout. We lazed around and gave Corpsi lots of hugs until it was time to pack up and leave the room. We still weren’t ready to go our seperate ways, so we went and sat in the park under a nice birch tree and watched the historic train go by. Thunder and I got acai bowls from a local cafe for lunch, while the boys got pizza from a food truck. Before long it was time for Corpsi to catch his bus to Seattle– and for goodbyes and tears.
It was almost unbelievable that we had to say goodbye to close to the border and after so long together. I know he is very happy to be going to see his girlfriend, but we were also all very sad to be parting ways. After my tearful hug, he hugged Thunder and Salty and then walked away, leaving us to hug each other instead. I won’t say goodbye, Corpsi– just have a pleasant night and I will see you down the line.
Salty, Thunder and I then had to hitch back down the I90 to trail, so we made a sign and stuck out our thumbs. We only waited a few minutes before a man pulled over in a truck to ask where we were trying to go. I immediately got some fishy vibes from him, and Thunder and I both suspected that he might have been high. We ended up turning down the ride. This is the first time on trail I have ever felt unsure about a hitch and I am glad we followed our gut! Before long, a woman and her husband (driving separate cars– apparently they were road tripping to purchase one of the cars) pulled over to offer a ride. She was very nervous about picking us up and actually asked to see our IDs! She then proceeded to spend the next few minutes telling us how dangerous it was to hitch, how we are taking risks, and how she was glad there was a boy with us. She wasn’t familiar with the PCT and was concerned about us not having bear spray or a car if we needed one. It was funny to have a dose of the real world. On trail I never worry too much about hitching, even though it is definitely not something I would do in my everyday life.
Back on trail, we started hiking straight up a mountain, getting our first real dose of the crazy elevation profiles to come. It was really nice to only have to go a few miles before settling in.
We are missing Corpse’ presence but enjoying the early night in preparation for the crazy elevation profiles we will face over the next few days.
Day 111 (August 28th)
Mile 2400.2 – 2425.2
Today: 25 miles
Total PCT: 1970.0 miles
As I walk into camp at 9:30pm in pure darkness, I consider that I may have underestimated how difficult the elevation would be today.
Around lunch time, calculating that I would arrive at camp around 6pm, I decided that I could spare the time it would take to hike an additional mile each way out to Spectacle Lake for a lunchtime swim.
My lunch break went a little long, but with only 12 miles left to hike, I still predicted I would arrive by 8pm or so. Huge ascents, steep descents and ankle breaking rocks made that wishful thinking… However apart from missing out on social time and dinner and setting my tent up in the dark, I actually really like night hiking and my swim today was very enjoyable! The moon was full and bright orange from the light haze of smoke in the atmosphere, and it made for nice ambience as I hiked my last few miles of the day.
When I arrived, Salty and Thunder were very kind and helped me set up my tent before saying goodnight. In the interest of getting a full night’s sleep, I will leave it there. Despite the late night of hiking (6:30am-9:30pm!!) I had a great day of beautiful views, a great swim and a good audiobook. Sleep well!
Day 112 (August 29th)
Mile 2425.2 – 2451.5
Today: 26.3 miles
Total PCT: 1996.3 miles
I am so grateful that most of our days out here on the PCT have been dry and sunny. Today was not one of those days. We awoke several times last night to the sounds of thunder, but snug in our sleeping bags, we were happy to ignore it. By the time we awoke the thunderstorms had passed. We had an hour or two of hesitant sunshine before the day got gloomy again.
By about 1pm we were walking in a misty cloud with a light drizzle of rain coming down. We had a cold, wet lunch and continued on our way quickly to warm up. The rain continued for the rest of the day and by the time I rolled into camp at 7:30pm, my only option was to set up in the least puddly spot I could find and to try my best to dry off and get warm. I crawled in, stripped, washed my feet and dried myself as best I could, put on dry clothes and socks, blew up my sleeping pad, unrolled my sleeping bag, boiled some water in my tent alcove for my dinner and ate a yummy, hot dinner in bed.
As I ate, the rain started to come down harder and harder– reminding me to be grateful that I got to camp before the downpour. Salty and Thunder are camped right close to me, so we have the luxury of chatting from within our tents. It’s been a bit of a miserable, cold day… But misery loves company and I am happy we are together. 🙂
Day 113 (August 30th)
Mile 2451.5 – 2466.7
Today: 15.2 miles
Total PCT: 2011.5 miles
Over 2000 miles today!
I woke up this morning warm and cozy in my sleeping bag, until I rolled over and planted my knee squarely in a puddle of water on the bottom of my tent. Taking out my earplugs, I could hear the patter of rain on my tent fly and I realized that everything around me inside my tent was soaking wet. My sleeping bag was a tiny island of cozy inside a big world of cold and wet… And I had to leave it.
The three of us slowly started packing up and by the time we got our of our tents the rain had quieted to a heavy mist. Regardless, it was a cold, wet morning of hiking and though it eventually stopped raining, the sun never came out.
Eventually we made it to Steven’s Pass and were able to take a short warming break inside the lodge. Then it was back out in the mist to try and hitch the 45 minutes to Leavenworth. Fortunately for us, a very kind woman saw us hitching from the parking lot and offered to give us a ride! The hotel was out of double rooms, so instead the man at the front desk talked us into getting a suite with three bedrooms and a living room — and he gave us a hiker discount! Within the hour I was showered, in dry clothes and eating snacks in my bed. It is amazing how fast you can go from miserable to comfortable!
We have a zero in Leavenworth tomorrow and then it is onwards to Canada. Only 180 miles to the border!
Day 114 (August 31st)
Mile 2466.7 – 2466.7
Today: 0 miles
Total PCT: 2011.5 miles
Not too much to say about today. We slept in, ate lots, did chores and generally enjoyed a really nice zero in Leavenworth. September will bring my last week or so in Washington and then back to California to frolic in the high Sierra!
