Some solitary miles today. The rest of the group didn’t make it to our camp tonight, so I continued on with Half and Half and Peter. Peter was pretty beat from the long day yesterday. He stopped earlier and we said goodbye to him and his dog Pippin. I was quite impressed he could keep up for …
A long day of climbing and descending, views partially obscured by a smoky haze, originating probably from the Chelan fires. I spent the day with Half and Half and Peter, the others being so far behind I didn’t see them all day. Before lunch, we jumped into Mica Lake, an alpine lake that was freezing cold, but oh so refreshing. …
The trail goes out with a bang, in many ways. The scenery is achingly beautiful and awe-inspiring beyond words. This part of Washington is like if the Sierra’s had vegetation. Then there is the smoke from the fires all over the county that gathered in the valleys of the trail, making things just that little …
It is good to be healthy. Yesterday already was a good indication, but today I was certain the illness had passed. I’m back, cruising at my regular speed. Mere minutes out of camp, a big, dark brown bear ran across the trail and crashed through the bushes down to the lake. Wow. It was a …
Due to the closure at the terminus, this was going to be our last section. One last time I refilled and packed my food bag, one last time I left town with a heavy pack. This felt so weird. It couldn’t really be the end right? I realized that I’ve forgotten what it’s like to …
My final zero of this trail and I spent it mostly lying down inside, being sick and barely eating anything beside gatorade and saltine crackers. For a brief moment I went outside to do resupply and have lunch (McDonald’s, very bad idea in hindsight considering my state). Leavenworth was some imitation Bavarian town complete with …
I woke up at 6am, feeling slightly better, but still quite awful. At the time, I was still of a mind to go all 21 miles to Steven’s Pass that day and forego the shortcut that cut 8 miles off that number. The first climb made me reconsider. I can’t do this, I simply can’t do this, …
‘People say it don’t, but really, it do be like that sometimes’ – unknown I woke up and instantly felt awful. I’d been tossing and turning all night, having weirdly vivid half-dreams. My movements were slow and uncoordinated. Just a lack of sleep I thought. Until I walked for a few minutes and realized something …
Because of campsite placement, we had to hike 27 miles today. Usually no big deal except the terrain in Washington is more rocky and has more elevation than Oregon and Northern California. I talked about books with Half and Half. She recommended me ‘Strange the dreamer’. I loved the title and the fact that she …
The smell of pancakes drifted out from the hostel kitchen. I found Jiggy and a girl from Christchurch, New Zealand already digging in. Jiggy turned out to be quite a veteran thru hiker, having already done the Te Araroa and the CDT. Back in Oregon, there were rumors of some people who’d tried to roadwalk …
