Book Six, Chapter Three – A Place Called Snoqualmie

Terse post, not much quality time, power and Wi-Fi at the same time.

Aug. 28 – 9.6

Escaping White Pass was another tricky move. Food, showers, coffee, Wi-Fi… all these things contributed to my 3 p.m. departure. But the trail was easy, and there was a nice lake. We were crowded, since a lot of people had the same idea, but it worked.

Aug. 29 – 21

Got to Sheep Lake in Rainier National Park. Super easy day, perfect weather and water, and lots of berries.

Met Madd Baker finally, and ended up basically eating two dinners – 1,700 calories worth of grilled cheese and Pop-Tarts with him, then my usual mac and cheese for second dinner.

 

Twenty-one miles planned to an actual cabin with a woodstove, because it should be cold. But I might do two extra to shorten up the next day, and avoid the crowd, and two longer grinds to Snoqualmie Pass.

Aug. 30 – 22.9

I hiked in the fog all morning with Thumper.

We found out that the terminus is open! There’s a small detour around what’s left of the fire, but that’s it.

A long day planned for tomorrow to camp at some powerlines, to make the day into Snoqualmie that much shorter. There’s supposedly a $20 hostel there, so I might stay over, eat pancakes, charge the phone, and sort my food. Then i’ts an easy four days to Stevens Pass.

Aug. 31 – 25.4

Poured rain all night; I should have stayed in the cabin.

Less than 300 miles to go.

Cold all day, hiking in the fog.

Midafternoon we stopped at a hiker feed by “Not Phil’s Dad.”

Short day tomorrow, only 19.6. There will be pizza.

Sept. 1 – 19.something

Holy crap, it’s September! Today was yet another morning of packing up and hiking in a cloud. Despite the fog, not much got actually wet. I actually hiked in my down jacket for a bit. It’s just like the good old days in the desert.

 

 

Nom nom nom.

Today was a lot of pines and green tunnel. For someone who has spent a lot of time in the New England woods, it was like coming home; rocks, roots, muddy soil, steep climbs.

Random Thoughts 90 Percent of the Way There

Everyone is tired. And cold. And both eager and reluctant to finish. I think the fog and clouds are taking a toll on people’s moods. Towns are getting harder and harder to leave.

Ninety percent done means ten percent to go, which then feels like a long way. In reality it’s basically two weeks, and the weather and terrain really aren’t that bad. Some days are what we call transit days; i.e., you just have to do them, so you can get somewhere else.