Chief, aka Kevin. PCT 4 me 2013: 09/12/13

Last Leg – Stehekin “the way through” to Canada, mile 2574

Stehekin is truly the end of the earth with the only way in by boat or float plane (or along the PCT trail of course) and no cell reception or telephone access. The name translates from its Native American roots as “the way through”.

One automobile, plane, taxi, bus, and boat ride later Chief’s sisters (Shauna and Terri) arrived in Stehekin to meet up with and to cheer him on for his last push into Canada (that would be us since we are writing this portion of the blog). Yes that’s right; Kevin is on the last leg of his journey. Although bad weather caused Kevin to hole up in Baring and held him back from his original destination date, Shauna quickly booked an extra night in Stehekin to increase the odds of being there when Kevin arrived. This gave us two days in Stehekin to socialize and play before Kevin arrived and that we did. As you can see from the pictures it was an amazingly beautiful place to spend an extra day in, so suffering is not on our menu….

We met almost everyone staying or working in Stehekin including many of the incoming PCT hikers. With very few “hot spots” (the Bakery, the Garden, the Ranch and the Lodge), everywhere we went someone knew us. Like the PCT hikers that knew us as Chief’s sisters, friends we met at the Lodge (Diane and Merrill from Portland), a family we meet at our hotel back in Chalon, groups traveling on the Shuttle back and forth from the Ranch for dinner, and just friendly people we meet along the walks to the “The Stehekin Pastry Co.” also known as the Bakery.

Really, is everyone in Washington as nice and friendly as the people we met on our Trip? Truly, the people who visit this corner of the world are amazing. Thank you!

While we were there we were able to witness the process of the PCT hikers looking for the next meal at the restaurant, then grabbing a bite at the bakery and back to the dinner meal. The goal is to get as much home-cooked/prepared food in you before you go back on the trail. Then you do laundry, unpack, pick up your “box” at the post office, repack and in there somewhere take a shower. As Maureen has shared with you, this group of hikers has a different view on life for five months and they come from all walks of life.

Chief hiked 27 miles on his last day to Stehekin, literally “hauling ass” to arrive by the 10^th. From the moment we met him on the shuttle he began telling trail stories which could only be told by him in the way that he does tell those great stories. Kevin, when did you become this master storyteller? Everyone on the shuttle was transfixed. Everyone was so gracious and genuinely impressed that the two sisters had travelled so far to connect up with their wayward brother on this amazing journey of his. By the mere fact that we had been waiting for two days in anticipation of his arrival and had come so far to see him and that he was so close to finishing, Kevin achieved RockStar status in the Stehekin Valley. So on our last day we watched from the retreating boat as he graced his fans with his presence leaning comfortably against the wooden railing and telling I am sure another one of his marvelous stories.

You go Kevin (Chief), you are amazing...and in some ways you are ending one journey and beginning another.

Love,

Shauna and Terri!