It's all ZERO's!

Can you see the BORDER!!! Monument right below

This last and final blog has been very difficult for me to get motivated to write. This means that the PCT trek is really over for me. The ultimate realization that this is not just some long zero days. Washington is where I left off with the my blog writing. Thanks to Maureen and my sister’s for filling in when needed.

Mica Lake

Cutthroat Pass

Glacier Peak

Rain. After I left Trout Lake Abbey, it began raining through the supposedly very scenic Goat Rocks, which unfortunately I wasn’t able to enjoy as the constant downpour of rain. This weather pattern continued until I was at Stehekin. This was about 350 miles. Steven’s Pass, Hwy 2. 22 miles west to hitchhike to the Dinsmore’s, in Baring, Washington,. The trail crosses at Steven’s Pass and this is where you need to find a ride to the Dinsmore’s. Baring consisted of a café, post office, and micro market. That’s it. And the Dinsomore’s. They have about 2-3 acres of lawn, gazebo and 8 bunk beds in a shed/barn. There is a small kitchen, recliners, TV, DVD player. Nice spot after all the weather. Got there late and spent the night in the gazebo under a big rain storm. Went to the café to the nicest people ever. Locals all spoke of an upcoming storm and the small group of us decided to stay another night with the Dinsmore’s. That afternoon was dry and I was able to get my gear dried out, just in time for another BIG storm. Lightening, thunder, and heavy downpour all night long. Was so happy we made the decision to stay. Got a ride out at 9am. Was on trail with Scabby and Teabag, although they walked further. I stopped after 18 miles of downpour. Rained all night long. Camped, huddled together with a dozen or so other hikers. Woke up to rain, packed up wet gear and off for a 22 mile day in constant downpour. That night as I was pitching my tent, it finally began to slow down. That part of the trail, Section J/K, is really so remote and receives NO trail maintenance, overgrown and a difficult trail to hike. There was a reroute over the Suiattle River, where a new bridge was being built. This was the best part of this section. Then the weather changed. Sun came out and warmed up a bit. Now Washington became nice and was as “advertised.” Pushed hard that day with 27 miles so that I could catch the morning bus into Stehekin the next day to meet my sisters. This was where I really noticed the FUNGI. The diversity was incredible. Apparently, there are 11,000 different FUNGI in Washington. I believe it. The next morning I was able to hike the 12 miles to the High Bridge Bus Stop. The bus is a National Park bus and takes about an hour to get to Stehekin, with one stop at the “BAKERY.” The nice surprise was that Shauna and Terri were on the bus at High Bridge when I boarded! The passengers all knew me and greeted me with “Hi Chief!” My sisters!!! I felt like an instant celebrity. Had a cinnamon roll at the FAMOUS Stehekin Bakery, which every thru hiker will remember when talking about Stehekin!

Maureen's favorite

Stehekin is at the end of Lake Chelan, 55 miles from Chelan. The only way to get there is by ferry or float plane or walk to the High Bridge Bus stop on the PCT. They have very limited internet, that is via satellite, no cell service, no phone lines – also satellite. “Stehekin is what America was!” Logo on t-shirts in Stehekin. Shauna and Terri had a 2 bedroom with a kitchenette at the North Cascade Lodge in Stehekin. This quaint town consists of the lodge, the restaurant, Post Office, and the N. Cascades Natl Park Intepretive Center and a very, tiny market. Stehekin sits on the shores of Lake Chelan, surrounded by the Cascades – the North Cascades Natl’ park. The weather was in the 80’s during the day and low 60’s at night. Heaven. It was a beautiful afternoon. My sisters went for a 4 hour kayak as I hung out on a log in the middle of Lake Chelan with about 8 other hikers. One of the hikers kayaked out an 18-pak of PBR’s to the log! I felt like a 20 something. I will never forget this moment on the PCT. A little bitter sweet. I didn’t want it to end. I knew from Stehekin my trek would be complete in 88 miles and I would probably never see these hikers again. Stayed an extra day in Stehekin waiting for my overnight/express guaranteed delivery from the USPS. Desperately needed my new shoes and my Canadian permit – which clearly stated that I need to have in my pocession at all times! Having to stay that extra day, I had to say goodbye to my small group of hikers that I had hoped to cross the border with…again, bitter sweet. Sure enough, we didn’t need the Canadian permit and my shoes blew out on the last day of the trip. Somehow I was able to hold them together. Not much faith in the USPS. Maureen got to know “Jonathan” the Stehekin Post Office workder as she called twice daily to get updates on lost package.

Pair #6 - barely made it!

Decided after playing the waiting game, to get back on the trail. 4 days, 88 miles to the monument. Weather was nice, scenery was epic., water was plentiful. (note – September 2013 was the wettest on record for Stehekin). Walked alone for 2 days. Camped together with Buff, Skittles and Scones. On third day met up with Kiddo and Eric (her boyfriend joined her for last part of walk). Up to the very last day, 23 miles and rain damaged trails were very difficult, but arrived at monument at noon. From there it was still 8 miles to Manning Park.

Arrived at Manning Park Resort at 4pm and showered and was so happy to see Maureen just an hour later! Storm that night was epic. Delayed the Seattle SeaHawks game. Our room shook with thunder and lit up throughout the night. We both couldn’t sleep and got to experience an incredible show by Nature herself. and not in a tent….

Buff, Skittles and Scones coming into Manning Park

Manning Park Resort

Mo on the PCT out of Manning towards Monument

Winter arrived with avengence on the 16th of September. I arrived on the 15th. The stories that have since followed have been heartbreaking. Hikers lost, hikers stranded, snow levels 3-4ft deep with postholing to hip level, trail impossible to find, SAR (Search and Rescue) teams fully activated. Many hikers had to make the decision to stop their thruhike with only 100 miles short of completion. To have started in mid April and already walked 2500 miles to call it quits can be beyond frustrating, to say the least. To call it quits can be beyond frustrating, to say the least.

Not a good sign

Took 2 days down time at the resort, swimming, hot tub, and small walks to show Maureen all the FUNGI. The 3 hour drive back to Vancouver was interesting. Maureen drove as I gripped the seat cushions. Stressful and terrifying. More stressful than having that bear munching outside my tent. Traffic, high speeds, people, high rises, taxis, freeways, it was all too much. Was so thankful when we boarded our Coast Starlight Amtrak train back to Santa Barbara. Perfect way to reintroduce myself to society. Wine tasting along the Wilammette Valley in the Parlor car can’t be beat!

This is good

Dining Car

Vancouver rooftop wine

That’s it. Dodgers are in the playoffs. Airstream is ready to travel and I’m home in Santa Barbara. Home Sweet Home. Life is Good.
Thanks for following along.
              
40 years waiting, 5 months walking, Sublime, surreal. 

my signature

Signing off, Chief

My Homecoming GIFT from Maureen!!!