Said goodbye to each other at Stevens Pass this morning. I'll be hiking across the Glacier Peak Wilderness for the next 5 days. There is a detour off of the PCT due to storms that damaged the original trail in 2006. This should be an interesting (and challenging) few days. Will meet Shirley at Rainey Pass on Friday, Aug. 22.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard
8/18/08
DAY 112: Sun.,Aug.17: 25.2 miles: TOTAL 2476.3
The hike today is more of yesterday’s - ascending and descending, but with a slight ease in elevation changes. The trail is washed out at several creek crossings and have to be forded. Someone camped at one creek crossing, probably hoping the ford would be easier later. It was very passable when I went by at 0730. Whoever this is has set up a tent and left a large, black, Standard-sized poodle guarding the tent. I took a picture from a distance (photo #2). That dog wasn’t about to let me get close to that tent.
There is plenty of cold water for most of this section – which is always refreshing. I’m trekking into Stevens Pass (PCT trail#2000). I’ve called Shirley and she is driving in from Seattle. We will be staying in Skykomish, at the Sky River Motel. It will be good to take a break.
There is plenty of cold water for most of this section – which is always refreshing. I’m trekking into Stevens Pass (PCT trail#2000). I’ve called Shirley and she is driving in from Seattle. We will be staying in Skykomish, at the Sky River Motel. It will be good to take a break.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard
DAY 111:Sat.,Aug.16: 34.1 miles: TOTAL 2451.1
My hike today is one 2,000 ft. climb after another – separated by 2,000 ft. descents, one after another. It is very rugged terrain and the ups and downs seem to be straight up and straight down – switching back and forth. But, the passes are astounding above many beautiful meadows, lakes and waterfalls. Coordinates: 47 deg. 33’845” N; 121 deg. 08’074” W.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard
DAY 110: Fri., Aug.15. 20.9 miles: TOTAL 2417
Hiked the 5.9 miles from my campsite last night to Snoqualmie Pass (photo #1) to meet Shirley. We drove across the rode to the Summit Lodge for a sit-down, "big" breakfast. Then we camped out in front of the small grocery next to the Lodge to charge my camera and load the topo maps onto my Garmin eTrex (somehow they disappeared back in Bend, OR). My 'baby' took care of everything while I talked with a couple of section hikers, ate lunch prepared by Jill Yang (the wonderful lady Shirley is staying with in Seattle), drank a half-gallon of cold milk, finished a quart of ice cream and snacked on grapes and bananas.After I got on the trail from the pass (on a rather full stomach), I saw a sign describing the section ahead of me. It read “LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: MOST DIFFICULT.” I’ve seen lots of signs describing the “level of difficulty” of hiking trails – most say “moderate” or “difficult”. This is the first time I’ve seen one that read “most difficult.” And difficult it has been. The trail is a series of climbs, twists and turns around Commonwealth basin that traverses Pyramid Peak (photo #2) any steep slopes and great views. Elevation 5,050 ft. Coordinates for the evening are: 47 deg. 27’198” N, 121 deg. 17’905” W. Didn't get a photo of the sign, but snaped some photos of the not-so-easy trail.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard
DAY 109:Thurs.,Aug.14: 33.8 miles TOTAL 2396.1
Today’s hike has been a trek of ups and downs with great views from the high points. I have a nice camp this evening with a good-water source. I’m at the edge of a forest close to a clear-cut and looking out at a beautiful view of the soon-to-cross Cascades– but I must also be parked next to a “mosquito hatchery” – they’re out in full force. Coordinates: 47 deg.22’286” N, 121 deg. 26’932”W.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard
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