SPECIAL THANKS TO THIRD PARTY TRAIL ANGELS

Since early August, my wife, Shirley, has been supporting me along the final miles of this PCT journey and on behalf of the mission of raising funds for Home of the Innocents. www.homeoftheinnocents.org

We could not have made this happen without the loving support of our new friends, Jill Yang (photo #2) and her daughter, Diya, in Seattle, and Joyce and Jack Fiel (photo #1) from Bellingham, WA. These two families became trail angels, not by visiting the trailheads, but by opening their home to Shirley and me on behalf of our mission for the Home. While I was hiking through Southern Washington, Shirley has been welcomed into Jill's home. Then Joyce and Jack opened their home to us this weekend while I completed the final 69 miles into Canada.

Sunday night, after 119 days in the wilderness, Joyce and Jack invited this old hiker, Roadrunner, and Naughty Eyes into their lovely home to help us reenter the 'valley of reality'. They fed us watermelon, ice cream and Snicker Doodle cookies. Then this morning we feasted on a true hiker breakfast. What a welcome home!

Thank you new friends!

Greybeard

DAY 119: Sunday, Aug. 24: 34 miles - TOTAL 2,663.5 PCT miles

HELLO CANADA!

We have done it!

2,663.5 miles from Mexico to Canada.

Now to recount this final day!

My stomach discomfort was worse today than any of the last four days. Yesterday, I was not sure if I could do the necessary miles in two days to reach the end and beat the coming rains. As predicted, it began to rain lightly when we reached the border. We were thankful that we did not have to pitch camp again in the rain. Four rainy days in a row last week soaked most of our gear and forced us to stop to dry out, which we did at the Stehekin Ranch.

The remaining northern section of the National Pacific Crest Scenic Trail is memorable. The mountain meadows and the slopes are covered with small bushy trees. It looks like grassy slopes but the ground cover is really small, dwarf-like trees. We watched a bear down in a green valley. It appeared to be searching for food and was oblivious to 3 humans watching him from the PCT high above 'his' valley.

It was a great feeling to clear that last 7,000 footer - knowing that going down Devil's Backbone was the final down to the Border and the finish into Canada. Then to make it extra special, was the fact that I was finishing with two new friends - making two 35 mile days a fitting finish to a very long walk.

Keep hiking all you hikers!

Greybeard

DAY 118, Sat., Aug.23: 35.7 miles: TOTAL 2629.95

Coordinates: 48 deg. 46'343" N; 120 deg. 42'726" W. As I trekked out of Rainy Pass, I am as tired and sick as I can remember. I have a stomach issue and the miles ahead is a traverse of multiple 2,000 ft. climb. It is going to be rough but my two hiker buddies, Naughty Eyes and Roadrunner are good company. Our plan is to get as many miles today in the beautiful sunlight so we will be able to reach Canada tomorrow afternoon. Shirley will be waiting for me in Manning Park, BC - the end of this trail.

Keep hiking,

Greybeard