DAY 108: Weds., Aug.13: 31.6 mi.; TOTAL 2363.9

Today's hike from Chinook Pass has been a pleasant stroll in the park due to lots of easy, rolling trail with very few climbs. The views while traversing around high points on slopes generally near crests and crossing one saddle after another, were incredible - non-stop mountain peaks, deep gorges and beautiful lakes nestled in green valleys below. Photo #2 is the 'big guy' - Mt. Rainier!

I am camping in a young tree "thicket" as dense as California Chapperal (photo #2). The thicket is a result of, or follow-up of a past clearout. It is intensenly green and almost claustrophobic. Coordinates: 47 deg.07'996" N, 121 deg.19'573".

I saw my first "blackie" (bear) today, the first one this trip. It was actually a golden brown color and it DID NOT pose for me. The photo of the frog was taken near a unbelievably, serene lake.

Keep hiking,

Greybeard

DAY 107: Tues.,Aug.12: 29.3 miles: TOTAL 2332.3

Some times there are no laundries nearby!
Finished up this day hike at 4:30 pm. Shirley was waiting at Chinook Pass. As usual, she had a take-out chicken dinner waiting for me and a quart of cold milk. As I have already posted, this day was a "walk in the woods". There was not much elevation change. I cleared a ridge at 12 noon and Mt. Rainier, in all its glory, loomed above me. It was magnificant! I could see Mt. Adams and almost Mt. St. Helens.

I have been leap-frogging with 4 other thru-hikers, Chunk, Water Buffalo, Britten, and Bido. They should all be ahead of me tomorrow since Shirley and I are camping tonight at Silver Creek Campground.

I saw a Marmot today. It is the first wildlife sighting larger than a squirrel I've seen in 200 miles. 331.2 miles to go!
Keep hiking,
Greybeard

DAY 107: Tues.,Aug.12 Hiking out of Hwy. 12 at White Pass

What a beautiful morning. It is 6:00 am and after an evening resting, watching the Olympics, and chowing down on "home-made" Sunday Special prepared by my dear wife, I am on the trail at White Pass headed toward Chinook Pass - 30 miles north. This is a day hike, carrying a light-weight day pack. I am supplied with snacks and Deet - to deter the flying blood-sucking mosquitoes.
Shirley will be waiting for me at Chinook. The view this morning is of the towering monarch - Mt. Rainier. At 14,410 ft., this dormant volcanio is a sight to behold. Today is the most clear day I've had since crossing the state line in Oregon. Will update this post with photos as soon as possible.
After today - 331.2 miles to go.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard

THANK YOU LOUISVILLE TRAIL STORE

Wanted to take time to send a great big thank you to Jim, Karen, Tim and all the good folk at the Trail Store in Louisville: http://www.louisvilletrailstore.com/! They have been supporting me on this journey on behalf of the Home of the Innocents, http://www.homeoftheinnocents.org/. They have been there for me when I needed shoes, food, and gear of every kind! The watch they supplied has come in handy so many times. Even more important than their support, the assistance and advice they gave me with regard to nuitrition and handling the heat was invaluable. The Trail Store has definitely been a valuable resource for this long-distance hiker!

Greybeard

DAY 106: Mon., Aug.11: 15.5 miles: TOTAL 2302.8

Woke up to see the fog at the top of the mountain was worse than last night. I dropped off from my campsite at 6,000 ft. elevation and dropped down to 4,500 ft at Tieton Pass and then climbed up over another ridge at 6,600 ft. The trek down to White Pass was viewless and uneventful - misty fog most of the morning.

Get this - I passed by a lake called Little Mosquito Lake. In my opinion most of these lower elevation lakes are 'mosquito-ridden' lakes. The mosquitos can eat the flesh right off of you if you stand still for very long.

Roadrunner (photo #1) and I met Shirley at White Pass around 10:30 am. Spending the night in Packwood and plan to day-hike 30 miles to Chinook Pass tomorrow. Coordinates for home tonight: 46 deg. 36'470" N, 121 deg. 40'184" W.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard

DAY 105: Sun., Aug.10: 29.3 miles TOTAL 2287.3

Most of today was a "walk in the woods" - but after hiking through Cispus Pass and passing by Yelverton Shelter (an emergency shelter only), I started on over Old Snowy Mountain at 7,000+ ft. elevation. Suddenly, I was surrounded by a wall of fog and finding the trail was difficult - an unnerving experience.

I met up with a guy hiking south and asked him if he was a southbounder. He said no. He was northbound but because he could not find the trail ahead, the weather was getting worse, and he was headed back to the shelter.

Depending on my GPS, I decided to stay the course and hiked on even though the fog made visibility difficult. The trail traversed up over the crest of the mountain and the wind was so strong, it was blowing me sideways. I located the trail using the eTrex and stopped at a bleak, alpine campsite. Another thru-hiker, Roadrunner, came trucking in an hour later. Coordinates: 46 deg.34'384" N 121 deg. 26'552" W.

Even though the fog was thick, and the trail elusive, the views today were "heart stopping." This area is called Goat Rocks Wilderness. The trail follows jagged, treeless, exposed ridges and I looked down on deep, glaciated canyons. This was a dramatic hike and I wouldn't have wanted to miss it.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard

DAY 104: Sat., Aug. 9: 33.3 miles: TOTAL 2258

Met three Southbound thru-hikers today; Scruff, Brun, and Squeek. (Photo #1) They were the first southbounders that I have had a chance to talk with. They were just beginning and like all of us northbounders they were interested in what lies ahead. They were giving me information about snow on the trail north and I shared information from the trail south.

There were several views of Mt. Adams and the Adams Glacier, but, unfortunately, ALL of my views today were cloud-covered. There were lots of great camp sites along this 33 miles and I took photos of beautiful wildflowers. Washington is a beautiful state.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard

DAY 103: Fri.,Aug.8: 33.3 miles: TOTAL 2247.7

Hiked out of Panther Creek CG Trailhead. Coordinates: 46 deg.06'962"N, 121 deg. 45'386" W. Many ups and downs but also a lot of flat area with waist-high vegetation. At hiking for hundreds of miles, these climbs are fairly easy. The forests are lush with trees very much like those along the Appalachian, Douglas Firs, Alders and Maples. Also, I've had a few views of Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams. I've been sampling Salmon Berries, Rasberries and Thimble Berries along the trail. Great on-the-trail snacking.
Keep Hiking,
Greybeard

Strange Scenes from the Trail

Photo #1: Some of the bags that a man was packing on the trail. Photo #2: someone left a pair of jeans and a sign that said "SIGN ME".

Keep hiking,

Greybeard

THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING NEW SPONSOR

Landmark Ford
12000 SW 66th Ave.,Tigard, OR 97223

http://www.landmarkford.com/

Shirley is here supporting me for the rest of my hike. As you would guess, it can be costly. Thanks to Landmark Ford, Rental Division, for providing a discount on a rental vehicle. They are doing this on behalf of our mission to raise funds for the Home of the Innocents, http://www.homeoftheinnocents.org/

Thank you Landmark Ford!

Greybeard