Clear, cold mountain lake!

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

UPDATE from Mon., Aug. 18 through Fri., Aug. 22: Total miles hiked to date: 2,593

Let's begin with the postive! The past 5 days have taken me into some of the most rugged, yet beautiful, glaciated landscape with huge, granite rocks, overpowering canyons and dense growth of flowers, shrubs and trees. Two hikers, Roadrunner and Naughty Eyes caught up with me and the three of us decided to take the original PCT instead of the detour that was recommended by the rangers. We had reports from other hikers that the bridges were intact and even though the trail was not maintained, it was passable. We entered into the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area and then to Agnes Creek at the fast moving Stehekin River. Everything worked out for us except for the RAIN!

This brings me to the negative aspect of this week. Rain, rain, cold temperature, snow and more rain. For four days it has rained. I put on everything I had with me to try to stay dry - my 'packa', my rain jacket, my hat, my long pants and the plastic bag I carried in my pack. On Thursday night, we took a room at the Stehekin River Ranch so we could dry out our bodies and dry our sleeping bags. The accommodations was a positive! Good food and a great room to rest. I called Shirley to tell her that I would be at Rainy Pass Friday afternoon.

Shirley and I are camping at the trailhead this night, Friday, Aug. 22. We are both tried and will not be driving to a restaurant but will eat smoked salmon and crackers, then get a good nights rest. Roadrunner and Naughty Eyes are camped out here as well. We'll be getting on the trail at 6 a.m. to finish up in Manning Park - THE FINAL 69.7 miles.

Keep hiking,

Greybeard

DAY 113: August 18, 2008 187.2 miles to go!

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

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.

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