Start: Holden Village End: Stehekin Miles covered: 18 miles on the Bannock Lakes fire detour and 2 miles on the road into Stehekin. (The 27-mile detour replaced 19 miles of the PCT.) PCT mile marker: 2571/2652 Highlight: Beautiful colors around Hilgard Pass. And marmots. And old trucks. Biggest challenge: A 3400-foot climb out of Holden … Continue reading Day 138 – 20 mi – PCT mile 2571 →

Start: tentsite at 2551 End: Holden Village Miles covered: 1 mile on the PCT, then 9 miles on the Bannock Lakes fire detour. PCT mile marker: 2552/2652 Biggest challenge: Early morning sub-freezing temperatures, including accumulated snow over Cloudy Pass. Highlight: Not long after Cloudy Pass, the weather eased up and the colors returned. Yes, all … Continue reading Day 137 – 10 mi – PCT mile 2552 →

Start: tentsite at 2538 End: Image Lake Junction Miles covered: 23 PCT mile marker: 2551/2652 Highlight: Huge trees in the Suiattle River valley. We also got a delightful 15-minute break from the rain here, which was just long enough to fix a hot lunch. (But not long enough to eat it.) Biggest challenge: This was … Continue reading Day 136 – 23 mi – PCT mile 2551 →

Start: tentsite at 2510 End: tentsite at mile 2528 Miles covered: 18 PCT mile marker: 2528/2652 Highlight: Glacier Peak and Mica Lake were beautiful, but the biggest highlight of the day was the F-15s flying through the valley. Weeks ago, another hiker mentioned a place where fighters fly below you in the mountains. I thought … Continue reading Day 135 – 18 mi – PCT mile 2528 →

Start: Pass Creek End: tentsite at mile 2510 Miles covered: 21 PCT mile marker: 2510/2652 Highlight: Marmots all over the place, including an apparently unsuccessful mating attempt. When I have more data bandwidth, I’ll try to upload some videos. (Honorable mention: Lake Sally Ann.) Biggest challenge: It was a generally cold and wet day, including … Continue reading Day 134 – 21 mi – PCT mile 2510 →

Start: Nason Creek End: Pass Creek Miles covered: 22 PCT mile marker: 2489/2652 Highlight: The view of Glacier Peak from Grizzly Peak. (Honorable mention: Dinner break at Pear Lake.) Biggest challenge: More split skin on my hands, presumably from all of the cold, wet weather. (You should see the other guy.)

Start: tentsite at 2452 End: Nason Creek Miles covered: 15 PCT mile marker: 2467/2652 Highlight: Sunrise at camp. (Honorable mention: Refreshments and resupply box at Stevens Pass.) Biggest challenge: Finishing everything (eating, drinking, blogging) before the lodge closed, and passing up a great deal for dinner, bed, and breakfast at their hiker hut. We decided … Continue reading Day 132 – 15 mi – PCT mile 2467 →

Start: Deep Lake End: tentsite at mile 2452 Miles covered: 18 PCT mile marker: 2452/2652 Highlight: It was a gorgeous, sunny day, a huge contrast from yesterday. My favorite was Deception Lake, pictured above and below. Biggest challenge: A very cold morning. It was below freezing until about 9am, so I waited until later than … Continue reading Day 131 – 18 mi – PCT mile 2452 →

Start: tentsite at 2419 End: Deep Lake Miles covered: 15 PCT mile marker: 2434/2652 Highlight: Fiery sunrise on the mountain. Biggest challenge: Constant cold (35-45 deg F) rain. This might have been my most challenging day on the trail. Not physically challenging, but technically and mentally challenging. I decided that in order to ensure my … Continue reading Day 130 – 15 mi – PCT mile 2434 →

Start: Gravel/Ridge Lakes End: tentsite at mile 2419 Miles covered: 19 PCT mile marker: 2419/2652 Highlight: Morning views of Mt Rainier. (Honorable mention: Spectacle Lake.) Biggest challenge: The rocky terrain, paired with the late afternoon 2,000-foot climb, caused my foot to complain again. However, my foot is doing a little better with my Merrell shoes, … Continue reading Day 129 – 19 mi – PCT mile 2419 →