I got into Skykomish today where I met Jenny, the most hiker friendly postal worker known to man. She let me in to the post office after hours to get my food, then cooked dinner for me and some other hikers who she is letting camp in her lawn. It's a nice break from a tough, rocky section of trail.
Steps taken today/total: 47,786/5,069,942
Miles walked today/total: 24.35/2,461.62
Elevation gained today/total: 6,520/431,627
Elevation lost today/total: 7,056/423,703
Today I finished the Goldmeyer alternate, going over the steep and rocky Dutch Miller Gap to get back to the PCT. When I got back on, I saw Lopsong, whom I haven't seen since Mather Pass in the Sierras. He got up to Mt. Shasta then came up to the Canadian border to do the rest southbound in order to beat the snow.
Steps taken today/total: 54,921/5,022,166
Miles walked today/total: 29.78/2,437.27
Elevation gained today/total: 7,643/415,107
Elevation lost today/total: 4,899/416,647
I got to Snoqualmie Pass around 12:30 today after passing by mirror lake and going through the rocky descent to the pass. Snoqualmie is a ski area in winter, but now most of the people here are just stopping on their way to somewhere else on I-90. After picking up my food, I started off on an alternate route that passes by Goldmeyer hot springs. I went around beautiful Snow Lake then scrambled down a rocky section of trail that had been erased by a rock slide. After clearing that obstacle the trail entered a forest where just about everything except the trail and freshly fallen pine needles was covered in moss. I found a flat spot on an abandoned logging road and set my tarp up to dry since I think this will be my first rainless night since my first in Washington.
Steps taken today/total: 46,244/4,967,245
Miles walked today/total: 21.29/2,390.66
Elevation gained today/total: 5,420/407,464
Elevation lost today/total: 7,489/411,748
Today I met Not Phil's Dad. His son, Not Phil, hiked the PCT in 2009 and every year since, his dad has come out to do trail magic the day after Labor Day until he runs out of food. He said it took four weeks in 2010 and eight days last year for his food to run out. Since I stayed there for quite a while I didn't get as far as I was hoping, but that means I avoided about 1,500 feet of climbing and I'm camped 700 feet lower, so I should have a warm night.
Steps taken today/total: 58,091/4,921,001
Miles walked today/total: 28.20/2,377.44
Elevation gained today/total: 5,621/402,044
Elevation lost today/total: 7,137/404,259
It rained for a bit this morning, but it wasn't nearly as cold as last time. I also had the motivation of a cabin 21 miles away where I could dry off if I really needed to. The cabin is maintained by a snowmobile club who use it in the winter. It has a wood stove and a lot of hooks on the walls to hang gear up to dry. Luckily, the rain stopped and I was dry by the time I got there, so after warming up a bit I hiked on and got to camp early.
Steps taken today/total: 54,231/4,862,910
Miles walked today/total: 26.06/2,349.23
Elevation gained today/total: 3,679/396,423
Elevation lost today/total: 4,378/397,122
I went into Mt. Rainier National Park today, but the trail just barely goes in as if only to say that it does. After going "through" the park, I got to Dewey Lake, a beautiful fishing spot nestled in the mountains. I went up around the park entrance and camped at Sheep Lake.
Steps taken today/total: 61,755/4,808,679
Miles walked today/total: 30.79/2,323.17
Elevation gained today/total: 5,612/392,797
Elevation lost today/total: 4,222/392,744
I woke up above the clouds today which finally let me get a good look at Mt. Adams. As I went around the mountain a came up over a ridge and saw Rainier above the clouds. I then traversed one of the sketchier snow fields I've seen and got to the Knife's Edge, a long ridgewalk towards Rainier. I then dropped down to White Pass where I got some hot food and a resupply box.
Steps taken today/total: 43,375/4,746,924
Miles walked today/total: 22.51/2,292.38
Elevation gained today/total: 4,266/387,145
Elevation lost today/total: 5,826/388,522
