Washington

This week was a 145 mile stretch from Bridge of the Gods to White Pass over 6 days. After the first day the temperature dropped considerably with lots of condensation overnight. It didn’t rain, but it might as well have. Everything ended up moderately damp, and I’m happy to be drying out in Packwood today.

Southern Washington did not have any special expectations for me, but Goat Rocks Wilderness was on par with the Sierras. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves…

Being lazy, I went a bit light on the 6 day food carry, but was fortunately able to supplement with loads of huckleberries. Didn’t touch the mushrooms, though.

Today is more gear repair, as I try to flog an additional 350 miles out of my equipment. Anything you take on the PCT is essentially sentencing it to the Hiking Gulag; it will be worked to death. Still, you can do lots with duct tape and super glue.

Dangers of the trail:

Hiker vocabulary:

Hiker trash moment: a time or event when you realize that your standards have dropped so low as to become unmeasurable. Maybe it was when that lady in Ashland gave you a couple of bucks because she thought you were homeless. Or eating Peanut M&M’s off the trail which were only slightly dusty. Or mooching leftover pizza from the table next to you at a restaurant. Or perhaps burnings holes in your t shirt trying to dry it with the motel hair dryer… (names withheld to protect the guilty)

Happy trails!