Category: PCT Thru Hike

Day 102

At mile 2351.7. Hiked 26 miles today. – August 1, 2018

Today, checking the fire report, I found out that the fire at White Pass was named the Miriam Fire and that the area which included the PCT and other trails had been closed. The fire was first reported on Monday, July 30th, 11:00 AM, less than an hour before I walked through the area and noticed an orange glow to the sunlight filtering through the trees. The fire was caused by a lightening strike.

I also found out that two sections of the PCT ahead of me were closed due to fire. One closure for the Cutthroat Fire is at Rainey Pass. The other is at Suiattle Pass from mile 2552 to mile 2572.

I started the morning with a climb so I had early morning views like this.

I could look back and see Mt Adams in the distance. This photo is zoomed in a great deal. I could also look back at the jagged line of the Goat Rocks.

I was particularly tiered and low energy so upon reaching a spring after 8.3 miles, I laid out my mat and had snacks, cold water foot soak, 2 Advil, nap, Energ-C drink, and strong coffee to go. The rearranged of the day I was charging up the trail.

Looking down, I could see Sheep Lake where I had been camping only an hour or two earlier.

The morning sky was clear and the moon stood out against blue.

I reached crested a ridge of my first climb and saw the trail extending across a new vista.

The moon delighted me for hours. It shown not only against these rocks, but just above and to the left of Mt Ranier. As the day drew on and I had new views of Ranier, the moon grew closer to Washington’s most majestic peak.

I passed by the east side of Mt Ranier. The moon is out of frame, but it was there. 

I  saw bleached out timber standing like soldiers. It was a good time for a bbreak and to call home.

At mile 2325.7. Hiked 24.8 miles today.

I used the Thermocell during a morning break and at lunch. It kept the mosquitoes away so could take off the head net and relax without those pesky bloodsuckers bothering me.  I’m happy with Thermocell.

I broke camp at Busch Lake and walked past a number of ponds while hiking through one of the worst mosquito infested areas I had seen. Mosquitoes were in a swarm around my head net.

This is Busch Lake where I camped.

I passed by Yellow Cedars that grow in this area.

I had to cross a stream by walking this log. It was easier than some other log crossings I had done on the PCT.

There were meadows with ponds and wet areas. Beautiful,but perfect for mosquitoes.

Mt. Ranier

My. Ranier close-up.

This is Anderson Lake where I took a quick swim then laid on my mat to dry out.  Washington has been hot.

At mile 2300.9. Hiked 21.4 miles today. 

Today was a short day into White Pass where I resupplied with a package sent to Kracker Barrell. I barely beat the Miriam Fire trail closure south of White Pass. In fact, it was officially reported at 11 AM and I was hiking through that area around noon. 

After spending most of the day at Kracker Barrel, I started hiking again at 6:20 pm and hiked into the dark some time after 9 pm. The area full of scum ponds and  was infested with mosquitoes. To make matters worse, my GPS stopped working and indicated that I had hiked off map. I backtracked a mile before I encountered a trail junction sign that indicated I was indeed on the PCT all along.  Don’t always trust your GPS! The GPS continued to give false readings into the next day.

Amazon has delivered a Thermocell to me at Kracker Barrel and I tried it out while I cooked dinner. I sat outside the tent completely mosquito free while cooking, wearing shorts, no headnet, and tent door wide open. This was at Busch Lake where there are hordes of mosquitoes. Thermocell kept them 15 feet away.

Hiking out of camp the early morning light hit the mountains.

After a long climb., I crossed a ridge and could view Mt Ranier through a smoky haze.

After a tough climb the trail as traverses a long slope before descending to White Pass.

A large plane is dive bombing a fire near the area I had just passed through. At the time we were hiking near the fire, we noticed strange orange tinted sunlight filtering through branches overhead.

Smoke plume seen from Kracker Barrel. There was a big show of assorted helicopters and planes of all sizes responding to the blaze. 

At mile 2249.4. Hiked 20.5 miles today. Camping at Lava Springs.

The highlight of the day was viewing the massive glaciers of Mt Adams.  New shoes helped my feet and legs handle the trail much better. My feet and toes only felt a little tingly, not tingly to the point of losing feeling.

I also saw my first elk of this trip. It was a female that quickly trotted off.

Here is a view of Mt Adams.

Glaciers on Mt Adams

People: Camping with Cache22 and Yoga at Lava Springs.

I’m staying in Trout Lake a 2nd night making today a zero miles hiked day. I’m lucky to have gotten a private room at the grocery so I’m living in style in downtown Trout Lake. An extra bonus is that there is a bathtub where I soaked in a warm bath of Epsom salts. 

Cache 22 and I used the bathrobes provided while all our clothes were in the washer. Nobody seemed to notice.

I received new Altra Olympus shoes in Trout Lake. Here are the Altras that went to the dumpster.

Here is my resupply box.