PCT Day 110 - Mirror Lake

We had a BIG day yesterday, our bodies were definitely feeling it this morning. We were out of camp at a decent time, this time after sunrise.

The hike in the morning was beautiful, there was a light fog around the thick forest of trees, and the trail seemed to glow. 

We met Lost and Found shortly before our 10am break. We chatted with her on an incline about Snoqualamie- the town we were resupplying in, the town that we would reach tomorrow. She offered her advice, to stay at the Washington Alpine Club. It's open this year to take in hikers, since its their off season- not very many members frequent the club this time of year. The only other option was to stay in an expensive hotel- not many to choose from. Our interest in the WAC was high. We were looking forward to town.

We haven't seen Dad Jokes or Pop Top in nearly 2 days now, so we were anxious to see them, or so we were hoping to.

The trail didn't offer too much today, we were caught up in some berry picking before noon, and we were teased with the jagged peaks way in the distance. Joe and I wondered if the trail would be taking us that way. And we hoped it would. I've never seen peaks that sharp, and I wanted to get closer.

Today our goal was to get to Mirror Lake, if we did we would only have 8 miles to do tomorrow. Mirror Lake is nearly 26 miles away- so its still a big day for us.

We didn't see many hikers on the trail today, it was pretty quiet, sadly so. We've been hoping to see a bear too, but still no bears.

At sunset, we had one more climb, a mile left, then we would be at Mirror Lake.

We arrived, and we picked the first camp site we found, lake side, and it was so very pretty. Surrounded by walls granite and in the trees.

Mirror Lake (rumored to have been a spot where Twilight had been filmed, we think that was just a trail rumor though) is a popular weekend spot for Seattliates.

PCT Day 109 - Sunrise and the Beauty of Washington

Even though we went to bed super early last night, 3am wake up calls are hard. But we had to do it. And change is nice every once in a while. It had been a really long time since we started hiking that early.

We packed with our head lamps and were on trail by 4am. The trail was sketchy for some parts, the rain that Washington got last week had apparently caused portions of the trail be washed away. Some stretches required using our hands to ensure we didn't fall down the mountain side. Joe had read that if the PCTA doesn't fix those sections before winter, it will be impossible to repair.

When the sun finally started showing signs, the sky got a little lighter, we were rewarded with views of Rainier now to our south, along with Goat Rocks and Mt Adams again. We were so thankful the skies were clear this morning. These views along with the stars still shining was just amazing. I couldn't take enough photos, and each passing minute made the sky more light blue and streaks of pink.

While I was busy taking videos, Joe hiked on and first heard a herd of caribou below him in the valley. When we searched for the herd, he saw a large group of caribou and ONE white mountain goat! I've been wanting to see a goat so awfully bad. I was sad to hear that I missed him. Caribou are so interesting, their call is more like an instrument, a whistling sound. Its both eery and beautiful. We saw a multiple herds this morning. They wanted nothing to do with us.

By 7am we had nearly hiked 8 miles. So we stopped for breakfast at a campsite. There we met Half Facts- its been months since we'd seen him. He finally caught up to us, he has a really interesting story. He looked so different, super skinny and bearded. He was racing through Oregon and Washington and it looked it.

We finally got to the shelter by noon, of course Pop Top and Dad Jokes weren't there, they would have been here last night.

At the cabin we see Half Facts, and meet Juke Box and Chopstix. They seem like really fun couple- its so obvious they are from the west. With some people you can just tell. :) a compliment.

After lunch we still have 12 miles to make our 30 mile goal. And we have one big climb, 3k ft of climbing and then we're done for the day.

The climb wasn't terrible, but it was in trees and there were lots of Thimbleberries and Blueberries to pick. We made camp just before dark and we hiked 31.5 miles! It looks like rain, and it certainly got cold.

Mt Rainier just before sunrise

Admiring those jagged peaks to our north

Rainier at Sunrise

Just a couple hours later, and already Mt Rainier seems so far away

The Cabin! Time for lunch

PCT Day 108 - Sourdough Gap

Last night we camped with Dad Jokes and Pop Top. Dad Jokes and Twist Off (Joe) attempted to make a fire, but neither could get a spark to grow. The 4 of us huddled on a log, cooked our meals on our stoves and enjoyed a peaceful evening under a grove of trees. We are close to Rainier now, and hopefully the clouds pass so we can get a beautiful, clear view of the volcano.

Although we all woke up at about the same time, Pop Top was the first to break camp. Joe and I have realized that we'd be much faster if there weren't two of us slowing each other down.
Pop Top isn't a very quick hiker, so she likes to get a head start. We had discussed before going to bed that our plan was to do 32 miles today, or that we'd like to do that many. There is a shelter 32 miles from here, it could provide a decent place to stay, and would help us get an early start the next day. Joe and I were thinking about possibly doing that, but 32 is a lot for Washington terrain.

If we can't do 32, maybe 20 would be conceivable. That way we can reach the shelter by noon tomorrow (12 miles). That seemed more plausible.

Joe and I left camp and Dad Jokes around 7am - right off the bat we had a a decent steady climb. And once we were out of the trees, we were provided an amazing view of Mt Rainier. The sky cloud free for the most part, it was going to be a great day!

I had stopped for a lot of photos, and soon enough Dad Jokes passed us by. Throughout our hike that morning, we came across a lot of day hikers. It was interesting to see groups of people out in the Mt Rainier wilderness that were still at camp by 9am. I tried to put myself in their shoes, wow, waking up and still being at camp at 9am, the PCT has really changed my outlook on camping! The thought of staying at a campsite longer than needed was just a waste of time! haha.

By 10am we met up with Pop Top, we saw a couple bucks roaming near trail. The fact that they weren't skittish made me question if we were going deeper into Day Hiker territory. And sure enough, we were. The trail was finally sloping down, and we knew we were coming upon a highway. We had read in our notes on the map that there would be pit toilets and picnic tables! Wooo! A True Luxury! Our 10 am break was going to be taken in style and comfort.

On the way down the trail which led us to the highway, we passed scores of people- Asians with all their cameras, old couples bird watching wearing their brightest ball caps, one couple offered us a vegan brownie. She was reading up on this hike that she was out doing, and learned that she may meet some PCT Hikers, so she came prepared. Bless her! The brownies were amazing.

Our 10 am break was different than usual. We sat on a stone wall in the parking lot along the highway that runs right through Mt Rainier NP. Some people were interested in us, some didn't even notice us. People are interesting. Some people wear their best clothes, and are only there for the picture. Joe, Pop Top and I just sat there amused, eating protein bars and oatmeal, enjoying the sights.

By 10:30 we were back on trail, now on the north side of the highway, and the trail was just a busy with day hikers. I don't blame them, the views are incredible and the weather perfect. Just before our several mile climb we came to a lake where a couple people were swimming (too cold for most), the mosquitos were present, but weren't terrible thankfully.

We stopped for water, and decided to take our lunch early. It was a great spot, and we can study the trail as it wound up and up the mountain that stands before us.

We said goodbye to Pop Top, we told her we most likely won't be making the 32 mile goal, but that probably 20 was more realistic. So far today we've wasted a lot of time.

After lunch we packed our things and started our ascent. Halfway up the relentless switchbacks, I look back to the South and I see where we had come from a week ago. Goat Rocks and Mt Adams in the way distance. WOW what a sight.

Once we finally reach the pass (incline turns to decline), we stop and chat with a day hiking couple. They were from New York and just moved to Washington to be with their kids and grand babies. They were impressed with out story, and were very intrigued with the idea of hiking the PCT. We encouraged them to section hike it, after all they were already hiking on the PCT, even if for a day. What a sweet and generally caring couple. They offered their advice to us- to walk the extra 300 ft and view Sourdough Gap. Sourdough Gap- we had first heard of this from our friends Brad and Kirsty! Of course we were hiking extra!

At the junction of Sourdough Gap and the PCT, we dropped our packs and went off to the West to see the raved views. Although it was starting to cloud up, there it was, Rainier just looming over the valley. Everything seemed enhanced.

Joe asked me if I would want to consider camping here, he reminded me that tonight is the peak of the meteor shower, and that the clouds should blow off. I was skeptical, we didn't even hike 13 miles yet! But then again, a meteor shower with the Rainier in the background... I was sold.

So by 2pm we set up our tent, and spent the rest of the day walking around our own piece of the world with the best views of the surrounding national park. We seriously didn't see another soul all day.

There was one condition- tomorrow we would wake up at 3am and get 30 miles in.

I said "OK, but I might be cranky tomorrow."

Our tent site at Sourdough Gap

Joe was right, the clouds did burn off, mostly

PCT Day 107 - Mt Rainier

I usually have ambitions of leaving the hotel early and getting a good start after a town stop. Unfortunately this never happens as the temptation of the warm bed and hot coffee delay our start. Today we did pretty good and were on the trail by 10am. The first 15 miles were boring as we were walking in heavy tree cover but I passed the time by keeping an eye out for a missing hiker. Someone disappeared in this 100 mile stretch a few years ago and at some point we will walk right next to his skeleton. I’m sure at some point someone will stumble upon him and be able to give his family the closure they are looking for. As the miles slipped by we eventually begin to incline and could see Mt Adams and Knife’s Edge to the south. Both look amazing in the afternoon sky and made me want to come back even more to redo that section. By evening and as the ascent creates we could finally see Mt Rainier in all her glory filling the sky. We’re so close to the giant mountain and only now truly seeing it for the first time

PCT Day 106 - White Pass

We slept like babies last night as the rain pelted our tent most of the night. By morning it was obvious nothing had changed overnight and today would be another cold rainy day which would again limit our views of the spectacular landscape we’ve been hearing about and excited to see. I was shocked by the temperature when I pulled back the soaked floppy rain fly. The temps were in the upper 30’s at best, quite the difference from the three days in the 90’s from just a few days ago. Since there  are no views to see we hiked fast as town, White Pass, is only 15 miles away, we elected to skip lunch and made it to the Kracker Barrel Gas station by 2pm. The clerks let us sit in the station all day so we could catch up with our fellow hikers and recharge our bodies along with our electronics. By closing time we had a few good meals and bought some beer and wine. Since it was still cold and rainy we decided to stay in a hotel room next door for the night.

PCT Day 105 - Bad Weather at Goat Rocks

After we laid down last night thunderstorms began to roll in and they didn’t stop for hours. In total we had 7 rounds of strikes all around our camp site. It would start with a bolt in the distance followed by a boom, 5 Mississippi’s, away.   Rain would turn to heavy rain with the occasional hail pellet on the tent and before slowing lighting would crack directly above us and a thunderous bang would shake the entire ground. This happened seven times and we quickly figured out the pattern. Just as we wanted to relax we would hear another boom in the distance and know what was in store. The strikes were so bright we had to lay on our sides because the light was so bright it would blind us even with our eyes closed. It was extremely nerve wracking to know it was coming but at the same time it was so cool and amazing to be around such energy and power which comes from the energized sky.  It’s difficult to explain but I could actually feel the enhanced energy all around. After the storm was over we were greeted with heavy rain and wind all night. I wanted a good test for the tent, I had just told that to Madelyn the prior day, before we head south for the Sierras and it most certainly passed. I think if it passed last nights test then it will hold up to most any storm. 

I woke today exhausted from the lack of sleep the past two nights but excited to see what Goat Rocks Wilderness had to offer. We had breathtaking views early on of high mounting ridges, waterfalls, and jagged peaks which touched the sky. As lunch approached the fog blanketed the entire region. We tried to delay peaking Knife’s Edge but we could not. We missed one of the most scenic sections of the Washington trail which only leaves us wanting to come back for more, maybe we’ll revisit this spot again before our journey is done. 

PCT Day 104 - Enter Goat Rocks Wilderness

I dreamt the water was so low we were able to walk crossed exposed rocks. Reality hit me that it was just a dream when I awoke to the sound of rushing water. It sounded as if the water was even higher than yesterday, could it be true? The Adams Creek is a stone throws away and I was certain the water was going to be just as high and we wouldn’t be able to cross without getting wet. We all packed and were ready to observe the creek by 6 AM, when we got to it it seemed to me not much changed, it may have seemed a bit lower. Joe was suggesting areas to cross, and dad jokes pointed out that the logs may be able to be walked on. Dad jokes crossed the river on the logs first. And was successful. I was skeptical, I had thought maybe the weight and the rushing water would cause the logs to breakaway. He made it across very easily, Joe‘s turn, again success, so I went next and all good, then green lights turn. We all made it across safely and mostly dry. 

The Trail today was through wooded areas, but we did entered goat rocks wilderness. Not many views today until the last 5 miles, while walking on a ridge It had started to lightning and thunder and a fog moved in, it provided thick heavy clouds and a mist that provided a cool view of 6000 feet below. We could see some of the Mount Adams, now almost 30 miles away. I am excited for what’s to come!