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.
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| Mt Rainier just before sunrise |
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| Admiring those jagged peaks to our north |
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| Rainier at Sunrise |
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| Just a couple hours later, and already Mt Rainier seems so far away |
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| The Cabin! Time for lunch |
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