Day 6. PCT 4.54 miles

We slept in this morning since it was so cold out. Since we were under 5 miles from the popular trailhead, we kept hearing early day hikers talking while walking by and then suddenly hushing their voices when they saw our tent. Must’ve looked pretty funny! 

I couldn’t take any pictures on the trail because my phone was so messed up, but more on that in a minute. On the way down we must’ve seen over 100 hikers/ backpackers coming up the trail while we were coming down. We talked to a couple ex-thruhikers and saw a lot of dogs. I’d say after the first 20 people, our “hello”s and “thank you”s and “have a good rest of your hike”s got shorter and drier, and at a certain point we just wanted be done with the long downhill and constant stopping for people!

Made it!!

Success

We crossed under I-90 and walked a little less than a mile to Snoqualmie Pass, where we got our priorities straight: Some food and beer from Commonwealth Brewery and DruBru!

Ahhhh!!

Yum!!

We met a cool couple sitting on the table next to us outside and talked about the trail with them for a bit. If you guys are reading, it was nice to meet you! After that we headed over to the Summit Inn and got two nights. This way we can decide what to do next and wait for a resupply package that Dona had sent us a week earlier but got delayed in the mail! We should be getting it by Saturday if not Friday :) 

So, what now? Well, there’s a few thing to think about. First, my phone is pretty done for. It’s normal for phones to act up in the cold, but mine is fritzing. If it’s not over ~65°, the screen is not responsive and apps open randomly and complete functions on their own. Many of the pictures I took over the last few days I have needed to use the volume up button on the side of my phone after trying very hard to get the camera working. I’m going to need to find a replacement ASAP before anymore wilderness hiking with pictures/blogging. I’m actually writing this post Friday because it wasn’t working until much later in the day.

Claire I’s bodies are hurting pretty bad, and Claire is starting to encounter blisters. The next section planned is 100 miles, and seeing how worked we got by this 74 mile section, we can’t imagine more food and heavier packs with the same mosquitos for 2 days longer. Also, if mosquitos are even CLOSE to as bad as this last section... ugh... A recent trail report on the WTA confirms what I fear...

No thanks!

We also have our Maui move on the mind, and don’t want to be scrambling too last minute to find housing/job leads there before leaving in September. 

With all of this in mind, I think for now we’ll head back to Portland, and maybe look to do a fun and shorter 44 mile section in the Goat Rocks Wilderness with some friends later.

The section we just did was definitely one of the most beautiful sections of the entire trail, and I’m stoked that Claire at least got to see it. It has been an important one in my mind to show her since I hiked in 2018. Well folks, this may be it for awhile, or I may be posting more this summer about other adventures.

As always, thanks for reading!!