Fires have closed the trail north of Harts Pass. Forest Service is advising people to get off at Rainy Pass (landslides have closed Harts Pass).
That is two days north of our next stop. Stehekin will have us take one resupply box and send the other home “return to sender.”
But. Today the mist cleared out. Beautiful vistas. Marmots. Huge, fat marmots. Saw lots of people we’ve been leapfrogging on the trail.
Took a couple breaks/naps. I’m getting reconditioned fairly quickly but I’m amazed at how fast bed rest de conditioned me.
We had a day of beautiful trail and then four miles of huge blowdowns, broken trail, mud and water.
Topped off by a really sketchy water crossing. The log was partway submerged, people were getting hurt rock hopping, so we forded.
Wore my trail runners. Mostly not bad, but I did get thigh deep and we repacked our bags in case we got submerged.
We got 19.9 trail miles though we had a lot more hiking than that, especially hiking up stream for a better crossing. And getting the hillside falling out from under me as we hiked back down stream.
Lots of steep, loose, gravel and rock spontaneously giving way and sliding.
A great day. Had the same dinner as yesterday but with craisens for dessert.
Win shot some great video. Barely had half a bar cell service. Not enough for internet but I did get a text message from Rachel.
Win used the Garmin to tell the kids we were ok and warm.
Camped by a stream. Might rain. Last night we were shrouded in mist most of the night. Some condensation but we passed hikers who had gone further and camped in a meadow as they dried out later.
They were soaked.