Ready to hike “Lionshead” closure now that it isn’t closed.
But a drive from Mcleary to Portland Airport then so very many busses (no rail due to bridge work) to Timberline.
Hoping to set up camp at Mt Hood and then on to Elk Lake.
This is a list of changes with explanations.
I need a new shoulder pouch, the zipper on my current one is dying. Using my back-up reading glasses since the others were pretty scratched up. Kept them for an emergency backup.
That is why when people meet me that I met in the desert section they can’t quite figure out why they are having trouble recognizing me.
Before this section we got a lot of running around done, phones fixed, shoes for both of us replaced. I ended up with new pants to replace my old ones that have seen thousands of trail miles and years of wear.
So. Day one the bus got us back to Stevens Pass just before 2:00. We sent our resupply boxes back (those bear canisters are full of food).
We got lift tickets. No shorter, but a different approach (think legs of a triangle). We are hiking with Megan from the San Juan islands.
The lift tickets came with ice cream. The lift took us up to the opposite side of the mountain from the trail. Then we started hiking.
We hiked to Mig Lake at mile 195.8 which has an open air privy. 7.41 miles.
Did not feel that hungry. Ate two snacks and drank some electrolytes.
Day two.
We started at Mig Lake, home of the freestanding privy and started. We had a modest seventeen mile target. There were two huge ups and at the top of the second we rested and ate a snack.
Then it was a long downhill. The day passed with our passing a series of mountain lakes.
Towards the end it started up. After crossing a lot of water, including a significant rock hop and then a ford rough enough there is a horses bypass.
Mile 212.7. Lots of tent sites. Water. So much washed out boulders and trees. we had a commercial dinner and Graham crackers with butter for desert.
The stream bed went from empty to eight feet across as the evening progressed. Megan camped with a German couple up on the hill.
There were an amazing number of mosquitoes.
We had one bar of service earlier in the day. Just enough for some text messages from Heather but no internet.
We had a big up and then down. Seven miles mostly flat. The last five miles were uphill. Seventeen miles.
Finished at mile 229.9 and 5222 feet.
Day three, the Fourth of July and a day of many bridges—including one over a waterfall and one that had been completely destroyed. For the missing bridge we took a log.
Finished at 245.2. With the miles we did in the desert section these fifteen to sixteen mile days look short. But we have had a lot of blowdowns and rough trail.
Add in the ice axes, spikes and bear canisters and we are also carrying five or so more pounds.
We had an up, a long down, some flat and then a long up.
Right now we are resting in the tent away from the mosquitoes using a sleeping bag for shade.
So many mosquitoes.
Final day. Four big up & down, over Kendall’s Catwalk and made it to Snoqualmie for pizza. Mile 259.1 and then into town.
To quote Happy:
We left the tiny village of Stehekin yesterday and took the ferry to Chelan. We then hitchhiked from the ferry parking lot. We were planning to hitch into town and then take the bus to Wenatchee. A lovely older couple picked us up at the ferry parking lot and told us that they were headed to Wenatchee. WOOP 🙌
We spent the night in Wenatchee, replaced shoes, bought new reading glasses, and Steve got new pants. We are now on an Amtrak bus to Stevens Pass. After today, we expect to have cell service again in 4 days when we reach Snoqualmie Pass.
Bus got us into Leavenworth. Now to Stevens Pass.
Day one we left Lion’s Den at 7:00 in Raven’s truck with Raven and nine hikers. Lion took three more.
One pack started to fall off but it was saved along with a trowel that fell out.
Garmin weather gave us 0% chance of rain every hour.
Happy & I had new rain jackets and fairly new hats as the old hats got mislaid somehow at the family matter and our rain jackets were showing their age.
We were lucky because it rained hard for 2-3 hours. It broke right before we set up our tent but the condensation was ferocious.
But we had 21.15 miles in and water for the morning. Blaze shared the campsite with us.
The next day we had some sketchy snow and used our ice axes and our micro spikes for a forty foot stretch. There were beautiful views.
We crossed a lot of bridges. Camped 4.9 miles from the blue blaze (and shuttle) to Stehekin.
At Bridge Camp we had no condensation in spite of the stream and three days of rain. Blaze was there and we met Andrew.
Weather is suddenly dry and hot. Since it is really sketchy south of Stejekin we are headed to the next stretch we missed. After we hike that we will do Timberline to Elk Lake. Then to Sierra to finish.
Broke the camera lens cover on my phone. Made me glad I have got the camera lens protective cover—it is the first time I ever paid for one.
Final morning we got up early, hiked to the ranger station at the bridge and then caught the bus. Bakery for sticky buns, stuffed croissants and a Danish.
One of the kids we met on the Oregon coast was there (I say “kid” but she has two children who have both finished high school in Denmark).
She may skip the sketchy section too (ok, she is taking the ferry out before us). We may end up hiking together.
We got to town on the shuttle with an agenda. First thing we checked the hiker box. All it had was empty fuel canisters and some sacks of mystery beans.
Then we checked the bus and ferry schedules, picked up change and had a post office visit. Once again we sent our seven day resupply back, but got our bear canisters with four days of food.
Then it was time for laundry and showers. Washing machine did not work right on the spin cycle so we wrung the clothes out more by hand and started the dryer.
The canisters were scheduled originally for the Sierra section. New smelly proof bags, a new set of bag liners and I was supposed to have new pants. They weren’t there.
Ah well. My current pants have lots “character “ but I’m hoping they will last a while longer.
We have one section in Washington, one in Oregon and then Sierra if it melts soon enough.
The Zpacks pack liner I have been using has started wicking water from the bottom of my pack into the liner with my sleeping bag. I’m switching to a Nylofume bag. Win has a fifty gallon trash bag she prefers.
We will double check when we get to the town after the ferry ride and may send the ice axes and micro spikes home. That would balance out the canister weight.
Fourth of July is coming up. Wondering how the snow melt in Sierra is coming.
My Hokas seem to be tearing up. Will see what is available in town and to ship. Also need to fix my right hiking pole tip.
My new rain jacket was what was available at the outfitter. In this case a bright blue Outdoor Research Apollo. Same rain pants. I’m hoping they will last until the end of this hike.
The hat is neat because the underside of the visor/brim is black. That color just works so much better. Win’s hat is a beautiful blue color with a duck.
Update. We got the bus schedule at the Ferry registration and two tickets for Lady of the Lake. It stopped at the boat station for Holden village and then continued on. the dock rolled and the wind blew the engine fumes in the cabin which was rough.
Eventually we got underway again and my stomach settled down.
The recent rain made for a great waterfall which we stopped for.
We also stopped for mountain goats.
The lake and mountains are beautiful. I’d never have seen this but for last year’s fires.
As the lake goes on (it is fifty miles long) the landscape transitions from rain forest to desert.
Since we have done the next section and the trail is pretty snow & ice filled with a lot of blowdowns, we continued our plan to bypass to Stevens Pass at mile 188.3 and hike to 259.4 and Snoqualmie Pass or about 72 miles. We have four days of food which puts us at about 18 miles a day.
Mile 206 has some great camping and a pit toilet?!
207.8 also looks good for day one back on trail. Fewer mosquitoes perhaps? Will have to see.
224 looks good for day two. Camp and water. 244 has great tenting and water. Resupply at the pass.
Then head to Trout Lake. Mile 423.6. bridge of the gods is mile 505. Four-five days of food. Beautiful part of Washington and a downhill stretch.
Win took some great pictures recently. I look forward to an Internet connection to be able to share them and update things.
Shopping list for town.
Information needed:
The ferry has stopped for a great waterfall and a mountain goat with a baby. Sometimes people step right in front of me when I’m taking a picture and other times they ask.
So much we missed when the way was covered with smoke. beautiful now—and the transition from rain forest to rain shadow desert is fun to see. The lake trip is about fifty miles.
It is beautiful. I could see returning just for vacation.
