Fire department was just here. They are talking 13 feet of snow coming. Looks like this season is done. Rumor is north of Stevens Pass some fifty hikers are scattered and possibly stranded.
I'll hang a little while longer but the most experienced hikers are recommending against it while the least experience want to continue. Sounds like the makings of a bad B movie disaster film.
Folks who headed out yesterday are back. Full Throttle, Heebeegeebee and Simba came back after spending a wet and snowy night on the mountain.
Full Throttle says about a foot and a half of snow when they headed back and still snowing. Their tent collapsed in the night. His main concern that prompted the turn around was lack of proper cold weather gear, ie, boots, cold weather tent and additional warm clothes as well as the inability to determine where the trail was.
He does not recommend heading out tomorrow but eventual I am going to have to make a call.
I have decided to try to hike out of here tomorrow morning. The trail quickly rises to 5,000 feet so if there is to much snow and I find it to dangerous I will still only be a few miles from I-90.
If I can't get through safely I will hitch to Seattle and come home. Maybe finish up in July or August when I can actually see and video something.
All the hikers were invited by the Sheriffs Department to go swimming at an indoor pool for saving that downed hikers life! Very cool.
I stayed behind to troubleshoot the laptop and projector and quite frankly I am sick of being wet!
Watching the original pilot episode of Lost in Space on Hulu. All systems are go!
This one is mine! No Yogieing!
Doc Boone, Broc and 4 other hikers made it in. They rescued an old weekend hiker who was near death from hypothermia. No bull, the guy was unconscious, shirtless, under a tarp. Rescue crew had to come out and get him. Some intense stuff which is why I am in not screwing around.
Thank God for Doc Boone! That guy probably would have died.
Apparently I was more than a little lucky getting through this area the other day. Bird Cage, the English girl I ran into at White Pass is here at the Mostel. Goat Rocks and Snowy Mountain is where they hit the white out and had to turn around.
I went through just before them and got hit with rain and sleet. It was pretty dangerous walking that ridge, can't imagine trying it in a whiteout with sixty mile an hour winds.
Another group crossed after the snow and were post holing up to their waists. Scary stuff.
The hikers I am with now just heard one of their friends hurt his knee up there and is off the trail now.
I am planning on staying here till Monday. It's pouring rain and temps running between 30-45 degrees. Will still be raining but maybe not so hard. It's suppose to warm up around Thursday which is important as there is snow north of us. Rumor has it some twenty people have quit north of here due to the snow.
I am hoping waiting a few days will get me a weather window to complete this trail. Hopefully snow north of here will melt by the time I get there and I won't get hypothermia getting out of here!
In Snoqualmie Pass at The Mostel which is a hostel. Might be here several days waiting out this storm front. Only had 19 miles to get here and was completely soaked through.
Just talked to owner and she is ok with it as the weather forcaste is 3-5 inches down here and 8-12 inches of rain up in the mountains.
Anyway, having some beers, big bag of chips and a frozen pizza for tonight. A bucket of fried chicken would be great too!
At Ice Station Zebra with a bunch of other hiker. Word is 5 inches of rain this weekend. Not cool at all.
Made it to the Ulrich Campsite where there is a cabin. Drying my stuff now in front of the stove. Have two South Bound girls for company.
Woke up to snow. Raining out now and very glad to be in the cabin. I'll take some pictures of the cabin in the morning.
Well, six more people showed up so now it is a party. Gonna crash. I'm wiped out.
Entered Elk country this morning. Heard A Bull howling right off then large hoof prints all over the trail. At 3:30 I stopped to take a picture of the valley that's attached. I looked down and 300 yards below a female Elk was staring right at me. I got some video of her. Not much but looking forward to seeing more.
As I camp by Lake Dewey the Bulls are howling up a storm.
The picture of the lake is Pipe Lake. I stopped there for some lunch.
And yes, it is still raining.
9/22/13
Well I made it to the Kracker Barrel and Village Inn in Naches, Washington. The weather is aweful, it rained all night and today rain, sleet and snow.
I got disoriented today after a thousand foot climb and walked about two miles back to my morning campsite starting point. This has me a bit concerned to say the least. Had to rewalk that thousand foot climb. Plenty of signs I was going the wrong way as well.
Probably going to stay here tomorrow for a complete days rest. Just to dangerous with this crap weather and me not being with it mentally one hundred percent.
The picture is the view from where I am staying. It's pouring rain down here but was snowing like hell when I went over the top for the second time today, at 6,000 feet.
Also ran into Mr. Green today! Haven't seen him since the Anderson's. He said that whole gang is about a week ahead. I might catch up to some of the slow movers from the early days!
9/21/13
Heck of a day! Climbed a 7,000 footer and got quite the surprise, snow. Had to cross a couple patches then about a two mile hike along a ridge line with about a thousand foot drop on the left and a five hundred foot drop on the right. Then the rain and sleet started just to make it interesting.
Got some great video though. Should be in Naches, WA tomorrow for resupply and much needed beer. Not to mention drying out all my soaking wet gear as o sit in my tent writing this and water drips all about me.
9/20/13
Making camp at this little lake. Rain held off all day which I am thankful for. I figure I can take one day of it. Looking forward to hitting town on Sunday.
Views still have been few and far between but I have managed to get some decent shots in.
9/19/13
The weather finally cleared up but apparently only for today. Tomorrow a new front is suppose to roll in and rain through Sunday. You can expect more pictures of Mushrooms!
I didn't go into Trout Lake although I heard it was great from other hikers. I waited at the road for an hour and a half and no one drove by so I continued hiking.
The Mountain I think is Mt. Adams.
9/18/13
Well it finally looks like the weather is breaking tonight. The attached picture is from around noon today at mile 2212 and elevation of 4,890 feet. It's been like that for thee days.
I am also attaching a picture of some mushrooms. There must be at least 20 different species along the trail.
Tomorrow I will probably go into Troutlake and post these updates.
9/17/13
Rough day on the feet. 27 miles and 7000 feet of up. Starting to rain again as I make camp for the night. Temperature is also dropping.
Screw it, maybe I'll get eaten by a Mountain Lion!
9/16/13
Crossed the Bridge of the Gods this morning into Washington State. The weather is exactly what you would expect for Washington State, wet, rainy, foggy, damp and did I mention wet.
I hope the weather clears up but I am not to hopeful. This is pretty much a rain forest. If you went off trail I don't imagine it would take much to get lost. Very dense and green forest. Something out of the 13th Warrior.
9/16/13
Crossed the Bridge of the Gods this morning into Washington State. The weather is exactly what you would expect for Washington State, wet, rainy, foggy, damp and did I mention wet.
I hope the weather clears up but I am not to hopeful. This is pretty much a rain forest. If you went off trail I don't imagine it would take much to get lost. Very dense and green forest. Something out of the 13th Warrior.
Well I am in Cascade Locks and have a motel room that is pretty nice. Yes I know I am over doing it with the luxury. Heck, I'm weak, I admit it but this IPA tastes great as I sit on the balcony and those Epson salts in that jettub are going to be great!
The pictures are from the Eagle Creek Alternate. The big water fall is Tunnel Falls and the picture of me is in front of the tunnel under the falls.
For any of my AT hikers, you will be interested to know that the person taking the photo of me is none other than Doc Boone! We are both in Cascade Falls. He started the PCT in late May so we are now overlapping!
Long day with a lot of big UPS and downs. Looks like the nice easy Oregon PCT is a thing of the past. Will be in Washington State tomorrow if I don't stop in Cascade Locks which is right on the border. Weather is suppose to turn bad so I may stop in town to take shelter. The wind is picking up pretty well as I write this in my tent.
Did 25 miles today with a full load of food over some rough country and two precarious rivers. Will take the Eagle Creek Alternate to Cascade Locks as it is suppose to be spectacular and is the preferred route.
Picture is from the morning leaving campsite at 2132 mile mark.
Biggest day since returning to the trail, 32 miles. The rest yesterday really helped. I am camped at lake Timothy in a great spot.
Should reach the Timberline Lodge tomorrow but may hold off going in until Saturday. It is suppose to be fantastic and worth the price so if I stay I want the whole day.
Definitely in need of a shower and laundry.
Stopped at Lake Olalie Resort. Short day, only 11 miles but in a lot of pain so need to rest legs.
I rented a crappy little cabin and sat on the resort store steps drinking crap Budweisers with an older fellow who makes his living as a professional writer. This guy was a fountain of knowledge. I did a brief interview with him.
The picture is of the lake and Mt. Jefferson.
Not much to report today. Started off slow and weak, finished strong.
Had to cross a fairly dangerous creek, Russell Creek. Had to take a leap on some wet rocks. That will sure as hell wake you up.
Other than that it's been pretty much head down and hiking as fast as my feet will let me.
Till tomorrow!
Gator
Yes, today I crossed the 2000 mile marker! It felt great.
I am camped in the middle of a burnt out forest by Koko pond. More of a watering hole if you ask me. This area has some green vegetation and plenty of deer scampering about.
Between the miles of lava fields and burnt out forest it really feels like some post apocalyptic future.
Looks like I did 27 miles today. Not bad but I am beat. Good night.
Gator
PS - Now this is hilarious. A couple of hunters rolled in after dark, rifles in hand. Deer all over this little lake and campsite. Hunter tells me they aren't allowed to hunt on this side of the trail. I guess the deer read the regs too!
9/8/13
Very long day for only doing 25 miles. Started at 4am due to too much condensation in the tent. Note, don't camp by a lake in a tent that is already wet.
I stopped around noon today and set the tent up to dry and laid out my gear to dry as well. As I write this I am camping on a nice dry flat spot next to a lava field. I'll attach a picture from the view out my tent.
Anyway feet are pretty sore due to pack weight and crossing this huge lava field isn't helping. In the bright side the views have been spectacular and I've been taking video and pictures all day.
Till tomorrow!
Gator
Update
11:00pm - Just stepped outside to use the facilities. The sky is wall to wall stars with the Milkyway forming a clear milky band right across it horizon to horizon. Magnificent!
Wish my camera was able to capture it.
9/7/13
Sun came out this morning and I had a decent day of hiking. Did 25 trail miles and another mile off trail to the Elks Lake Resort hoping to find some white gas for my stove. Their store was a joke and they charged me 2 dollars for a can of mountain dew. Thumbs down for them but I did find a canister about a quarter full in the hiker box which should be enough along with the other canister I scrounged to get me to my resupply.
I have to say one thing for the Elks Resort, I haven't seen that many good looking women in bikinis in years!;)
9/6/13
First full day back and I feel like a beginner. Legs are gone.
I picked up resupply at Shelter Cove yesterday and hiked five miles then camped in the rain. My new $25 dollar tent held up well.
Breaking the new shoes in today. Will only get twenty-three miles in. Still very tired. I imagine it will take a few days to recover from the recent trauma. I sleep 11 hours last night. Hope to again tonight.
I might very well be one if not the last North Bound hiker. The woman at Shelter Cove said it was down to a trickle and I have not met one North Bounder all day.
Short day. Giving legs a break at Lake Oliath resort. Just Budweiser and about a mile hike out of here to a campsite.
Got bit by something wicked yesterday. Front and back of right thigh completely swollen. Picked up some meds at resort store but never saw what bit me which has me concerned since this is swollen Luke a bee sting for me.
The picture is of the lake and Mt. Jefferson in the background.
Ps - I rented a crap cabin. I figure it was worth it tovlhave a real conversation with a person who makes their living writing! Not disappointed!
