Start: 1030 - Stevens Pass (from Skykomish, Cascadia Inn)
End: 1900 - Pear Lake
Miles (today): 18.5
Miles (cumulative): 2509 (2259 PCT, 175 alternate, 75 off)
They are little crackberries, that's what they are. Not blueberries or huckleberries- crackberries. Once we got back to the trail, I was happy to see the bushes seemingly everywhere and I frequently stopped to pick and eat them. In fact, i stopped so much it's amazing I got to the campsite at all!
Waking up in a bed was great. Even better was getting to eat the Sunday breakfast buffet at the restaurant attached to the inn. Breakfast started at 0800 and we were there at 0815 (delayed a bit because I couldn't find one of my comfy sleeping socks, which must have been taken by a sock gnome at the laundromat because we couldn't find it).
By 0930 we had eaten our fill and so made our way to the highway, where we planned to hitch back to Stevens Pass. At the highway there is a little cafe and there we ran into Six, Fret and Bud, Meerkat, and Outro. I was excited to tell Outro about my new shoes since she recommended the Salomans. Outro was happy to hear I love the shoes as much as she does. As we were discussing shoes, I noticed Meerkat's shoes and they looked familiar- it turns out they are the shoes I hiker boxed back at White Pass! I was ecstatic to see that they went to a good home (they were really good shoes!).
Outro and Meerkat showing off their shoes
Hitching wasn't too terrible this time, although I always feel silly sticking my thumb out for a ride. It only took 10 minutes before Zack stopped to pick us up. Zack used to be from the Midwest, too, AND he will be running the Leadville Marathon next weekend. Such a cool guy!
Zach was so nice!! I hope he does well in the marathon!
Anyway, like I said, once back on trail I ate a lot of crackberries and talked to a lot of day hikers (really, I'm amazed I got as far as I did today). Two day hikers in particular really made me smile - they were impressed with what we are doing and they just made me feel good all around. When they learned my trail name was Apples, Alex said it should be Peach instead. Ha!
Alex and Marti really made my day
Washington is stunning. That is all. She is so stunning that I barely notice the elevation changes.
Not sure what lake this was (Mirror Lake?) but I just couldn't get enough of the view.
Glacier Peak
Nick and I sort-of missed each other at the end of the day - I passed up the trail to the campsite (it was off the PCT) and just as I realized my mistake and turned back I heard him asking Shortcut if she had seen me. She said no. Thinking Nick would just wait for me there, I didn't bother to yell out. Alas, when i got to the site, Shortcut said Nick had gone on to look for me. Silly man!! I went after him, although why he thought I would be up ahead when Shortcut said she didn't see me is baffling. Oh well.
All is well, except I really miss my comfy socks. :(
Along the trail:
A bee's nest was on the ground on the side of the trail - I'm glad I didn't step on it!
Great White Turtle taking a picture of the tree
another wilderness
i liked the patch of red on the side of the mountain
the fall colors are beautiful!
