PCT Photo Album #10 - Stehekin to Manning Park and Vancouver

Check out Peel's new photo album (See Link to Photos).  It has pictures from Stehekin to Manning Park and Vancouver.  Enjoy!

Day 159 - 10/01/12 - CANADA BABY!!!!

Contents:  Crowed Camp - Castle Creek (19.3 miles)

WE DID IT!!!!! Greetings from Canada!!!!! Our dreams have come true.  I am so happy.  I feel like I just won the world series.  It has been an amazing journey.  Hiking the PCT was the best decision I've ever made.

I will write again when I'm back in Seattle but there is much celebrating to be done now.  However, HUGE thanks go to my parents and brother, Smiles, Mellow Yellow, Beef Nugs, Amigo, Shameless, Flappy, Action Pack, Sunday, Nips, Wildflower, Tourist, Snausage, Histo, and Extra Credit.  I couldn't have done this without you.

Off to Vancouver tomorrow.  It's time to party!  Thanks to my readers for all of your support.  Peels is signing off for now!  KOOOOOEY!!!

Day 158 - 9/30/12 - Canada Eve!

Contents:  Methow River - Crowded Camp (26.3 miles)

Awesome day today.  We knocked out our last big climb this morning.  After the climb, Mellow, Amigo, Smiles, and I accidentally overshot the last reliable water at the beginning of a possible 21.9 mile dry stretch.  We were considering back-trekking when some super nice day hikers walked up.  They had hiked well into the dry stretch yesterday and told us that many of the seasonable sources were still good.  Yay!  On top of that, they had extra water in their car parked just a couple miles away which they offered to give us.  So great, and they also shared their leftover food!  We have seen a lot of weekenders the last couple days, and they have all been supportive and offered us congratulations.  They really do make us feel like champions out here.  

We stopped for lunch at Harts Pass and then charged into the gorgeous Pasayten Wilderness.  It was truly spectacular and we were all on this amazing high leaving lunch.  The blue sky, open terrain, and colorful larches are the perfect way to end our journeys.

Our usual group of seven wound up crashing an extremely crowded camp late this evening.  Everyone was already in bed but we found a corner for cooking and will look for places to sleep soon.  Not sure who all is here as it was already dark when we rolled in.  Sunday is about 2 miles behind us.

We're about 19 miles from the border and are planning to camp just north of it tomorrow night.  The following morning, we'll get up early and walk the 9-ish miles to the Manning Park Lodge and the nearest road.  We're hoping to catch an 11:00 AM bus to Vancouver.

Off to bed in our last American campsite.  We're actually gonna do this!  It's Canada or bust tomorrow!

Day 157 - 9/29/12 - Running Outta Miles

Contents:  Hide Away Camp - Methow River (21.6 miles)

Well, we got woken up by sprinkles around 2:45 last night and had to pitch our shelters.  No complaints though!  I could be mistaken, but I think this was just the 5th time I've had to sleep in my tent due to rain.  We have been unbelievably fortunate regarding weather this summer.  There is no doubt this was the year to hike the PCT!

The walking today was good.  Lots of day hikers.  We crossed Highway 20 at Rainy Pass about 6 miles from camp this morning.  From there, we headed another 5-ish miles up to Cutthroat Pass where we ate lunch and celebrated the end of 25 miles of gradual climbing out of Stehekin.  The scenery was beautiful.....I was a bit disoriented though and wished for a USGS map so I could figure out what I was looking at.  The Halfmile maps have been truly fantastic and I would use them again in a heartbeat, but sometimes I do wish they included a little more of the surrounding areas.

From Cutthroat Pass, we did a long contour and then dropped steeply to Granite Pass.  The larches were changing colors and were spectacular.  After Granite Pass, we did more contouring followed by a gradual climb up to Methow Pass.  From Methow Pass, it was a long descent to camp.  I'm currently sitting by the fire with Amigo, Smiles, Shameless (birthday boy!), Sunday, and Flappy.  Mellow and Action Pack should be here anytime.  

More walking tomorrow and the border on Monday.  I can't believe it!

Day 156 - 9/28/12 - Coasting Uphill

Contents:  Stehekin - Hide Away Camp (13.6 miles)

The final push is on.  We rolled out of Stehekin today and are camped less than 70 miles from the border.  We had a great morning in town.  Amigo, Sunday, and I yogied a ride to the bakery around 8:30 and the rest of our crew trickled in throughout the morning.  We all caught a bus back to trail around 11:30....I think there were a total of 19 thru-hikers on board.

These are epic times, and I wish I could capture the mood.  When the bus dropped us off at the trail, we hung out for a long time.  I don't think anyone wanted to leave and start chipping away at these last miles.  Once I finally started walking, things felt better but still different from normal.  It's hard not to think about the fact that in a week, I won't be stumbling north, pack on my back, lost in conversation with Mellow.  I know that I will remain friends with these people for the rest of my life, but I also know that our time together as a group in this capacity is running out.  It'll never be the same, but we'll always have the PCT.

Camp is lovely.  We're right by Bridge Creek.  Mellow just built a fire to prove to Amigo that Americans actually do know how to light fires.  Go Mellow!  Mellow, Amigo, Sunday, Smiles and I are the only folks here at the moment, but I expect others to cruise in shortly.  

Rainy Pass at Highway 20 tomorrow.  Have a great night.

Day 155 - Stehekin - Last Stop Before Canada!

Contents:  Cedar Camp - Stehekin (Approx. 9.5 miles)

Great day today.  Flappy, Amigo, and I woke up super early in order to ensure that we'd make the 9 AM bus to Stehekin.  For the past several days (and until the end of the trip), Flappy has been waking us up to the song A Living Thing by Electric Light Orchestra.  It's a great song but one you don't hear too often......maybe every 5 years or so.  Flappy's goal is to train us like Pavlov's dogs so that we relive these last mornings together whenever we hear this song forever more.  It's definitely working, and I wake up with a smile every morning.

Anyways, I was the first of our trio to leave camp around 5 after a quick breakfast of two tortillas, each with half a string cheese and half a fruit bar inside.  I didn't want to take the time for oatmeal which I usually eat warm (though most people eat it cold out here).  Huckleberry and Chow-Down had also joined us in camp, and I hiked most of the 9.5 miles to the bus with Huck.  The walking was easy and we made good time, arriving around 8.  Surprisingly, we passed Smiles, Shameless, and Mellow sleeping next to the trail about 5 miles from the road.  We woke them up and managed to convince Smiles and Shameless to motivate for the 9:00 bus.

The bus stop was awesome.  Tons of hikers came out of nowhere.  It's funny-I started from the Mexico border with many, many people.  As we headed north, we got spread out.  In spite of this, almost all of us planned to finish by the end of September/first of October.  This end date is bringing us all back together, and I'm running into people I haven't met or haven't seen in lots of miles.  I love it!

The bus ride was good.  It was about 8 miles to the eagerly anticipated Stehekin Bakery.  The bus was mostly full of thru-hikers but there were a few other folks who got on when we stopped at a hotel.  Many were from Alabama and they were all super nice.  One of the guys had done his undergrad at Auburn and then gone to law school at University of Alabama, just like my dad.  At first, I thought they might know each other, but the man on the bus turned out to be quite a bit younger.  They were fun to talk to though!

The bakery was awesome....it definitely met expectations.  Most people hopped right back on the bus, but Flappy, Amigo, Smiles, Shameless, and I hung out for the entire morning.  The hikers definitely cleaned 'em out....I actually showed some of the most restraint of the group, and came away with just one cinnamon roll, two apples, a salad, and a hot chocolate.  It hit the spot though the cinnamon roll didn't come close to measuring up to my Mom's.  Add a little Calvin and Hobbes reading and some chess and it was a pretty great morning.

I accidentally missed the bus.  Shameless, Flappy, Amigo, and Smiles took from the bakery to the main town area but was able to catch a different one a few minutes later.  Mellow was on that bus too, so we were all accounted for with the exception of Action Pack and Sunday.

The afternoon was spent picking up my boxes at the PO, showering, doing laundry, making a few phone calls, etc.  I'm currently sitting outside next to Lake Chelan with a bunch of people.  It is beautiful here but still really smokey.....I would love to come back here someday.

We have a dinner reservation for 12-ish at 5:30 at the only restaurant in the area and there is free camping for tonight.  We are pretty much the only folks in town this late in the season....it is pretty nice.  Back to the trail tomorrow......the final push is on!

Picture Album - PCT Album #9 - Snoqualmie Pass to Stehekin

**Check out Kristy's (Peel's) new photo album.  (See Link to Photos).  It has pictures from Snoqualmie Pass to Stehekin. 

Joy to the World - PEELS COMPLETES THE PCT! - 10/02/12

We just received a text message from Peels that she was on a bus headed to Vancouver to celebrate with her trail family the completion of the PCT!  What an accomplishment for Peels and her friends!!!!  We are so proud of her and wish her the best as she begins her post-PCT transition to a new life in Seattle.  We are sure the memories of the trail will be with her forever as well as the friendships she has made.  She will no doubt be a different young woman than the one who left Seattle on April 24th. It will be interesting to see what changes Peels makes over the next year.   We have all been touched by Peels' blog entries and will miss them, but be glad that she is back in Seattle and only a phone call or email away!

Please join us in congratulating Peels on her amazing journey and adventure.  She is one tough girl!

Sarah and Rodney Kleedehn

Day 154 - 9/26/12 - Less Than 100 Miles to Go and Smellin' Stehekin Cinnamon Rolls!

Contents:  First Flat Spot Camp - Cedar Camp (Approx. 27 miles)

Today, we schooled the PCT!  It was a great day, and we finally made some decent miles.  We also managed to shave off 4.8 miles of PCT by following the route that was used between 2003 and 2011 when the Suiattle River Bridge was out.  A new bridge was finished late last summer but the route to the bridge adds 4.8 miles along the river.  I'm guessing it was built farther down stream in order to reduce the chances of further wash outs.  Anyways, we did a simple log crossing and had no trouble finding our way back to the PCT on the other side.  Great success!

This morning, Flappy and I started talking about running the Jerusalem Marathon in March 2013.  We want to plan a trip to visit Amigo.  The three of us have formed a really tight group over the last few weeks.  It is going to be sooo hard to say goodbye to these guys, especially Amgio.

The three of us are currently camped about 10 miles from the Stehekin bus stop.  Our plan is to get out of camp by 5:30 in order to catch the 9:00 bus that stops at the Stehekin Bakery before continuing on to the rest of town.  Stehekin will be our final stop.  We are less than 100 miles from the border tonight.

I'm going to keep the journal going through the end of the trip, but my entries might be short over the next few days.  I want to spend every last moment I can with my trail family.  The end of the journey is going to be bittersweet to the truest meaning of the word.  I can't believe what we have accomplished out here.  It has been amazing, and I have loved nearly every moment of this long, strange adventure.  The PCT is the only home I know right now, and I am 100% comfortable on it any time day or night.  Seattle seems foreign.  Anyways, I know memories of the next few days will be crystal clear, and I will write a more detailed entry when I get to Seattle if I don't take the time to document everything now.  

If all goes as expected, I should arriving in Manning Park on the 1st or 2nd.  I'm planning to head to Vancouver for one last harrah with my trail family before making my way back to Seattle.  At this point, I think I'll be home on the 4th.

Off to bed....still fighting this darn cold!  Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers over the next few days.

Day 153 - 9/25/12 - Still Gettin' Schooled By the P-Mother Fuckin' CT

Contents:  Red Pass - First Flat Spot Camp (Approx. 23.7 miles)

Well, it was another gorgeous day, but we definitely got schooled.  Amigo and I woke up in a cloud but were glad to see it wasn't raining.  We did TONS of up and down.  The title pretty much says it all.  Flappy came up with this one, btw.  Journal entry titles are sometimes a group effort.  I had a minor crisis at lunch and ate two extra tortillas with cheese and a extra bar and then tried to distract Amigo in order to steal his cookies.  Felt better afterwards though.  I'm definitely fighting a cold but unfortunately, it hasn't had any effect on my appetite.

Amigo and I caught Flappy at Milk Creek around 6:00.  We'd all been planning to do another 6.3 crazy steep miles up to a campsite near water but reconsidered when our Data Guide indicated a dry campsite in just 2.5 miles.  Needless to say, we didn't find this campsite and wound up taking the first spot we came across at the top of the climb about 4 miles from the creek.  We were all ready to be done.  It was our second day in a row of stopping short of the morning goal.

Other parts of the day worth remembering....we got our first views of the North Cascades and walked past BEAUTIFUL  Mica Lake.  I also realized I don't think I got a single picture of Glacier Peak.  What's wrong with me?!?!

Hoping for easier miles tomorrow.....Have a great night!

Day 152 - 9/24/12 - A Day To Remember

Contents:  Grizzly Peak - Red Pass (25.0 miles)

I had an amazing day of hiking with Amigo.  I am really tired though, so I'm going to keep this short.  We spent most of the day ridge walking and contouring above tree line in the Glacier Peak Wilderness. The views were fantastic.  Gorgeous fall colors too.  We wound up getting a little off route when we missed a turn and got on a different trail by accident.  I'm definitely blaming this on Amigo, as he was distracting me with plans for the border.  Due to this detour which probably cost us about an hour, we haven't seen Flappy since lunch.  Judging by the footprints, it looks like he followed our tracks down the wrong trail but realized his mistake and got back on the PCT long before we did.  Action Pack, Sunday, and Log are currently dry camped about 2 miles behind us.  They caught us as we were getting back on the PCT following our side trip.  Amigo and I probably would have joined them but neither of us had enough water to get through the night.  Alas, we did the final couple miles in the fog and dark but it was still beautiful and we climbed above the clouds just before Red Pass.  It's pretty magical with the moonlight reflecting on the fog below.

We hit mile 2,500 today and are less than 150 miles from the border. 

Day 151 - 9/23/12 - Born To Be Wild

Contents:  Stevens Pass - Grizzly Peak (14.0 miles)

Today was AWESOME!  We got the best hitch EVER from Skykomish up to Stevens Pass.  Two words sum it up:  Dodge Challenger!  Oh - and maybe 470 horsepower!  It was absolutely insane and so much fun.  Definitely my fastest trip ever between Skykomish and the pass.  Anyways, Ed pick up Amigo, Sunday, and me in front of the Sky Deli where we were hitching after hitting the breakfast buffet at the Cascadia Hotel in Skykomish (two really nice guys from Seattle, one of whom is a Triple Crowner, had given us a hitch from Baring to Skykomish).  Anyways, Ed insisted that I ride shotgun, so the boys piled in the back with the dog.  All we could do was hang on for dear life and sing along to the Beach Boys as we flew up to the pass.  When we got to the trail head, Ed got out of the car and spent some time with us chatting about our trip, his life, etc.  Really nice guy!  And now for the best part.....he invited me to take the car for a spin.  Sometimes it definitely pays to be a cute girl who can drive stick!  Anyways, Ed left Alice the dog with the boys who later said they'd wondered if they had just traded me for a dog and if they'd ever see me again!  Needless to say, I had a blast.  That car was unreal.  I hit 100 in third gear and felt like I was barely moving.  I got it up to about 120 before I got out of my comfort zone, but Ed was encouraging me to push it ever harder, and I'm sure the car could have handled it.  Add a little Beach Boys and Born to Be Wild, and I was in heaven.   I called my dad to tell him about it as soon as I got done.  He has a beautiful convertible roadster, and one of my favorite things to do at home is take it for a spin with him.  We always listen to oldies, and he always lets me drive.  It's a time I really look forward to.  Nevertheless, I've got to say neither his car nor my uncle's Corvette which I've also driven had anything on the Challenger!

We had a lazy day of hiking.  By the time we had coffee at the trail head with Ed and Amigo got a burger at the ski area, it must have been about 2 when we started walking.  Lots of familiar terrain today....we went past Lake Valhalla, around Lichtenberg, and Union Peaks, and then past Lake Janus and Jove Peak.  Lots of good ski memories from those places!

I'm camped on Grizzly Peak which is 14 miles from the pass with Amigo, Flappy, Action Pack, Sunday, Log, Virgo, and Huckleberry and Chow Down, two hikers I just met.  It's a cozy spot, but we're making it work.  I have a sore throat and really hope I'm not getting sick.  Great day though!

Hasta manana!

Day 150 - 9/22/12 - The Dinsmores' Vortex

Contents:  0.0 miles

Well, so much for back at it today!  I got sucked into the Dinsmores' vortex for another night.  Great day though.  Larry drove us to the amazing Sultan Bakery this morning per a request from Peels.  This place is wonderful and a regular stop for me on Stevens Pass trips.  Huge portions.  Everybody loved it.

After breakfast, we resupplied at the grocery store in Gold Bar and then stopped by a gas station for HEET.  Once chores were done, it was back to the Dinsmores for an afternoon of movies and reading.  It was so relaxing.  Mellow, Smiles, and Shameless headed back to the trail, but Amigo and I decided to stick around.  Action Pack, Flappy, and Sunday eventually rolled in as did Mismatch, Spatula, and Pit Stop who I hadn't seen since Tuolumne.  It was definitely great to see those guys again!

I made a trip to the general store for a shake and took another shower but have otherwise been lounging around this evening.  No more GLS (Guilty Lounge Syndrome) for me.....I know we are going to make it to Canada.  I'm just trying to soak up every last trail memory I can.

Definitely back to the trail tomorrow.....Have a great night!

Day 149 - 9/21/12 - Stevens Pass/The Dinsmores

Contents:  Alpine Streams Camp-Stevens Pass

Today was another excellent day.  Shameless and I woke to a smokey but warm morning, and we made great time to Highway 2.  The PCT switch backed right up to the back side of the Stevens Pass Ski Area and then cut from Skier's left all the way across the front.  It was pretty fun hitching right next to the Heather Ridge parking area, though passing motorists weren't showing us much love.  All the dirt bag Leavenworth climbers were definitely heading east!  Anyways, we finally got a lift from a trail angel named Larry who lives in Skykomish and was dropping some hikers off. Larry was cool, and he drove us to Skykomish for the PO, cafe, and shakes at the Sky Deli before dropping us off at the Dinsmore's River Haven in Baring, a little farther west along Highway 2.

The Dinsmores' place is awesome.  They have a big lounge area just for hikers.  Mellow and Smiles were already here when we arrived, and Amigo showed up while I was in the shower.  The rest of the gang will probably come in early tomorrow.  We all spent the afternoon hanging out at the Baring Store which is about a 2 minute walk from the house (I'm discovering so many awesome new places for post-Stevens Pass ski tours!) and watching movies (Top Gun and What About Bob?).  It's great to be here though it's hard to think about the fact that these are probably our last trail angels.  We're all high on the PCT right now and don't want it to ever end. 

Back at it tomorrow.....Have a great night!

10/01/12 - CANADA!

We just received a SPOT location from Peels. She has crossed into Canada!  Her PCT journey is almost over.  We don't know if she will finish the trail later today or early tomorrow but the end is near!  Stay tuned.

 sk