September 7, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

Destination: Big Crow Basin, Norse Peak Wilderness
Miles: 26

Adrian: The flawless weather continues and we are thankful for it. It is our plan to push hard each day we have good weather because we know how darn hard it is to hike many miles in a freezing downpour. I know that'll happen sooner or later, so we take advantage of the sun.

We got out of the tent around 6:30 a.m. and it is clear we are losing more daylight each day. It's OK though because we are right on schedule for a Sept. 25 finish to meet everyone in Manning Park.

I have to admit to something today. I committed the cardinal sin of giving a thru-hiker the wrong directional information and sent him down the wrong trail. Clearwater, when walking towards the trail from camp, confirmed with me that his direction on the trail was indeed northbound PCT. I said yes and I was wrong. That trail was not the PCT and it took me about 7 minutes to figure it out. I jumped up with my poptart in hand and ran down the trail after my friend. I caught up with him in about 10 minutes of well-paced trail running (I did not have my pack on).
Bad move on my part.

It was another day of great views of Rainier and we crossed into the national park named after it.

At camp we ran into Yeti and Lorenzo. It truly is amazing how you keep meeting people over and again. That's the PCT.

Kirsten:
Thank you Adrian for jinxing us once again with the flawless weather forecast. It is my one fear, the one thing I have no control over. The fabulous weather we've had has left me more nervous than pleased. I know how hard it can be to hike through bad weather. The cold can be especially draining. Every day we have sun I am thankful.

September 6, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

Destination: Bumping River, William O. Douglas Wilderness
Miles: 15

Adrian: I woke up a bit groggy this morning after Kirsten's birthday celebration last night. Nothing major, but our lack of alcohol intake coupled with significant weight loss has dramatically lower our tolerance so a few Miller beers go a long way.


After breakfast we went to the store to buy food, about four days worth for the 100-mile stretch to Snoqualmie Pass. As usual, I bought too much food. We met Landshark and Caterpillar at the coffee shop and found out they already secured a ride back up the pass to the trail for us! That's huge! After a quick burger and fries we were dropped off at the trailhead. Thanks Don!


Despite our very heavy packs, the fifteen miles peeled off quickly with only one rest stop. We are very fit at this point and it takes at least a 1,500-foot climb to even break a sweat. The near perfect hiking temperature helps for sure.


The spruce trees and meadows provided lovely hiking scenery. Some of the huckleberry plants are turning colors already reminding us the window of good weather is slowly closing causing us to wonder...will we make it in time before it closes?

Walk good...

Kirsten: Packwood is an interesting little town. It is not really cutesy touristy. Some may even say a bit hickish. The town sits in a valley with forested hills in the foreground and an often cloud enshrouded Mount Rainier sitting in the background.

I'm happy to be back on the trail today and can't quite believe we're heading towards Snoqualmie. Tonight we're camping with Jesse, Landshark, Caterpillar, Clearwater, Hoffa and a British couple - Yankee Clipper and the Duke. Moonpie is intentionally slowing down to be able to meet up with her boyfriend, a 2006 PCT thru-hiker. Hopefully she catches up with us in Snoqualmie.

September 5, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

Destination: Inn of Packwood, Packwood, WA.
Miles: 12.5

Adrian: Happy Birthday Danger Prone! I love you!

We had great views of Rainier all morning as we walked towards the road at White Pass, a ski area about 20 miles east of Packwood. The weather has been perfect.

We entered Goat Rocks Wilderness and hiked some of the best trail of the trip. It follows a knife-edged ridge for miles weaving in and out of grotesquely formed towers and spires.

Views of Rainer, Adams, and Helens were abundant and grand. This section of trail would have been extremely dangerous had the weather been foul.

It took about an hour to get a hitch into Packwood. I bought a chocolate cake, icing and some candles for Kirsten's party at the pizza joint. We had about 12 hikers join us for pizza, beer and cake. Later some of the crew went across the street to the Blue Spruce Inn for pool and more beer. It was a great night.

We've been hiking with a group that is jokingly calling itself, "The Fellowship". We are a group of individuals that have come together to create a larger whole. I think the experts call it synergy. Anyway, the group is strong and I'm happy to be hiking with them. I'm told nearing the finish, hikers will group together near the end of a thru-hike to end together. It looks as though that may be happening here...and that's fine by me.


I'm looking forward to finish, but I will miss it when it's over. Until then...

Walk good.

Kirsten: Soooo.... once again Adrian sent out our journal entries before I could finish up my thoughts. I'm in a forgiving mood - it being my birthday and all. I would like to recap yesterday's hike a bit.

Goats Rocks was probably one of my favorite places I have walked through in these past four months. The section was short in comparison with other wilderness areas we've seen. Before we approached the knife-edge traverse, the trail slowly rose through alpine meadows and past creeks and waterfalls.

The trail eventually wound through lava fields before topping out to a view of Mount Rainier. From there the trail crossed a snowfield and then hugged the mountainside until reaching the knife-edge traverse. What was so cool about the traverse were the views. We could see for dozens of miles in every direction from Mount Rainier to our left to the heavily forested valley to our right.

Back to my birthday. Our friends joined us in Packwood, which may sound like no big deal. Let me tell you that it is. To get thru-hikers to change their plans and come into town when they hadn't intended to is flattering. Moonpie, Hoffa, Jesse, Landshark, Caterpillar, Clearwater and Don't Panic were all there. Miss. Potato Head also showed up, which was great.

Beautiful and Gorgeous called and sang a fun birthday song to me. I am blessed to have friends like these. I am especially blessed to have Adrian for a husband. He deals with my teasing and taunting in this journal, for one. He is also patient, endlessly so, with me on the trail and that's not such any easy task at times.

September 4, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

Destination: Lutz Lake, Goat Rocks Wilderness
Miles: 26

Adrian:
Today was one of the best days on the trail in terms of weather and scenery. Tomorrow will be one of the best too, because its Kirsten's 33rd birthday!

September 3, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

Destination: Northern slopes of Mt. Adams, Mt. Adams Wilderness
Miles: 27

Adrian: Around 5 a.m. this morning Kirsten said she felt a mouse run over her head. I handed her my headlamp and she spotted it in the corner of the tarp and watched as it supposedly fled the scene. True story? You decide.

Today we hiked in perfect weather, sunny and 60s with little wind. We could see for miles and had great views of Rainier, Adams, Helens, and Hood.

The huckleberries are still going strong and every so often we see professional pickers in the woods. They have commercial licenses and sell their berries to local merchants and restaurants.

September 2, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

Destination: Road 23 near Trout Lake
Miles: 24

September 1, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

Destination: Blue Lake, Indian Heaven Wilderness
Miles: 23.5

Adrian: We had great views of Helens, Adams, and Hood today. The forests are very thick though, so the views are far between.

We woke around 6 a.m. to Clearwater and Don't Panic re-starting the fire from last night. Let me tell you how nice it is to warm up your hands one last time before hiking into a wet, cold, dark Washington forest. Mornings like this remind me of camping with my buddy Scott, who is the defacto morning fire guy. The sound of him splitting wood at daybreak has woken me many a times...good times.

I'm looking forward to finishing soon and seeing family and friends, but until then, we will walk good.

Kirsten: Our progress was slow today, in part because of the morning fire and the 2,000-foot climb right out of the campground.

The cold temperatures appear to be here for good and I spent much of the day hiking with gloves and a hat on. The trail in Washington has taken us through thick forest, which blocks the sun. Hopefully we get high above the tree line in the next few days.