Day 8 : Suiattle Bridge

Start – Suiattle Bridge
Finish – Above Milk Creek
Daily Distance – 18 km
Ascent – 1180 m
Descent – 100 m

Camping spots are currently few and far between, so I am laying down in the shade of a stunted pine tree to write this at 15:30 with camp already setup. A shorter day than I would like, but here I can enjoy mountain views and the next likely sounding spot is another 3 hours away. Fortunately,  despite the slightly lower than desired distance, a little more elevation gain than required has been achieved. To reach Steven’s pass, and a hitch to Leavenworth in time for my accommodation booking, I need to average about 22km and 1000 metres ascent for the next 4 days. Anything not done by then needs to be finished on the fifth day, which is my check-in date. From talking with northbound hikers it sounds like the overgrown trail and blown down trees continue, but the cooler temperatures have been really helping my energy levels, so I am relatively confident that the schedule is achievable. Providing the weather holds anyway.

This morning was a long, fortunately shady, ~1000 m climb, with the usual variety of fallen trees to scramble over or under. One aspect of Washington forest walking which I have been enjoying is the occasional scent of pine, which suddenly wafts up before disappearing just as quickly. I half expect to walk round the corner to find a tv crew filming an advert for toilet cleaner with an antharamorphised bear in rubber gloves scrubbing his toilet.

This morning’s efforts were well rewarded though. Above the treeline, the trail winds through idyllic wildflower meadows laid before a backdrop of mountains. It is all rather Alpen and misses only the clonking of cow bells and the luxury of being able to purchase a schnitzel and beer at the end of a (semi-)long day. Fortunately, I do have a cow-bell app on my phone.