Day 17 : Deception Lakes

Start – Deception Lakes (1545 m)
Finish – Waptus Lake (950 m)
Daily Distance – 30 km
Ascent – 810 m
Descent – 1430 m

Another day, another shoe concern. About half way up today’s large climb, my right achilles (back of ankle) began hurting. Fortunately, on the flats and downhill the pain receded to no more than a niggle, but being able to go uphill is rather important for the success of the walk. I don’t know if this issue is caused by my new shoes, or is a recurrence of a previous problem. It is rather coincidental that the 2nd full day after getting new shoes this happens, but they had previously felt very good and I survived 1.5 days walking in sandals, which share the same “zero drop” characteristic. Buying another pair of shoes would be logistically complicated. I don’t anticipate having phone signal until Snoqualmie Pass, by which point I would have to pause there for several days awaiting shoe delivery. The only other alternative which comes to mind would be getting off trail for a trip to Seattle. Snoqualmie Pass is on the highway to Seattle, but I am uncertain about public transport provision. Not a quick round-trip though.

For now, I will just have to hope that hiker’s Vitimin I (Ibuprofen) and a good night’s sleep help to reduce the swelling.

Today was a return to the scorching temperatures of several weeks ago. Another factor behind me struggling today. Tomorrow is due to be slightly hotter, but I have chosen to take an alternative route, which will hopefully be slightly shorter, require less elevation gain and be mainly in forest, rather than exposed to the sun. Technically a slight cheat if aiming to keep the PCT route “pure”, but going this way allows me to camp next to Lake Walpus this evening and still reach Spectacle Lake without breaking myself tomorrow. In a section with many beautiful lakes, Walpus may be my favourite. Almost 2.5km long, forested on 3 sides, and snow-capped mountains dominating the far end, I wish I had arrived earlier than 16:00. It would be a lovely place to spend a day swimming in its crystal waters. It is certainly a pretty special place to type a blog. As I write this Scott (or Dan, I have confused the names already), has shouted over by way of goodnight that the lake will ruin me, I’ll never find a better. He may well be right, and as local retirees who are hiking in the same direction as me, who better to know. We may resume our earlier conversation tomorrow, as I believe they are also making for Spectacle lake tomorrow, only using the official PCT route.

I will keep this short tonight. I have a lake to look at.