Day 21 : Snoqualmie Pass

Start – Snoqualmie Pass (920 m)
Finish – nr Meadow Creek (1130 m)
Daily Distance – 19 km
Ascent – 970 m
Descent – 750 m

Perhaps inspired by having breakfast with 3 Germans this morning, I was inspired to the creation of a new compound noun today, to “Uphill-Hike-Boogie”. The initial ascent out of Snoqualmie Pass was through the winter ski fields, several of which were being maintained by men in yellow earth movers, one of whom was blasting out Def Leppard as he worked. Apparently, 90s hair metal is the best thing to drive one up a hill with a spring in one’s step and a wiggle in one’s hips. No doubt, to the worker in question, I still looked like a sweaty hiker plodding uphill. However, in my mind, I was cruising along like Michael Jackson moonwalking up the slope, admittedly while carrying an overstuffed hiking rucksack, but nonetheless with incomparable elan. Anyway, hence the flow state of “Uphill-hike-boogying”, where miles pass like you’re being born aloft on a magical dance unicorn (with big hair and an electric guitar stuffed in its saddlebags).

Thanks to Robin, Erik, and Rieke from Dortmund/Cologne for their company and inspiration. And best wishes for their reaching Canada in the coming weeks and finally fulfilling the wish to eat salad and good bread upon returning to Germany.

Incidentally, in a trail town, one can usually identify fellow hikers by their approaching breakfast wearing shorts and an expression of hunger akin to the Big Bag Wolf perusing the piglet section of the menu. Perhaps given my non-ultralight tendency to wear trousers in town, I am more difficult to identify, although the increasingly unkempt beard probably marks me out as a hiker (or a particularly well-dressed vagrant).

There is nothing much to report about today’s walking. I left town at the late time of 11:00, having needed a short lay down to recover from the world’s largest omelette, hash brown, and toast breakfast. The 3 cups of accompanying coffee were barely sufficient to keep me out of a full-blown food coma. Perhaps on reflection, that is why American diners offer free refills.