Start – Ridge Lake (1620 m)
Finish – Snoqualmie Pass (920 m)
Daily Distance – 12 km
Ascent – 200 m
Descent – 900 m
Like all self-respecting apex predators, it would seem that, like the t-rex, my vision is based on movement. Yesterday, I almost stepped on a chipmunk. True, I was sweat-sobbing¹ my way up a hill at the time, but I was half a foot width away from treading on its tail before it darted away.
This morning, I was also alerted to several marmots by their scurrying through the undergrowth. Unfortunately, in the battle of marmot vs. my photography skills, there continues to be only one winner.
Having arrived in Snoqualmie Pass (a minor ski area and cluster of eateries) at 09:30 today, I have spent considerable time considering and researching whether to continue walking southbound, or if to flip down to the Oregon/California border and walk northward. I had hoped to encounter more southbound hikers up until this point to talk to at day’s end. Ultimately, I don’t think that the plan to skip down to southern Oregon is feasible. American public transport is a patchwork of different bus providers, and the trains frequently sold out. Understanding how to make the trip and then get back to the PCT at the end would take quite some research and take multiple days to actually carry out.
A number of hikers whom I met today inform me that they met lots of southbound hikers just a day or two ago, so clearly, they are out there. So my new plan involves several possibilities:
- Walk longer days and hope to eventually catch up with larger numbers of people
- Do nothing and hope anyone behind catches up to me
- Try to hitchhike from Chinook Pass to Packwood, where I would be heading to for grocery shopping anyway, then hitching back to White Pass, where the section would normally end. This effectively shortens the section by ~2 days. The downside would be if the hitch to Packwood doesn’t work because of a lack of passing vehicles.
At this point, I will consider trying option 3, although remain unconvinced if it will work.
Tomorrow, I will get a late start, eat a large breakfast, and then head out again.
1. Sweat-sobbing. When so tired going uphill that one is no longer sure if the salty water flowing down ones face is entirely sweat
The creatures are just waiting for their fee and copyright agreement and talks to their Actors’ Equity Association organiser.
Trudging up hill laden as you are in the heat sounds really grueling. Hope you have salt tablets.
Take care of yourself Ben. It all sounds exremely strenuous. I hope your ankle and feet aren’t causing any more pain.
It’s difficult to make decisions about which plan to go with when you don’t know the area. Shame there’s no hiker at Snoquelmie Pass who you can discuss it with.
Enjoy your late start and large breakfast. Waiting with interest for your next post.