Monday August 17
Start: Pass Creek
End: Stevens Pass
Miles: 25.1 miles
Gain/loss: 7592’/7700′
Listened to: book- Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox; Artemis Fowl: The Atlantis Complex
After a leisurely evening, I got to sleep by ~8pm and so I was eager and ready to be up and about, and got up a few minutes before my alarm went off, around 5:05am. I was quick to pack up and I was on trail by 5:55am. In the first 1.5 hours, I passed by Rebecca and Jonathan making breakfast at their tentsite. I made good time, though the heat quickly got to me. On my first major uphill slog, my clothes became completely soaked through and sweat was dripping down my calves, leaving clear trails in the dust of my lower legs.
Water wasn’t plentiful for most of my day. I started out with 2 liters and quickly drank both within the first two hours. By the time I hit Pear Lake, I was out of water. I ended up having to turn around to get water off-trail at Pear Lake, after checking my maps and realizing that it would be 8+ miles to the next water source. So I filtered one liter and chemically treated another. And again, I was out of water before I came across a source again. I drank at least 7 liters of water over the day, and I was still clearly losing the hydration battle. It turns out, this heat I’ve been experiencing has been setting records on the west coast, but it should break tonight.
I passed by Janus Lake and Valhalla Lake, and the trail finally meandered its way to Stevens Pass. I had smooth trail and cell service for the last few miles, so I enjoyed using Guthook and texting while I got closer to town.
I arrived at the trailhead by 3:15pm, and managed to solicit a ride from some day hikers to Skykomish by 3:45pm. I got to town by 4:15pm, checked into my air conditioned motel room, got my resupply package, ate a luscious sandwich with tater tots, took a glorious shower, did laundry, went to the gas station for snacks (gummies! Ice cream!) and soda, and got takeout for dinner. Jonathan and Rebecca came into town around 7-8pm, but they’d secured a reservation so they’re staying here tonight. Now, to bed!
Transcending Mountains 