Last Day...

-Day 8-
Monday, August 11th, 2014

8.0 PCT Trail Miles
Ridge Lake to Snoqualmie Pass

PCT mile 2410 to 2402                                                           8.0 Total Miles
811ft elevation gain; 3,115ft loss

Ridge Lake from South Shore looking at PCT

Is it really the last day!?!  Day 8 of an epic journey through the heart of the Alpine Lakes.

Ready to Go :)

We could have done this Section in 5 days, from a pure logistics stand point; however, the near zero on the 1st & 8th day, plus the full zero on the 6th, quite simply made this trip.  We had the luxury all the thru hikers we met did not seem to have or, most likely, mental desire for.  At this point in a NoBo thru hiker's journey, they have been on trail for almost five months and have walked 2,400+ miles.  Most seemed ready to bring it to a close.  We spoke with a few that were actually putting in 30 mile days!!  That's right; 30 miles a day!! Which translates to; they will do in 3 days what we took 8 to do! Simply Amazing Athletes!  Most all of the thru hikers were doing 20 miles a day, which means they will do this section in 4 days; half our time.   But we knew this coming into it; Hike Your Own Hike, as the saying goes.  

Pika;!!! eeeekkkk!!!

We did meet a particular thru hiker today that really caught my attention; and, admiration.  I'm so remorseful that I did not get his name but I did pick up on a few facts about him.  He is from Texas, he is about 26ish years old, he was thru hiking the trail in 2012 but did not complete it that year, he is back finishing up the part that he did not complete.  Now, all that adds up to nothing particular right?  After speaking with him for a bit, I started to get a sense about this young man that was refreshing.  He turned out to be like not a single one of all the Thur Hikers I have met to date.    This young man is here totally for the experience, period.  Every thru hiker I have met talks about miles per day, what was tough, what was easy, other hikers, etc.  But this guy only commented on these things when specifically asked about them and, usually, then turned quickly to other things; like the flowers, pikas, blueberries..  When Jim asked him what his daily mileage averaged over the PCT, he said, "about 10".  Uh, excuse me?? Did you say "10"?  

"Yeah, about 10. I wanted a good experience.  Some days I would do 14 or so, then other days 8.  It all balanced out.  Got through California and Oregon; now I'm back to experience Washington".  He really got me to thinking about it.  I've got five months to use however.  No matter what you plan, it's never going to come out exactly as planned when there are this many variables.  Make the emphasis be the journey, not the destination.  How the Hell do you do that?  I can plan for a 15mi per day average instead of 20, I'll for sure take the train down to San Diego instead of fly.  The train will take 36hrs.  I'll be able to watch the passage at ground level, through changing terrain, on a different time scale than the one that lives at 30,000ft and 600mph.  Interesting thing this idea to take the train.

Yosemite

Sierras

Oregon

South Lake Tahoe

 At the time of my departure, it will have been a Year and a Month ago that I flew back to Seattle from San Diego.  It was on March 12th 2014.  Anytime I fly to Southern California, I always have a window seat on the Left side going down, and on the right side going back North.  I love watching the Sierras go by.  I've seen Yosemite's Half Dome from my comfortable chair at the height of Mount Everest. Unfortunately, rarely do I get consistent views, but I always try.  On this particular evening flight home to Seattle, I witnessed the most remarkable airplane flight of my life.  From the moment I took off in San Diego, all the way back to Seattle, I had a clear and unobstructed view of the entire length of the PCT. Of course, nothing North of Seattle, because we landed.  Just simply amazing.  I had a bad cramp in my neck when I got home from straining it to the right to look out the plane window.  

Mt Hood

Mount St Helens

Seattle

Sorry for the diversion.  As you have probably already figured out, I'm writing these posts in December.  I use my notes from the notebook I carried in my pants pocket to write down details as I went along.  I also use the pictures to cue me to specific events along the way.  It amazes me how memories come flooding back when I look at a picture I had taken.   OK, enough of that stuff, now lets get back to the last day on the trail.

Kendall Kat Walk

Interstate 90 @ Snoqualmie Pass

It didn't take us long to get to Kendall Cat Walk.  I've been here before a half dozen times easily.  Familiar ground.  I do know that its a lot of down from here; A little over 3,000 to be exact, and the balls of my feet are going to make sure I know about each and every one of those; personally.  We could see Interstate 90 far below.  !!Interstate 90!! We had done it.  We walked the 76 miles from Stevens Pass to Snoqualmie Pass.  It doesn't seem real; was it all just a dream.  Now, all of a sudden, I feel ready to be home.  It's not far now at all.  I can taste it.  But there is still a lot of down left to do, so gotta keep moving.

When I got to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness sign, I stopped for a minute to take a picture and reflect.  At Stevens Pass I took a picture of this sign as I was coming in at the beginning, and now I'm taking a picture of it as I'm coming out at the end.

Snoqualmie Pass!!

Jim and I asked a couple to take our picture at the Snoqualmie Pass sign.  It just feels good.  We have about two hours before Jim's wife, Barb, picks us up for the ride home.  There is a restaurant at the pass.  It's soooo time for a burger and a Beer!!! Tonight a shower and a soft bed.


     

       







                                                               LIFE IS GOOD.......