Day 114: Skykomish

From Mig Lake mile 2454.4 to Stevens Pass / Skykomish mile 2461.7 A quick 7.3 miles this morning, with two 600 foot climbs, and I was at the highway by 9:30.  It took 45 minutes to get a ride the 14 miles down to Read More

Day 113: Smoke & Rocks

From mile 2435.4 near Cathedral Rock to Mig Lake 2454.4 I started to smell the smoke in the wee hours this morning.  When it got light I was in a deep fog only there was no moisture and my eyes stung.  Smoke.   As I Read More

Day 112: Back On Track

From mile 2412.4 to mile 2435.4 After 3 days of very limited miles it felt good to get back on track and do 23 miles today.  We got a decent start, 7am, and the first big climb went pretty well.  By 9:30 I was Read More

Day 111: Welcome To North Cascades 

From Ridge Lake mile 2397.8 to mile 2412.4 Digs and I planned for an easy day, only 19.6 miles.  She was still in her tent when I started walking but she agreed we would meet at the pond that was 19.6 miles away and Read More

Day 110: A Day At Ridge Lake

From Snoqualmie Pass mile 2390.6 to Ridge Lake mile 2397.8 Hiked out of the pass today with Digs after a good breakfast and some dawdling.  Glad I did dawdle because during that time I realized I did not have my permit to enter Canada.  Read More

Day 109: Snoqualmie Pass

From Olallie Meadow mile 2385.8 to Snoqualmie Pass mile 2390.6 I woke up in a cloud, everything wet.  A quick 2 hour walk got me to the pass where the last stretch was down a ski slope. I ate, several times, while waiting to Read More

Day 108: All Clear

From mile 2363.3 to Olallie Meadow mile 2385.8 There was only a little ash on my tent this morning and I smelled no smoke.  The sun came up and it was a beautiful day.  It was still hazy in the distance and where there Read More

Day 107: Ash, Cinder & Smoke

From mile 2339.1 to mile 2363.3 I woke to find a layer of ash on my tent this morning.  I packed up quietly as two other hikers were nearby and still in their tents.  Walking by 7 but it seemed earlier than that. The Read More

Day 106: Flareup

From Anderson Lake mile 2316 to mile 2339.1 I got an early start and was walking by 6.  That meant packing up in near dark.  I walked 2.5 miles to Dewey Lake for breakfast.  After that was a good climb, most of it exposed. Read More

Day 105: Elk Blowing

From Dark Meadow mile 2293.6 to Anderson Lake mile 2316 For the first half of the day the trail meandered along past a series of ponds, mostly stagnant.   The air was hazy with smoke from distant fires.  The smell was strong and unpleasant.  By Read More