Our cumulative elevation gain today was over 7,000 feet, and nearly the same loss in elevation. We crossed 4 high passes today, each a thousand for climb or more just to descend down to a lake or creek and start climbing all over again. The mountains here are incredibly steep, and we also had dozens … Read More “Day 115: Bigger Ups and Downs” »
Month: August 2017
Last night was our first night below freezing in a few months. This morning called for some hot coffee and lingering under the quilt to work up the courage to get outside. Of course once we got hiking we warmed up fast and started shedding layers. We noticed smoke from a fire and shortly after … Read More “Day 114: Ups and Downs” »
Washington really turned up the epic today. During the night last night we woke up to a light rain. We haven’t had rain since day 2! It was misty, foggy and cold this morning as we made our way to Snoqualmie Pass. We got to town early, ate breakfast, and went to the grocery store. … Read More “Day 113: Snoqualmie Pass” »
After 8 miles of hiking this morning, we passed our 2,000 mile point. As of tonight, after a 26.8 mile day, we have 630 miles left to complete the trail, and just 261 miles until we hit Canada. Time is flying by, and the miles have been too. However we have definitely noticed the terrain … Read More “Day 112: 2,000 Miles” »
Aside from one southbounder today, we saw no other hikers on the trail. We know we’ve got friends about a day ahead of us, and there were plenty of hikers back at White Pass but we haven’t seen any of them since we left. There past few days there have been times of section hikers, … Read More “Day 111: Where did Everybody Go?” »
The eclipse was so cool! We started our day with a big climb, figuring we’d probably have a good view from high ground. We made it to the top of the climb a little after 9, just at the boundary of Mount Rainier National Park. We checked through our eclipse glasses and could see it … Read More “Day 110: Eclipse” »
We woke up early with only 2 miles to get to White Pass, for some hot food and hot coffee. We were there before 8 and pleasantly surprised to find the store open (the guidebook says 8). We got our coffee and breakfast sandwiches and plugged in our phones and external battery pack. We took … Read More “Day 109: White Pass” »
This day did not disappoint, with some of the best views since the Sierras. We climbed in the fog for most of the morning, but it burned off just in time for the Goat Rocks. Amazing views of Rainier and Adams all day, plus meadows full of wildflowers and high altitude Alpine lakes. In the … Read More “Day 108: Goat Rocks” »
The beginning of the day today was some of the most scenic hiking we’ve had yet. Walks in the forest interrupted by expansive views, meadows, glacial streams, lava rocks. Mount Adams to our right and Rainier to the left, with occasional views to St Helens. Combined with yet more huckleberries, we were moving slowly but … Read More “Day 107: Volcanoes” »
It was cold and windy all night as well as this morning. It stayed chilly until the sun was pretty high in the sky. It definitely feels like we’re getting up North. The days are slowly getting shorter. It was huckleberry heaven today. We passed them literally all day long. Aside from all the grazing … Read More “Day 106: Huckleberries, Strawberries, and Mount Adams” »