Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Sep 18, 2646 - 2668.8

Canada!  I made it!  There was a tough climb right off the bat this morning.  Old trail staying up high to Woody pass had been abandoned and was unsafe.  Instead, new trail switchbacked down into the valley and then back up to the pass.  It was one of the harder passes in WA.  After that it was an easy and beautiful morning.  I passed a small lake and after that there weren't many views as the trail descended down into the trees.  The PCT monument 78 is at the US/Canada  border at mile 2660.1.  About a half mile away I met Southern hiking back southbound.  We high fived each other and shared congratulations and smiles.  I was happy there was someone to share the moment with.  The monument was in a very peaceful spot which seemed fitting.  I thought about my friend Daryl who dropped me off at the southern monument in Campo.   I thought about all of the trail angels and strangers and their kindness.  I thought about my hiker friends who I shared miles of trail with.  I wish them safe travels.  Then I wrote in the register.  And it was on to Manning Park Lodge.  My feet had wings.  At the lodge I was given a box breakfast for morning since the bus to Vancouver leaves before the restaurant opens.  Shower.  Laundry.  Food.  But first I had to get on the hotel computer and let family know I arrived safely.  There's no cell service or wifi here.  Eating dinner at  the restaurant it all seems so surreal.  I can't hardly believe I'm here.  Of course I'm not done.  I still have to go back and do the last 68 miles of California.  This is the section from Seiad Valley to Ashland that I skipped when I got sick.  But for now I'm enjoying this moment and celebrating! 

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Sep 17, 2620 - 2646

I'm going to Canada!  I'm gonna make it!  The swelling in my knee was down this morning and everything felt better.  It wasn't till I did the 10 miles to Harts Pass though that I knew for sure I would make it.  I had just sat down on a rock to have a snack when an suv pulled up and a dog with four people piled out.  One guy came over and asked if I was a thru hiker.  He hiked the AT in 09 and was out with his friends taking pictures of the PCT.  Then he asked how my gear was holding up.  I hesitated then said "well my backpack is ripping out at the seams in a couple places but its holding together and my knee is falling apart at the seams too but holding together."   I smiled and we both laughed.  And that's when I knew.  It's been a great day of hiking.  I met a lot of great people who encouraged and congratulated me.  I saw Carpenter and his hiking partner as well as Willway/Archie on their way back to Harts pass from the monument.  Not everyone continues on into Canada.  The section from Rainy Pass to Harts Pass is definately my favorite part of WA.  It is awesome north of Harts pass too.  I'm tired, happy, excited about tomorrow, and a bit emotional.  23 miles to Manning Park.  There are a lot of hunters out.  I'm camped next to four of them in a big white canvas tent.  I was happy to find water here.  My map said that water was seasonal only and therefore unreliable for a 27 mile stretch.  So I had anticipated a cold dinner.  But, water was trickling down and the hunters had made a pool with rocks.  So its lentil spinach curry with ramen noodles tonight.

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Sep 9 & 10, Zero Days

I took Sunday off to spend time with my sister and her family.  We drove to Leavenworth, which is east of Skykomish.  It's a Bavarian styled village surrounded by the cascades.  Every building and decor looks Bavarian.  There are a lot of shops and restaurants.  Bratwurst anyone?  It's a three hour drive to Spokane so they left for home at 4.  When my sis hugged me goodbye she said "you got this Lisa, you got this." That meant so much to me.  My family, friends, & community have been supportive and encouraging.  Knowing they have faith in me is awesome.  I'm very thankful for them.  I intended to hike out Monday morning.  But it was raining, cold, and windy.  Since the forecast called for it to clear up by Tues morning and sunny skies the rest of the week, I decided to stay another night.

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Sep 16, 2594 - 2620

I am thrilled and wowed by what I am walking through.  This is my favorite section of WA I think.  All rocky peaks.  It reminds me a little of southwest mountains.  I met a couple of fun girls, Lauren and Claire, who I had lunch with.  They are camping here with me too.  So my knee is in bad shape and the climbs are slow.  The pain is not constant but when it hits its excruciating.  It feels like it wants to collapse.  It's swollen. Harts pass is 10 miles away so I'll evaluate when I get there in the morning.  After looking at the elevation profile for the rest of the hike though, I am hopeful.  It's not terrible.  I've been thinking today that there aren't always guarantees and not everything is certain.  That's where faith and hope come in.  But I want to try to not take anything or anyone for granted.  Life is wonderful.  And I am grateful that I've been able to hike this summer and meet so many awesome people.  So I will make good decisions tomorrow.  Fingers crossed!

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Sep 15, 2180 - 2194

I slept in til 630.  I packed up, got coffee at the restaurant, and took the shuttle to the bakery.  The bakery was awesome!  I got a lot of food.  Breakfast first and a lunch for the trail.  I will be dining well on the trail today.  After all, I'm going to Canada!  I saw all the people I met on the bus last night at the bakery.  I really enjoyed talking and spending a bit of time with them.  I got back on trail at noon.  Cascade National Park is really incredible and I would like to come back and explore it more and take the ferry from Chelan.  It was easy trail today but the steep stuff is coming.  I'm camped at Fireweed camp.  It's a big camping area in the park that accomodates stock.  I'm very happy that the knee wrap is helping and my knee is working.  I was worried enough this morning that I had an 'exit the trail' strategy if it failed me.  Highway 20 at Rainy Pass is only 4 miles from where I'm camped.  I think I'll be fine.  I'm going to Canada!

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Sep 13, 2529 - 2558

The trail continues to inspire and amaze me.  It went from open, rolling green hills to old growth forest.  In between was a snow covered lake, rivers and waterfalls, and rocky mountains.  There were some places that got my heart rate up.  I had to cross a couple of icy snowfields.  The trail got narrow along a cliff edge.  And finally a section where part of the trail had broken off and slid down the mountain.  Trail crews built a new section of trail and a new bridge across the Siuattle river.  It added 5.6 miles to the trail.  But its a beautiful bridge and it was nice to have easy trail for a change.  I met some people on horseback this evening.  Always nice to see people.  My body is like my Tyvek ground cloth.  Dirty, wrinkled, patched and worn but still strong and getting the job done.  I have knee and hip pain that is getting worse and my feet hurt.  Yet my spirits are high and I'm happy I've been able to experience this trail.  It's a great trail.  I've been thinking about my journey and my mind can't really comprehend what I've accomplished so far.  Canada still seems a dream away.  But as the miles go by beneath my feet and another day is over, I'm one more day closer to the border.

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Sep 14, 2158 - 2180 Stehekin

I've been seeing a lot of furry creatures that resemble marmots but I'm not convinced they are.  They hang out in the rocks and talus slopes.  I got up early this morning because I hoped to catch the 3:00 shuttle to Stehekin and get to the PO before it closed.  As I was rolling up my tent I noticed a hole in the side.  Turns out a creature was after my food and took a bite out of my tortillas.  It must not have liked it because it only took one bite.  I patched it up with duct tape.  The trail was fast and easy so I made good time.  It basically descended down down down to the valley at 1500 feet.  But not before giving me a couple last views of the mountains.  Then it was just green and wet.  My knee gave out and I can feel parts moving around.  I told it to work cause we were almost there.  And it did.  I will have to ice it and tape it though.  I made the shuttle!  Last Minute, Grit, and a lot of other hikers got off it.  It was so great to see them!  I've missed being with other hikers.  It's been a long, lonely stretch.  I met some great people on the shuttle.  Dayhikers and fishermen.  I hung out with them after I got my resupply box.  One guy had an extra knee support wrap that he gave me.  It'll get me to Canada.  I'm told the bakery is as good as advertised.  So I'll stop there in the morning on my way back to the trail.  The hotel was full so I'm camping in a small campground.  But it has showers and bathroom.  Stehekin is a cool place and the lake is beautiful.

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