Flip Again - Washington - White Pass

Mile 2294.9 - 2310.9. 
Trail Miles hiked today = 16  
GPS miles traveled = 18.4

Elevation. 4410 - 4819

Previously, I've not covered every mile traveled on my blog, but I will do a day by day for the rest of my journey.  The reason will become apparent later. My last post indicated that I was done with California, so the next question is "where is Oregon?"  I was only in Oregon for a short time, as nearly all of the Oregon PCT is either on fire or has thick smoke warnings.  There are only bits of the trail here and there that can be hiked.  There are some detours around fire areas, but other areas are an up and back thing.  There was also a lightening fire in southern Washington, just south of White Pass.  The decision is made to flip again and start hiking north from White Pass for now and complete Oregon after the fire situation improves.  This is a bummer, as I was to hike part of Oregon with my daughter in the next week or so and I was really looking forward to the companionship. 

After difficulty finding a campground that our RV will fit into, we spend the night. In the morning, Marv drops me off at White Pass and I start hiking about 7:30. As I get out of the truck, my prescription sunglasses break in half at the bridge.  Great! I borrow Marv’s sunglasses that have readers that are not the correct strength, but better than nothing.

At trailhead, it directs each PCTer to fill out a wilderness permit and write down every place I intend to camp each night. Luckily, I had typed an itinerary for all of WA.  I've decided to slow down a bit and hike less miles per day.  I want to take more time to take pictures and enjoy my days.  I have fairly easy hiking today. A little up and down, but nothing extreme. Lots of pretty meadows and lakes. After hiking awhile, I notice that this forest is dead quiet. It spooks me a little. Who ever heard of a forest with no birds chirping? It isn’t until afternoon the I hear a woodpecker and see a couple of other birds. It is very strange. I pass several ponds, Cortright Creek, then Buesch Lake and Pope Lake. I eat an MRE beef stew lunch (which was yummy) and got water at beautiful Snow Lake. I chat for a few minutes with a hiker named "Nuts," named because he is always munching on nuts.  We exchange fire information, and he looks up at the sky and says a storm is coming.  I look up and see nothing but blue sky and a few white wispy clouds.  I've been so lucky with weather and I voice that I hope he is wrong.  I wish it weren't so early, as I'd love to camp here.  It is glorious!  I could take a swim and relax in the sun.

Starting at White Pass in WA

Dense forests and nice trail

I pass several beautiful meadows

Several clear lakes.  Water is warm.

Yep!  Still on the right trail.

Later, I had to cross Bumping River. It is wide and the water is deep and fast. There are some rocks that could serve as stepping stones, but they look too far apart and slippery.  I could change into my water shoes and walk across, but it looks scary, so I look for another way.  I see a huge tree fallen over the entire river so I hike upstream to see if I can use that to cross. I see a path and pole marks on the log showing that others have done just that. The log is fairly big and it would be no problem without a 30 pound pack to balance, plus it is at least 10 feet down if I were to fall. I take tiny calculated steps making sure I have good footing and balance before shifting weight onto the forward foot. I make it across, but the old heart is going pretty fast from nerves by the time I get across.  I lean into a tree, take deep breaths and steady my nerves before hiking on.  

It doesn't look like it, but the river was deep raging and about 30 feet across and the log at least 10 feet above the water.

Another gorgeous meadow with wandering stream.

OK, here we go again.  Up, up, up!

WOW! Peaceful Buck Lake.  I'll camp above the left side of this lake tonight.

Mosquitoes were bad all morning.  I had to hike with a bug net over my head until noon. When I stop for the night, there are a few mosquitoes at camp because I’m right above Buck Lake.  I find the perfect spot for my small tent, and crawl in away from the little vampires!  I camp alone tonight.  I had 1 nobo pass me midday and about 4 sobos. That’s it. I thought I’d see a lot more people. I will enter Mt Rainier National Park in the morning. 

I eat a ranch flavored tuna packet with crackers for dinner. Dessert was a squeeze tube of peanut butter on the rest of my crackers. These are some of my favorite things, the food I’m not tired of yet.

Tucked back from the trail.

The bear vault sits in front (jar with black lid).  You can see how big it is.  Takes up most of the room in my pack.