Bushcamp to Bushcamp
14.3 miles
SoBo mile 193.0
Total mileage 2845.6
Woke up pumped to get into town. This section had taken a day longer than we’d expected due to the fire closure, so I was out of food and hungry. With only 11 miles to go, I was jamming down the mountain towards Stevens Pass by 5.
The sunrise was to my back as I crested a ridge to look down on Lake Valhalla.
Spikes and I were both sick when we came north through this section. I cringed as I passed areas where I’d about code browned in my pants…lol.
The last few miles to the pass were flat and had phone signal, so I was able to phone Spikes before she went to work, something I was looking forward to more than town food or a shower.
Airborne and I arrived at the Stevens Pass Lodge around 9. They didn’t open until 11, so I’d have to get my resupply box later.
We cruised down to the freeway to grab a hitch onto Skykomish for some grub.
Before long a couple picked us up and dropped us off in the small town where we made our way to the Cascade Inn and Cafe.
We both ordered the same thing Spikes had ordered on our way north, a strawberry milkshake and the train wreck scramble.
The shakes were on point! Jerry Dinsmore, a local trail angel, and his friend were also eating breakfast at the cafe. We chatted with them for a bit, and ultimately received a ride from them back to Jerry’s place to get cleaned up. We lounged near the river while waiting for them to finish eating.
Once we arrived at the Dinsmores, I hopped in the shower, shaved and did laundry. Jerry offers all this, plus a bunk room to all hikers. He’s been a huge part of the Washington experience for the past 15 years.
Feeling human again, I joined Jerry and a man I didn’t recognize at the patio table. The man I didn’t know introduced himself as Scott Williamson. If y’all don’t know, this dude’s a PCT legend! He set all sorts of records in the 90s, including being the first to complete a successful yo-yo, the only person to yo-yo it twice, and he held the fastest known time (FKT) for some time.
Meeting him was rad. According to Scott, the only two other people have completed a yo-yo of the PCT, meaning that Airborne and I would be the 4th and 5th if successful. Pretty neat.
After picking his brain for a bit, he gave us his contact info and invited us to stay at his place when we reached Sierra City.
By now it was past 3, so it was time to get back to the trail. I thanked Scott and Jerry before heading to the freeway to hitch back to Stevens Pass. A car stopped within minutes, and it was undoubtedly the strangest hitch I’d encountered.
The couple were hippies on their way to a bluegrass festival in Oregon. After telling them of my journey, they mistook me as a fellow gypsy, and began insisting that I ditch the trail to join them on their cross country festival tour. They kept the referring to something called the Rainbow community and advising me to dread my hair…it was weird. They were super nice, but I was a bit concerned I’d been kidnapped.
Fortunately, they set me free at the pass and went on their way. Relieved, I grabbed my resupply box from the lodge and a breakfast burrito from the cafe before organizing myself on the patio.
By 5 Airborne had joined me. I was itching to get back on trail, so I left ahead of him while he finished a few chores.
I stopped at the top of my first climb near the chair lifts to make use of the nearby cell phone tower one last time before pushing on.
I hiked until 7, whereupon I made camp near a small lake. I was 67 miles from Snoqualmie, so I planned to bust out 38 miles the next day so I’d have an easy 29 into town on Saturday. I’d already booked a room at the Summit Inn, and a buddy of mine from Seattle was coming to visit, so I had reasons to get there early.
Airborne caught up while I was munching down my breakfast burrito. He decided to hike on a few more miles so he could sleep in later the next morning and join me once I reached him.
Cheers!