What a brutal night.
It kept down-pooring and snowing all of the evening. Because I’d been hiking through the rain for pretty much the entire climb up the alternate route, my puffy and beanie were thoroughly soaked and so I had to get these in a condition that I could use them to sleep in. I tried to dry both of them out in my sleeping bag, using my body heat as a thermos. This helped to such an extend that I got them somewhat warmer, but they remained very damp still. After what seemed like several hours I finally dared putting them back on. The rest of the night I was taunted by heavy gusts of wind, snow and rain which kept pummeling my tent. Water seeped into the corners of my shelter, and condensation dripped onto my sleeping bag from the tent-walls. I believe I caught a couple of hours sleep after 0300, but it was of very poor quality.
Safe to say, when it was time to get up again around 0700, I felt pretty miserable. With frozen hands I managed to pack up my stuff, and hiked out a little after 0800. Now I just wanted to get off the mountain as quickly as possible, hike the remaining 11 miles that were left, and make it into Stehekin for warmth and food and comfort.
I started the descent, and soon realized that It had been a crucial decision to camp where I had done so. There were zero tent-sites further along the trail.
None.
So if I’d decided to push further yesterday evening and gotten off the mountain during the night, I don’t know what would have happened.
It wouldn’t have been pretty though…
The terrain would be all downhill until I’d reach to road to Stehekin, and the first part was through a drenched part of rain-forest, with large ferns and brush everywhere. Before I knew it, the lower half of my body was soaked again, and my mood dampened. I saw the sun illuminating the opposite side of the valley, where I was aching to get to. But the trail did not seem to reach it. Frustrated I hiked on and got more and more wet.
I took a small break to eat some of my oats that I had been soaking after getting up, and was happy to give my battered feet a break. Since I was still wet and cold, I could not really enjoy my break and so I didn’t dwindle long. Soon I started booking it further downhill. 
It was not until noon that I started to feel more comfortable, for the first time since yesterday evening 1900. I’d finally made my way into the sunlight, and I gladly embraced the warm rays heating up my body. I got out of the wet brush, and into a forest with where the trees were sparse, such that lots of sunlight made it to the grassy floor of the valley. Not wanting to waste the opportunity, I emptied my entire pack and pitched my tent and lay down my sleeping bag to dry.
After settling in the grass, with a deep sigh of relief, I realized now the worst part of my day was probably over.
After the twelve miles, I made it down to the dirt-road and asked a local woman where the bus-stop was that shuttled hikers around in the valley. I had taken a picture of the bus-schedule which hung at the trail-head, but where I could encounter said bus was unclear. She told me that I probably would have missed the next bus, and suggested to hike or hitch the 4 miles. As we were saying goodbye, a car approached and in a lightning-fast reflex I stuck out my thumb.
Instant-hitch-success!
The lady in the truck would drive me to the bakery.
Excellent, exactly where I wanted to go.
At this stage my clothes had dried up too, and around 1400 I found myself sitting comfortably sheltered in the cozy bakery, with a steaming cup of coffee, a sticky-bun and a bacon and ham croissant in front of me. I smiled a big and genuine smile, very pleased to have made it safely through the grueling grind.
I caught another hitch into the town of Stehekin. At the deck of the general store at the waterfront, I saw all the hikers who I’d left yesterday. Snow-white, Cookie, Dirt, Red, Bard, Big-Bro, Gourmet, Arms and Double-D where all there. I was warmly welcomed and shared the story about one of my most brutal nights on trail. It was well received with a ton of laughter.
Tomorrow I will unfortunately won’t be able to hike out with all of them, because they will take the shuttle to the trail-head at 0900. I have to wait to pick up my resupply box from the post office which opens at 1000, but will try to hitch out as soon as possible afterwards. The weather forecast for the next 4 days is good, or at least no rain. I’ll take it!
I chilled out with the others for the remainder of the evening, had dinner with Big-Bro, Bard and Red in the restaurant, and am now camped on the local campsite nearby.
Tomorrow we’ll start the final stretch of the PCT. The homestretch towards the Northern Terminus Monument, and the Canadian Border!
I’ve been running through this town,
I’ve been combing every street.
I’ve been searching for the reason within reasons,
Been searching for the higher ground in me.
And I’ve been trying to surrender,
To trust in every word.
All my days of misery,
Someone could have taken them from me.
I’ve been searching for myself,
For oh so many times.
I’ve been searching for the answer within answers,
But no one seems to know what’s on my mind.
Craving for her love,
Aching for her touch,
All my days of misery, someone could have taken them from me.
So tell me where you are,
Tell me how you feel.
Tell me what you need,
Just tell me how you feel.
And let it all just rain on me,
Let it all just rain on me,
Let it all just rain on me
Rain down on me.
Rain on me – Kane
