Getting ready for the home-stretch!
85 miles to the border, and then another 30 to get back to civilization. The post-office, that held my package, would not open till 1000. Unfortunately the shuttle to the trail-head (some 10 miles away) was scheduled to leave at 0930. Poor timing…
I grabbed breakfast with the others and then broke down my tent. By the time I came back, literally everybody had left, and I was the sole hiker left in Stehekin Landing it seamed. I picked up my resupply box, sorted out my food, and hiked towards the bakery. Pretty much all traffic in the area passes there and I figured it would improve my chances. Plus I would get to indulge in some more of their delicious pastries. The next shuttle would not depart till 1400, which meant that if I wanted to catch up with the others, Id be looking at lots of hiking through the dark.
I was determined to catch a ride before that.
After hanging around at the bakery for an hour and asking everybody that passed or stopped there, in what direction they were going, a family with 2 young kids the told me they were going to High Bridge! This was exactly the ride I needed, and I sighed in relief and thanked the trail-gods.
At 1315 I was ready to start crushing.
Twenty miles left to the campsite where I knew my buddies would stay the night.
I knew the terrain would permit me to hike fast; it would be a gradual and continuous climb for the next 26 miles. I was however carrying a full pack of food. My body, strong and fulled by several good meals during the past 2 days, aided me in my endeavor. I was cruisin’ and made real good progress. I stopped once after 2 hours for only a fifteen minute break, and repeated that strategy 2 hours later.
My music was blasting and I didn’t see any hikers going North that day. Only a bear. At 1945 I walked onto the parking lot, where Big-Bro was chatting with 2 gentlemen that were breaking down their trail-magic station. They were kind enough to give me an apple and 2 bars, which I happily accepted.
I’d done the 20 miles, with a full pack, in six hours, and was real pleased tomorrow I get to hike with the others, because it seemed that pretty much everybody had set up camp here at Rainy Pass.
I found a somewhat flat spot, very close to Arms’ and Double D’s tent and squeezed in. They also gave me 2 massive pastries which they had packed out for me before when their shuttle had stopped at the bakery too!
Only 3 days left to the Northern terminus!
We drove around this place all night
Past closed signs and familiar sights
We’re moving by passing time
Counting those center lines
With 20,000 lines left to go
That lead to somewhere I don’t know
It might be the time that we leave this all behind
And I swear it’s the last time and I swear it’s my last try
And we’ll walk in circles around this whole block
Walk on the cracks on the same old sidewalks
And we’ll talk about leaving town
And we’ll talk about leaving
I swear it’s the last time and I swear it’s my last try
Look what Happened – Less than Jake
