Being cosied up beneath the shallow trees must have helped with the cold, because it was a good night. Also, I checked with Team Canada, and with it getting significantly colder now, they have kinda abandoned their ‘0600 hiking-out strategy’. Not a problem for me! Snow-white packed up early and had already left. We climbed up onto the ridge, and started sighting the first of the snow-capped pines. But pretty soon we found ourselves surrounded with white, hearing nothing but the sound of our feet trudging through the crackling snow.
On top of the ridge a bunch of hikers gathered for a morning coffee-break, and that’s when the sun broke through the clouds. I ate the coldest serving of noodles probably ever eaten by men, and got laughs from the others that they did not understand how I could still be cold-soaking my food, not carrying a stove. I just replied cheerfully that it had been too late to change my frame of mind this far into the stretch.
I’ll admit that the almost frozen noodles were not the best…
Surrounded by beautiful snowy peaks, beneath blue skies, everybody was in a good mood. It was a special moment with Red, Chrome, Bard, Double-D, Arms, Gourmet, Stuff-sack and Apollo, filled with laughter. I got the sense that getting closer and closer to the terminus filled all hikers with added excitement.
The day went by smoothly, with the sunshine continuing throughout most of the day. The Cascades presented themselves in their full beauty and I felt that this is as close to excellent mountain conditions as it gets. I soaked in the sunshine and breathed in the crisp air. Not long after we had another great break on the ridge, all of us enjoying our lunch and continuing the giddy atmosphere.
We felt lucky to have such a beautiful day, knowing that this time of the year, Washington is known for rain and snow.
Really enjoying my conversations with Double-D, we talked about past and future travel. I admire him and Arms, a couple who’ve lived together in a van prior to hiking the PCT together. It appears to be a very solid relationship and I loved asking questions about their van-life outside of Whistler, and the large ski-resort in Canada, where they both worked and snowboarded for most of the snow-season. Two vibrant and adventurous spirits, with a lust for life. Whistler is where they met Gourmet, a like-minded soul, and together the 3 of them committed to hiking together, start to finish.
The last hours of the day were dedicated to a pretty brutal last climb. Endless switchbacks took us along the side of the ridge. The sun sets early nowadays and we wanted to make camp before sundown. None of us stopped on our way up, continuously pacing on for an hour and a half. When we made it up the ridge, the sun was just dipping behind the jagged peaks on the other side of the valley, casting its last sun-rays on our side of the mountain. We hiked on towards the campsite and learned that it was completely covered with an untrodden blanket of snow. Looks like it would be snow-camping tonight!
Another first.
Looks like the PCT still has some tricks up her sleeve. We dug out patches for our tents and quickly got in our sleeping bags. Time to face the cold… 
Who’s to say when the cats are away
What they say, what they say
We won’t come back
Who’s to say when the cats are away
We won’t come back
What they say, what they say
We won’t come back
Who’s to say when we cats are away
We won’t come back
What we say, what I say
I won’t stay
I’ll wait for you some other night
Dressed as you like
Dressed in Himalayan white
I’ll wait for you some other night
As you like
Dressed in Himalayan white
I’ll wait for you
Snowcats – AFI
