Adventure Ollie

Day Six I can feel the end approaching and hike isnt so intense today with slight incline and declines compared to previous days. More time to think. Things that I note: Sleeping in on trail doesn't happen. The early morning light likes to wake me. The trail frequently is dusty and seems to have a layer of volcanic ash in places. Spots along the trail can be so magical. As I'm hiking up a mountain today there are tiny streams trickling down in places with abundant wild f lowers. Just like little mr and mrs gnome had planted their garden along this little stream and are very proud of its beauty. Friday is the goal so my weekend is reserved for family time  :)  I day dreamed about food lots while hiking. Burgers and onion rings. Chinese food, fried rice, chicken balls, egg rolls, and hot Chinese tea. Teriyaki chicken wings. I keep reading my book, ready player one, and get about 3/4 the way through by trail end. I see lots of grouse Grouse = which I call mountain chick...

Day Five Today's hike got pretty close to Frosty Mountain which still has lots of snow and keeps the surrounding area streams flowing with water. The early morning view of Frosty was tres cool with a ring of cloud surrounding the peak. It looked like a UFO. Early morning hiking was mellow with skirting across a mountain side and decending into a valley. The afternoon was another story of a huge climb even through patches of snow. Once I hit the peak grey clouds started to  roll in and I was watching carefully, not wanting to get stuck in a down pour. I had my rain gear out and ready to put on. Near the end of the hike I finally catch up to another South Bound hiker  😊 Double Zero. We chat for a bit and I bounce trail name ideas for myself off of him. He is slightly injured so he is taking his time on trail and going about half my daily speed. I stop that night at a lake and it even has a pit toilet, luxury.

Day Four I tried to sleep in and kind of did. 6:15 Out of camp by 7:00 breakfast on the go. After about 15 minutes hiking I entered an enchanting old growth Forrest. 1,000 year old giants. Sometimes it was hard to walk and look up at the same time. Then A five hour climb, then 2 hours down, up and down again. I Saw a porcupine while filling up with water. I Did a few extra km tonight since I want to end The journey early on Friday  :) I planned on hiking the 30km today to Mica Lake since its very scenic, but I still had time and energy so I ate dinner at 4:00 at he lake and then kept hiking. 39km today. Stopped overnight near a little creek and chatted with a couple of seniors from Vermont who were there too.

Day Three A much cooler night had me waking up to tuck in and roll over since I'm just quilt sleeping right now which is much more comfy. Tried to sleep in but my body said no more sleep for you! Reluctantly I undue the mattress which lets out the air and forces me to get up and get my day started. I pack up camp and eat on the go! Left camp 6:45. First challenge was to find a way across the river since it has no bridge. I can easy get across but get my feet fully wet if I c ross where the trail is, but I explore a bit up and down stream and find two huge logs I can cross over on  :)  today was a lot of incline but early on I have more energy  :)  up up up and over, then up, down for the rest of day. Why are the most entertaining stories the most embarrassing? Does a bear poop in the woods? Well so does a backpacker, When you got to go you've got to go, so for a while I was checking out possible sites along the trail until I find an unseen space, off the ...

Day Two I don't set an alarm clock ever, since daylight always seems to wake me early. I'm awake early of course and I eat my granola trail mix cereal then pack up and get on trail. The trail remains mostly downhill and I hit high bridge At 8:30 where the bus picks up at 9:15 The bus travels 7 miles into Stehekin for $8. On the way I get to check out, the ranch, which looks awesome and I want to take the family there and also on the way the bus stops briefly at the bakery. Wh ich gives enough time to pop in grab a treat and back on the bus and 45minutes-1:00 later we are in stehekin. At the bakery I bought a huge croissant filled with swiss cheese and bacon which I eat right away on the bus and also a slice of cherry pie which I bring into town. A beautiful little town with jagged peaks that overlook. While I wait for the 11:30 bus to depart to take me back to trail I explore a bit, I check out the restaurant menu but nothing much appeals, I browse the general store and a cr...

PCT - Rainy pass to Stevens pass Saturday August 12th - Friday August 19th 2017 After weeks of debate on whether to do this hike or not, it came to be. I planned to hike north bound with all the other PCT hikers but that plan was changed days before since the logistics of melody picking me up at the north end of rainy pass was a challenge because there is nothing at that location other than a trail-head. A Stevens pass exit was easier since, if melody or I had to wait, there is at least a restaurant to hang out at, as well as cell reception and wifi. This complicated my Stehekin visit though since I was going to use that location as a respite near the journeys end. A visit at the beginning would possibly interfere with getting km traveled early on, so I decided not to go. On these at adventures I'm always rearing to go so of course I wanted to leave Friday after work so I could get on the trail asap. Denied. Crack of dawn Saturday? Denied. Day One Saturday 6am alarm go...