PCT - Rainy pass to Stevens pass - Day 2 of 7

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. Which 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 craft root-beer temps me unsuccessfully. Then a brief walk up the hill to the ranger station to look around and I buy Callie a little present. Then back down to the lodge to eat my cherry pie and of course buy that root beer :)delicious

11:30 back on the bus for another 45 minutes up to the trail. Although this time the hike Im facing is the opposite of yesterday. 90% of the trail is uphill now. A little bit of rain fell this morning which did wonders for the view. It took all of the final smoke out of the air which has plagued us for sometime. A long slow hiking slog of an afternoon leaves me very tired when I arrive in camp at 6pm. 30km covered today. 50km total now.

Camp is a nice spot picked next to a raging river. I climb into my tent to hang out and eat since there are too many bugs to comfortably stay outside and of course a hornet flies into the tent at the same time I get in, crikey. So, I madly try and shoo the bug out without getting stung, woohoo hornet out safely :) Mac and cheese for dinner with added Tillimook cheddar and sliced pepperoni. Mucho calories. Shortbread for desert.