What do you do after you walk the length of a country? Walk some more, I suppose was the answer, because the border of Canada doesn't end conveniently with a plane back home. There was an eight-mile trek in between the border and Manning Park, where Warm Boy and I stayed the night. After four …
It was understandably difficult to get out of my sleeping bag on my last morning on the PCT. That was mostly because of the cold, but whatever the reason, Warm Boy and I started after the sun had come up and dried the condensation off of our tents. We walked together, still trying to process …
Stehekin's other claim to trail-fame was its incredible bakery. I was disappointed that I wouldn't have time to stop there, but was pleasantly surprised when Eats Thai gave me a huge cinnamon roll. Warm Boy and I split it at the trailhead where the shuttle had left us before setting out on the last section …
Washington was my absolute favorite place that I've ever hiked. The days around mile 2500 were a mix of views, eating berries, running into friends, including Warm Boy, Stuck on the Ground, Flamingo, Breezy, MacGyver, and Many More™! I was hungry all the time and stopped to eat constantly from huckleberry and thimbleberry bushes. Warm …
Continue reading PCT Update 40: Aggressively Wholesome Breakfast
From the top of Steven's Pass, I got a ride from Sticky Fingers' dad and cruised down the mountain to town in the best way possible: with a corgi sitting on my lap. We were dropped at the post office to pick up our resupply boxes for the next stretch (this town had few choices …
Continue reading PCT Update 39: Nothing Special but an Excess of Luck
After all the rain, I really had to convince myself to keep going. I had been extremely lucky up to this point where it came to rain, having only run into it maybe two or three times in the previous three months. To discover that it was my kryptonite, 90% of the way to Canada …
In the high altitudes of the Washington Cascades, it was becoming cold and wet. In the mornings, I had to play a real-life game of Operation, trying not to touch the sloping tent wall, covered in tiny droplets. As soon as I did, they gathered together and dripped down the side, getting me and my …
Continue reading PCT Update 37: Girls Enjoying Mountains but NOT Rain
The trail continued in green forest before opening up into a burn area, followed by fields. I was able to see Mount Adams the whole way as I hiked around it. Although it was a bit smoky, it was really neat to see the progress I was making, walking around a mountain. I met a …
Continue reading PCT Update 36: You Have to be a Goat in Goat Rocks Wilderness
Despite the nearby partygoers, I woke early and got going on my town chores. I needed to find a laundromat, a shower, and food. Asking around, I got the code for the campground shower and found out about a small laundromat that wasn't on Google Maps. Gasp! After an incredible shower, I got laundry going, …
If I could point to my lowest moment on trail, it would be the breakfast buffet at Timberline Lodge. Any thru-hikers reading this would think I was crazy because the buffet is legendary on trail. People would walk through the night or put in a 40-mile day just to eat at this buffet. My issue …
Continue reading PCT Update 34: The Highest Highs and Lowest Lows
MountainMaddy 