Day 63 – Right as Rain

It’s a weird morning. I was up so late messing with my clothes, putting up my tarp, eating, chatting and writing that I set my alarm to 5:10, 40 minutes later than usual. I only have 20 mikes to hike today, and I want to see my friends again before I depart. They had told me that they get up around 6 am.

The morning treats us to a spectacular sunrise.(See the photo at the top of post.) It’s been years since have seen one this good.The meadow in the photo is right outside our camp. We all get to share the beauty together. Then I am off. I will probably not see them again unless one of them speeds up or I slow down. But the trail is a strange place. People that you like tend to appear as if they had been summoned.

Trail magic

The sunrise bleeds into the day, coloring it in hazy tints. The mountains fade on the horizon, but the trail gets real. I think these are some of my favorite trail shots ever. The forest is not too thick allowing for more light and shadow to appear on the trail.

Clouds

Mount Rainier pops up on the horizon. If you don’t look closely though, you might think it is one of the clouds!

Speaking of clouds, I am seeing them for the first time in a long time. So far, the sky has been clear or overcast, but almost never with defined clouds. It reminds me of Florida which has the best clouds of any state.

I have mentioned before that burn areas regenerate at a rate slower than Easterners can appreciate. In Florida, I have planted trees that grew 70 feet in 30 years. But look at this burn area, and then read the accompanying sign.

The burn happened 33 years ago, and yet the tallest new tree is less than 12 feet tall. Recovery after fire takes a long, long time.

It seems to be the day for purple flowers to shine. This thistle variety is stunning with its white bulbs.

I feel good today, like I am in charge of my hike. I am taking the right amount of breaks and making good time. The trail has a lot of elevation gain, but I just put my head down and dig. I even promise myself a treat later today: music as I go up the last big hill!

Hail, no!

And then something strange happens. The clouds that have been building all day decide to hold the sun captive. The skies darken. Could this mean rain? I rehearse the list of actions I would take if rain started. Some things would have to go inside the pack and some things come out.

And then it starts to rain. The drops are big and very cold. And like that evening in Northern California, it starts to hail. I run for cover, but oddly, these enormous trees don’t cover well. They are tall, but not wide. Where is a good oak when you need one? The hail is ricocheting of the high branches and I feel like I am at the bottom of a pachinko machine.

The hail starts to get big. I snuggle up to a big tree and notice that the hail all has the same shape. Depending on how you view it, it looks like a snow cone or a teardrop. I pick one up.

Gradually the hail gives way to rain. The temperature is warm, so I am not cold. And then something changes. This forest looks more “right” than ever. For much of the year, this forest is wet or covered in snow. This forest is made for rain. It absorbs water like a sponge. The only area that has rivulets of runoff is the trail. I am happy that I do not have to hike in these conditions every day. But I am blessed for having seen this forest in a new way.

The rain starts and stops for the next 3 hours. I am soaked, but I do not complain because the rain keeps me cool as I hike. There is thunder, but none strikes the ground. It’s cloud to cloud.

Soggy camp

I charge up the last slope of the day. I find a cool little camp spot above the trail and settle in. I rig up a clothesline from which I hang my wet clothes. It is no use. With the sun almost down and the thick tree cover, the slight breeze blowing up the hill has little impact. I hang my food bag though to keep it away from rodents. I also set up my tarp just in case it starts raining again.

I have 19 miles tomorrow to hike, after which I will be poised to enter Snoqualmie Pass. I am only staying there one night, and I have so much to do and to fix. I want to have fun too, and several of my new friends will be there. But right now, Lord, grant me a restful night.

• August 3
• Starting mile: 2348
• Ending mile: 2366
• Daily PCT miles: 18
• Total PCT miles: 994