After a rather brutal but beautiful traverse through the Galcier Peak Wilderness I now stand just 80 miles from the Canadian Border!
This past section through Glacier was rugged. The trail was rockbound, and tread was poor by Sierra trail standards. In fact some of the trail was totally missing due to slides and washouts. I will say the river crossing on the Suiattle was no sweat compared to the Sierra creeks like Kerrick and Falls creek are in May. The forest up here is the thing of legends. Sphagum moss covers everything at times and it rained for 3 days making the huckleberry and blueberry bushes like a carwash for us hikers. I even got snowed on and had to make an emergency camp at Suiattle pass to avoid hypothermia.. it was EPIC!
Washington is very beautiful but rugged in a daunting way. The SAR boys up here claim they generally just remove bodies out of there, rarely live folks!
Any how the last bit north is said to be awesome ridge walking. The weather is supposed to be rather nice as well. I am planning to head out tomorrow morning and will cross the border Saturday afternoon!
I won't bother to make a comparison between the Washington PCT and that which passes through the Sierra, but I will say.. We are SO lucky to have such accesible wilderness in California!
YEEHAA! Next stop Canada.. EH!
Cheers-Hetchy
