JackandBarb - Pacific Crest Trail Journal - 2011
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Jack and Barb
City: Encinitas
State: CA
Country: USA
Begins: Apr 17, 2011
Direction: Northbound
Daily Summary
Date: Sat, Sep 10th, 2011
Start: Mile 2283
End: White Pass, mile 2303
Daily Distance: 20
Trip Distance: 2,257.7
Journal Stats
Entry Visits: 1,374
Journal Visits: 387,866
Guestbook Views: 167,248
Guestbook Entrys: 482
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Early morning light
Wildebeests in Washington
At 6:30 this morning, while I was packing up, I heard this heavy thumping noise. It was off in the distance. It sounded like the same noise you hear on a National Geographic TV special on Africa - a scene with a huge herd of wildebeests racing across a plain. At first, I thought of a herd of elk. I was expecting to see my camp overrun with many elk, all being chased by one intrepid hunter with a bow and arrow. But it wasn't - It was a rock slide on an adjacent mountain side. The rumbling went on for about a minute - It must have been a big one!
Today, I would reach White Pass at mile 2303 but it would not be an easy 20 mile day. There was lots of vertical ahead and lots of loose rock to walk over. I have come to despise these rocks. They slow me down and are a real pain in the foot.
The famous "ridge walk" had no snow and was easy (except for those darn rocks). I could envision how it could be a hairy traverse on an icy knife edge ridge otherwise. Up on the ridge, I met Dick, Dave and Doug. Dick was turning 80 this year and yet, he was up there trucking right along with his son. Good on you, young man!
It was late when I reached the highway but it was still light. I hoofed it down to the store (a half mile down the road). It was closed for the night. I got a room at the lodge next door. There was no food to be found here tonight so I ate what was left of my hiker food.
