Tskye - Pacific Crest Trail Journal - 2010

Back in the saddle

Since we were going by floatplane to Stehekin anyways, I decided to walk home. Dave would pick me up at Rainy Pass, with a 15 mile ride to home in Winthop. The first day was great-no mozzies, great views, wonderful waterfalls-the creeks are roaring!It's an easy grade from Stehekin. I felt wonderful, even after not doing much hiking for a month. That night I stealth camped-for some reason I missed the turnoff for the North Fork campsite, where I had a permit. I just camped in the wooda above Bridge Creek along the trail. I kept my food in the tent-I debated about throwing it up in a tree, but it seemed too much trouble, even though I'd seen lots of bear scat along the way. no rain, I woke up to some gloom, but felt rested. I only had about 11 miles to Rainy Pass. At Fireweed Campsite I had to make a decision-go the signed PCT way or follow the other side of Bridge Creek, which is where the Halfmile and Erik the Black maps take you. I diligently followed the map routes-a mistake. A couple of miles further the trail was obliterated with downfall and overflow creeks. I made a detour and lost the trail-for at least an hour. I was bushwacking over downed logs, through Devil"s Club and other prickly plants, and through mucky muck. I was scared-I was lost. I took out my compass, and just headed north, with a bit of a western angle, because I felt the trail was in that direction. I was so happy when I stumbled across the trail! I wouldn't be a newspaper headline-"Winthrop teacher lost in North Cascades". I got to Rainy Pass, got picked up, was glad to be home. I heard a quote the other day-"An adventure isn't an adventure until something goes wrong". I guess I had an adventure.

Entry 74 of 74
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