Campsite near Swamp Creek to Six Mile Camp
We went to sleep after a beautiful, blue sky day and woke to what sounded like rain. "Brad," I said. "How does it feel so cold and yet it's raining and not snowing?" He was thinking the same thing. Then he got outside his tent and he said that it was raining under the tree that we pitched our tents, but it's snowing everywhere else. Oy!!
Scene of our campsite when we awoke
Brad getting ready in the snow
We got ready and took over 2 hours because it was dark, cold, and today add snowing. We were ready to hike by 7:45 AM.
Ready to hike
The hike started out OK with a light snow and the trail not being too bad. Then the slush and the slushy puddles and frost made it not so good. And when my feet eventually got soaked by this cold water and slush, things weren't too good. We knew that in 8 miles we hit the outskirts of Stehekin where there is a ranger station, so we spent the 8 miles discussing if it will be opened and if they will have cookies for us and wouldn't it be nice if they had a dryer to dry our socks, gloves, clothes, etc.
Just before we hit the ranger station we entered North Cascades National Park. Our last national park before hitting Canada.
Just before we hit the ranger station we entered North Cascades National Park. Our last national park before hitting Canada.
Cool sign and bridge welcoming us to North Cascades National Park
Shortly after crossing that bridge and then the High Bridge over the Stehekin River, we arrived at the High Bridge Ranger Station. It was closed, but on the front stoop under the awning was Lt. Dan, Snooze Button, and HR. They were all in Stehekin for the night and was getting ready to hike. Their plan is to make it to Canada in 3 days covering the remaining 89.5 miles. Uhh...that sounds ambitious especially taking into account the current weather today and the rain/snow mix expected tomorrow, and true serious snow forecast for Saturday. But off they went to pursue their thru-hiking dream.
Meanwhile, this dream team decided to eat an early lunch under the awning. We were still very wet, so we cooled off pretty quickly. So we ate fast, used the outhouse (at least that was opened) and got back on the trail. At this point we have 11.19 miles to get to our planned campsite for the night.
As soon as we got back on trail we began climbing. Not good considering the rain will turn to snow if we keep climbing higher. Well, we did continue climbing and the rain continued falling, only it must have snowed at this altitude last night become the trail became a path of slush. My cold, wet feet got colder and wetter. Luckily there was a hill to climb to warm me up, but my feet and now my hands were staying cold. With our motivation to get to camp quickly, we hiked hard and made it to camp right at 5:00 PM.
Meanwhile, this dream team decided to eat an early lunch under the awning. We were still very wet, so we cooled off pretty quickly. So we ate fast, used the outhouse (at least that was opened) and got back on the trail. At this point we have 11.19 miles to get to our planned campsite for the night.
As soon as we got back on trail we began climbing. Not good considering the rain will turn to snow if we keep climbing higher. Well, we did continue climbing and the rain continued falling, only it must have snowed at this altitude last night become the trail became a path of slush. My cold, wet feet got colder and wetter. Luckily there was a hill to climb to warm me up, but my feet and now my hands were staying cold. With our motivation to get to camp quickly, we hiked hard and made it to camp right at 5:00 PM.
15 miles to warmth in town at Rainy Pass
View on the way to camp
Cold but doing OK
Cloudy, snowy view
More clouds and snow
Wow...what s day of hiking. We covered just under 20 miles very quickly considering the weather. Now we had to pitch our wet tents in the rain making them even wetter. Rain is really a downer when you are backpacking.
Somehow I managed to quickly pitch my tent, dry the tent floor, and get inside to remove my wet clothes and jump into my sleeping bag to get my feet warm. I thought about just going to bed right then and not eat dinner, but brad told me that I needed fuel to stay warm so I cooked my mac & cheese and ate dinner. I felt well enough after eating to blog, so here I am. But now, my hands are getting cold so I have to wrap this up.
Tomorrow we have 8 miles to get to Rainy Pass where Tim is going to meet us and take us to a hotel. We decided to sleep in till sunrise around 7:00 AM so we don't have to get ready in the dark. Plus, we assume the trail will freeze over during the night, so waiting till after sunrise and allowing it to hopefully melt some sounds like a good idea. Oh, when we were in our tents Jazzman showed up, so he might hike with us in the morning.
So, until tomorrow...
Somehow I managed to quickly pitch my tent, dry the tent floor, and get inside to remove my wet clothes and jump into my sleeping bag to get my feet warm. I thought about just going to bed right then and not eat dinner, but brad told me that I needed fuel to stay warm so I cooked my mac & cheese and ate dinner. I felt well enough after eating to blog, so here I am. But now, my hands are getting cold so I have to wrap this up.
Tomorrow we have 8 miles to get to Rainy Pass where Tim is going to meet us and take us to a hotel. We decided to sleep in till sunrise around 7:00 AM so we don't have to get ready in the dark. Plus, we assume the trail will freeze over during the night, so waiting till after sunrise and allowing it to hopefully melt some sounds like a good idea. Oh, when we were in our tents Jazzman showed up, so he might hike with us in the morning.
So, until tomorrow...
Home for the night
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