Tag: Rainer

Views of Rainer

Day 121

24 miles

Camped at mile 2378

The mood of today was significantly elevated compared to the previous couple of days. Besides the sad part in my book I am reading, which was a down right mood killer for the half an hour I had left in the book.

This morning afforded more lovely views of Rainer, we are now looking back at the northern facing slopes of the mountain. This holds what looks to be the largest glacier on the mountain. Rainer has the most glaciers of any mountain in the lower 48 states. It is amazing to see. About 5,000 people summit Rainer each year. After meeting some women on trail who were talking about climbing Rainer, I wondered how different mountaineering would feel at 14,411 feet than in the Andes where I have before. It sounds like an adventure.

This afternoon was warmer than expected. The shade feels amazing but the sun is hot when the trail is exposed. The climbs this afternoon were very steep, more than I would usually expect on the PCT. Tomorrow we get into Snoqualomine where many people say the trail gets more steep and difficult going north. I’m not too sure what it will be like if already the trail has become steeper and harder.

Tonight we got to camp around 6:30. It felt like a treat to be in the tent by 7:45 and unwind before the night grows dark and chilly. I’m hoping for another night, like last night, of uninterrupted sleep.

Volcanoes

Day 116

26 miles

Camped at mile 2261.7

This morning we had lovely views of Rainer and Mt St Helen’s. I speculated if we would survive an eruption from any of those volcanoes while so close. The results varied depending on which mountain hypothetically erupted. I had read a book about Mt St Helen’s eruption when I was younger so that is what spurred on these thoughts. Also you have to stay entertained somehow when hiking! According to our friend, Mt Hood is the most likely to erupt again.

As it is September 1st today, we potentially have 20 or 21 days left on the trail. Of course this depends on weather and us not getting sick or injured etc. but Kevin has our miles planned out until the terminus and then back to Rainy pass as well.

It is crazy to think of this journey coming to a close. Of course, if the McKinney section opens we would want to go finish that part right away, otherwise we will be heading home to Colorado this month. There is so much excitement for finishing a trail. But along with that, I also feel the sadness of leaving the trail and returning to day to day life where I don’t walk exorbitant amounts, where I don’t dig my own poop holes, where I don’t filter my own water. Actually I don’t mind returning to running water, I highly dislike filtering water. Sometimes my filter is slow or I dump water on my shoes. But the community, scenery, people’s stories, and powerful feelings of independence are all wonderful out here.

Today I found my mind wandering to where we will live and what jobs I should apply for and where we will go after the trail. Kevin suggested I slow down my brain and speed up my feet because we still aren’t to Canada yet! So here’s to trying to enjoy the last few weeks of the trail without letting life after the trail take too much away from the moment of right now.