[at-l] Cake, and eating it too.

["Felix J. McGillicuddy" <AThiker@smithville.net>]

I think that AT-L stands for "Any Trail-List", does it not? Here is the
latest from Cake. Send him something at the second address he gives.
Tell him I pitched in...


Greetings from Snoqualmie Pass!

Reports of the demise of our thru-hike have been
greatly exaggerated.  The snow has finally begun to
melt in the Cascades, and it has melted fast.  We did
not know if we would make it around Mt. Adams and
through the Goat Rocks Wilderness, but, in fact, there
were very few route finding problems, and nothing
life-threatening.  The last few days have been
entirely snow free.  We begin to climb higher out of
Snoqualmie, but the incredible views to the north
reveal very little snow.  We're confident we'll make
Canada now.  Just how soon is another matter.

Right now we are down in Redmond, visiting my friend
Louise and her husband Jason and their 9-month old,
Jack.  They were kind enough to pick us up, as the
pass is only an hour away.  The main reason we are
down here is to send Rina, Ellen's German Shepherd,
home.  She has hiked with us for 300 miles, since Mt.
Hood, and it is clear she is ready to go home.  The
pack is rubbing her a bit, and while the booties for
her feet protect her pads quite well, they rub her
knuckles and dew claws badly.  We are all very tired
of the taping and bandaging routine every morning, and
the sores refuse to callous over.  So we put her on a
plane yesterday, and she is now happily resting in
Manteca.  She, of course, is agreeable with this, and
while we will miss her on the trail, we no longer have
to worry about her health, and will make better time
not having to get her trail-ready every morning.  So
it is best for all concerned.

Our smaller tent is being sent to Snoqualmie Pass, and
we should depart there tomorrow or the next day.  Next
stop is Skykomish, (c/o General Delivery, Skykomish,
WA 98288) a 14 mile hitch from Stevens Pass.  Should
be there in 5 days.  6 days after that we'll be in
Stehekin (c/o General Delivery, Stehekin, WA 98852) on
Lake Chelan.  Then it is a mere 90 miles to Canada and
the northern terminus!  From there we will return to
Mt. Hood (somehow) and turn south, heading back to
Tahoe before the snows.

Some further observations:

The Goat Rocks truly is impressive, and the trail
there proceeds along a 1.5 mile knife edge crest, as
wide as 5 yards, as narrow as 1.
The volcanoes (Hood, Adams, St Helens, Ranier) have
provided spectacular views.
Mosquitoes are still bad where the snow has just
melted.  Expect to see them all the way to Canada,
even in mid-Sept.
Huckleberries, blue berries and wild strawberries are
coming into season.
After 700 miles, still find blisters cropping up in
odd places, like under the toes in the fleshy part.
Weird.
Beginning to meet other thruhikers coming from Mexico,
the fast ones.  Met Jon Z from NC in Cascade Locks,
met the Norwegians (only 2 of them now) hiking with
Brian from NH, at White Pass, got passed by Brian F
while we were in Trout Lake, and have leap frogged
with Roy and Brian Robinson between White and
Snoqualmie Passes.  Should see more as we head north
and they overtake us.

Planning 18-20 mile days to the border, 260 miles
away.  May be able to add another update when we flip
down to Mt. Hood.  Lots to do before we catch a
greyhound back up to the pass this evening…

Mike'n'Ellen
Ke Kaahawe & Fidget
PCT 99
Mexico<--Walker Pass-->Carson Pass<--Mt. Hood-->Canada



--
Felix J. McGillicuddy
ME-->GA 98
"Your Move"
Stop in and see me at:  http://members.tripod.com/~Felixhikes/index.html




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