Day 1: Mowich to Golden Lakes.
Straight down to a mind tricking single log bridge.
Through somewhat moss forest.
Across a hellacious river rock stream... took an hour.
3 hours switch backing UP.
Another hour along a sketchy poop strewn path. I think mountain goats.
To beautiful golden lakes.
I went to get water. Waited for gina. Yelled for gina. Went back to camp with my water. Was filtering when I heard whistles. Sprinted around camp. Found a red head who said they’re birds... still looking for gina. Ran into the autistic man. Said he say a girl down by the lake trying to get water with something. (Me) go past the ranger station. Nothing. Turn back around exhausted. Do a 360 and Gina is up the path getting water from a stream. I yell
“Gina! What are you doing?”
Getting water
“You almost gave me a heart attack”
They have a tap?
“YOU GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK”
And stomp back to camp...
Finn like a shark
Ember with an E
Thats how this young man we met on the trail introduced himself and his girlfriend to us.
I like them.
Ok so in my defense, I have never heard a more realistic whistle in my life. Second, I feel bad for saying that man is Autistic. I have no idea what his story is but his speech is different that's all.
Day 2: Golden Lakes to Klapatche
Made excellent time this morning even with the stops we took gawking at the mountain.
Gina looked like she got stone cold Steve Austined out of nowhere on our way down. I laughed so hard I had tears and almost pissed myself.
We took a short break after. Lol
Came up on an amazing view from the bridge across Puyallup. Had lunch.
2.8 miles to camp. Straight the fuck up. It sucked. I fell once. More like slid.
Gina fell in the snow. Finally made it to the top into a meadow of wildflowers. Wtf. It’s gorgeous up here. When we went to get water, the spring was warm and the rock I sat on after was warm so we are assuming the lake is a hot spring... want to get in. Too cold coming out though. I’m exhausted. Adios.
First thing's first on this one. I know you mispronounced it in your head... It's like
Pew-all-up.
Klapatche was one of our favorite camps but the fog had rolled in and it was super spooky. I'm not going to lie. I was not wandering far from camp. It rained on us this night but it was probably the best sleep I had.
Day 3: North Klapache to Devils Dream
I’m still trying to figure out why they named it devils dream. Anyway. Gina fell again. Not as funny as the first time but she’s ok. It rained on us last night and this morning so we got to try out all our rain gear. Saw the cutest marmot. Met a girl solo hiking. She said don’t be afraid of the bears 🙌🏼. Walked across a sketchy suspension bridge. Pretty cool though. Had an amazing view of snow covered lake this morning. Climbed too many mountains. We ate 2 dinners lol. Short day tomorrow and FIRE!
Devil's Dream was the beginning of our war on bugs. Whoever this may concern...If you are even thinking of doing this trail, don't get the cute little bug spray Walmart has with all the travel sized BS. YOU NEED DEET. I'm talking about getting the Versace of bug spray. Don't waste your money on anything less. You will hate yourself otherwise. Pack some anti-itch cream too. You're welcome.
Day 4: Devil’s Dream to Cougar Rock
Short day.
Got our cache. Inhaled almost all the salt water taffy lol
Got some WiFi and checked in with fam
Headed over to the gift shop for some little things. Got hot chocolate 🙌🏼
Met our hermit friend again.
His name is Robert. Left him some taffy
Headed up to cougar rock. 1.4 miles 😭
Got to the group site, decided to buy an individual.
Ended up being a trail magic blessing.
A couple in an RV (Joanne and Mark) made us Tacos and since it was Gina’s birthday the next day, gave us gluten free cupcakes. Perfect day. Robert brought us two logs he found “can’t let you ladies be out in the wilderness with wet socks” *robert voice (we did laundry today lol)
This was a great day. Getting to our first food cache was like waking up from a dream. "We're really out here" is all I could think. Gina's Scrubba was awesome. Never thought I'd be so pumped for fresh socks. I also shaved. Listen Linda's, I did not need anyone mistaking me for Sasquatch. These people BELIEVE.
Day 5: Cougar Rock to Maple Creek
Uphill then dowwwwwn. And hello bugs. Robert says he almost got hit by a car. Thought it was a 10 mile day but ended up being 8 so we made it by 1pm. Tried to get into the creek completely but it was way too cold. Stood thigh deep until my knees were numb. Met a solo female hiker (Danielle) doing the trail in 9 days. Bless her. Reflection lake was stunning
The mosquitos were so bad here, they trapped us in the tent... Also, I feel like I'm a pretty brave person but there is no way, unless I am doing some serious soul searching, that I would do this trail alone. Sometimes you don't see anyone else all day. What if you break an ankle? This was the first day of knee pain. Don't worry. It gets worse.
Day 6: Maple Creek to Indian Bar
Hell. Just Hell. My knee is giving me such a hard time I want to cry. But thankfully it’s mostly uphill. But uphill sucks the life out of you so it’s a lose lose. Used snow as ice packs for my knees. Day 2 of fighting bugs. Finally make it to the top and could almost kiss Rainier. Back down. Hell. And snow. Finally make it to Indian bar. Have to camp at site 4 bc we were the last ones there and it’s at the tip top of the camp. Bear pole at the bottom... food stays with us. Fuck you bears. Oh but the hummingbirds are fascinating. Hovered right next to the tent. Cuties
Such a tough day. And if you think you've made it to the top, you haven't.
The views were something else. Worth the hike? idk lol
Probably shouldn't ever keep food in the tent but I could not make it to the bear pole and at that point I was accepting the thought of being carried away by a bear.
Day 7: Indian Bar to White River
Hell. Another day in hell. Took us 2 hours to get over the first uphill. Finally peeked Mt. Hood. (Pointy top)
Trekked through more snow. Saw some cute marmots. Fell and almost couldn’t get up. Knee is on fire. Going back down.
Hello Tears. Gina makes me sit for a second. I try to slide the rest of the way. Met a lady originally from New Zealand. Says the best time to go is Feb//March.
Finally make it to Summerland for lunch. Hello people. And why? Idk. More downhill to White River. Almost make it and gina falls again. Go to get our cache and beg for a permit change (we both need it). Nice volunteer camp host (Susann) gives us a ride to the ranger station. Hello Abby! Ranger from Indian Bar! She recognizes us and helps with a permit change. Hallelujah. So now instead of a 13 mile, we are doing a 3 up the Sunrise then an 8 to Mystic, 4 to Carbon and 8 to Mowich!
This was the worst day for me. I don't cry a lot. Unless it's a "someone finding their lost dog" facebook video. I think maybe 4 tears escaped but the pain was excruciating. I'm sorry to whoever has knee issues. I feel you.
People looked like ants from where we are on top of the snowfields and slowly but surely we are surrounded by them. Summerland is a camp near Meadows and a very blue lake so people were all over the place. After being on the quiet trail for a week, I was begging to get out of there.
PS: If anyone tells Abby we kept our food in the tent, I'll feed you to my bear friends.
Day 8: White River to Sunrise
Easy day. Right. Lol uphill 2 hours... gina and I both grouchy. Knee killing me. Gina dying. I stop to pee and hear people so I just sit down to rest.
It’s the three people we met on the ridge!
They recognize me and stop to talk. It’s their last day. I tell them we added a day due to knee problems and exhaustion... the guy is a PT! He gives me an ace bandage, tape, stretching tips and checks out my knee. 4th trail magician. We finally make it to camp. Bugs galore. Out of bug spray so we head to Sunrise visitor center for supplies. They also have a little cafe! We get burgers, chips, fruit, ice cream, cookies, brownies, and rice crispy treats lol no bug repellant. Gina has some weird cream. Whatever. Knee still the size of a grapefruit. Trying to sleep, Gina’s already snoring. This is my least favorite camp. Too many people walking right by our tent. I miss the silence and stillness.
My goal was to get to sunrise as quick as I could and find tape (or anything really) to wrap my knees up. I was desperate. And I was almost out of ibuprofen. I ate so much while we were up there. Don't regret a single calorie. I would probably skip this camp altogether if it weren't for the food. Day hikers were everywhere. Felt like we weren't really on the trail.
Day 9: Sunrise to Mystic
Met a new friend at this camp. Doug. He’s an older man taking 9 days to get from Sunrise to longmire. Knees are still killing me. We go up first. I don’t make it long before I have to change into shorts. We finally make it to the river crossing Robert told us was dangerous. Yes dangerous but mostly mind tricking. Single log over a swift flowing river with some water hitting your boots... not ok. We make it to Mystic earlier than expected (12:30ish)! Climb up .2 to the lake and swim. Worth the frozen nips. Doug makes it there about 3. I get him some water bc he looks exhausted. Gina and I trapped in the tent by mosquitos. Doug needs a lighter. I give him mine and the waterproof matches. I get a hug and a promise to pass on the kindness. I hope he’s doing alright
Sweet Doug. I wish there was a way to contact him to see if he's alright! I think if it weren't for the bugs, Mystic would be my favorite camp. The lake is absolutely beautiful. I am not a fan of the outdoor toilets...I'd much rather just go in the woods. This was also the day my phone gave up. We brought solar chargers but they just didn't cut it. I forgot to charge mine before we left the house. Might have made a difference, idk.
Day 10: Mystic to Mowich
Supposed to stop at Carbon for a short day but decide to nut up and finish... knees in bad shape. Going downhill backwards helps. Another suspension bridge. Not as bad as the first. Uphill from Carbon. We’re basically crawling. It’s hot as hell. I hate the snowfields. Make it to the top. Took the Spray Park route. Back downhill... almost make a wrong turn until I see people and yell for directions. Make it down to Eagle’s Roost camp. 1.6 to go. I haul ass. Get me out of here. Going so slow down some steps gina catches up to me. I have the pre sob quivers in my chest. My legs are seriously giving up. See a sign .2 to go... up some damn stairs to Mowich. Cry on the inside like a winner. We did it.
This was the hardest day emotionally. By the time we got to Spray Park, we were so dead. I would stop, put all my bodyweight on my trekking poles, and basically hang. I felt my legs giving up towards the end. I don't think I've ever had that bad of an argument between my body and brain. Worth the bragging rights? Definitely.
After we met Finn and Ember on the trail, we kept noticing these smiley faces on the ground. Gina let me believe it was them until she finally told me (at Sunrise) they didn't have trekking poles. I'm going to believe one of them used a stick. They always popped up right after a tough section of the trail and those two were always in front of us. Wherever you are, thank you, Finn like a shark and Ember with an E.
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