[pct-l] Message from Tattoo Joe re: Original PCT in Washington

[Piroska Balogh]

Hi All,

I just got back from my Oregon- Washington section hike and I did the  
original PCT through Glacier Peak. Tattoo Joe's description is very  
accurate and detailed so I won't go over it again. I'd never hiked  
this section before and got through okay though I found the going  
challenging but not particularly dangerous. I felt like I had  
reactivated my ancestral primate tree climbing genes to climb over  
some of the huge blowdowns and get up and down some washouts.  It  
rained and was pretty cold during most of the section so one of the  
worst parts of the hike was the wet overgrown brush I had to push my  
way through plus not seeing anything but fog on all the passes. On  
the sections with switchbacks, I would recommend that when you hit a  
blowdown, check to see if you can get through by cutting the  
switchback so you don't have to climb over the same dang tree again  
after the switchback. I think for thru hikers, the original PCT  
through Glacier Peak is fine though sometimes you might feel like  
you're on Survivorman. Leave yourself extra time to get through, have  
good rain gear,  and plan on having wet feet for a while. I hope your  
weather will be better than mine!

Last Cookie

P.S. If you get frustrated with all the blowdowns, remind yourself  
that the 800 trees that were on the trail near Agnes Creek have all  
been cleared away plus the Stehekin bakery has amazing cinnamon rolls  
waiting for you. Also, the restaurant by the dock in Stehekin has  
changed owners and is now really, really good.

On Aug 20, 2007, at 3:32 PM, Pearson wrote:

> Joe asked if we could post this for him on the list to help clear  
> up the
> conditions reported on the original PCT route in Washington when he
> hiked through.
>
> (Joe says)
> Since there will be a few others who will hike the original trail  
> around
> Glacier Peak, I will give more detail to its condition.
>
>  From "Indian Pass" [mile 2508.9] north you will find that the  
> trail is
> in good condition to about "last crossing of a swelling creek" [mile
> 2517.9].  Before here and to the "White Chuck River crossing" [mile
> 2517.9] you will find some washouts and blow downs.  It is MY opinion
> that these are minor and can be navigated without too much  
> problem.  The
> river crossing does have logs although the log at the trail is a bit
> sketchy and should probably be avoided. I would like to also mention
> that it was here that a north bound section hiker was going through  
> his
> food to see if he had enough to go back the other way.  I chose to go
> north and never saw the outcome of this. From the White Chuck  
> River, the
> trail is only slightly overgrown to just after "open campsite by a  
> small
> bench, next to Mica Lake" [mile 2532.4]. From here the trail is washed
> out in various spots that can be avoided by backtracking and  
> cutting the
> switchbacks.  There are some blow downs, but they are not too much  
> to go
> around, over and under.  I would expect that as hikers pass, the over
> growth will get trampled enough to make things easier.  There are logs
> over "Milk Creek" [mile 2534.8]. As you climb the next 2000 ft is  
> where
> the overgrowth was at its worse.  It will end about "Reach a  
> ridgecrest,
> campsite" [mile 2537.3]. From there the trail is in good shape to
> "saddle on Vista Ridge" [mile 2540.6].  From here is where the fun
> begins.  The blow downs from here to Vista Creek [mile 2545.3], are
> something to remember.  As soon as you pass one there will be another.
> Some are 8 ft tall and a couple of hundred feet long.  They also took
> down other trees.  The trail is not hard to locate and really not  
> in too
> bad of shape otherwise.  It is tiresome and time consuming.  There are
> nice logs across Vista Creek. There are only a few large blow
> downs between the Vista and Suiattle Rivers.  There is a nice log to
> cross the "Suiattle River" [mile 2547.6] upstream about 200 meters.
>  From here there are a few more blow downs to about "Buck Creek Pass
> Trail" [mile 2552].  I was surprised to see the trail crews had been a
> little bit south of here though.
>
> I would like everyone to know I had hiked this section twice before  
> and
> am real familiar with the area.  This made things easier for me.  I  
> also
> only carried no more than 10 lbs [total] at this point, and this also
> allowed me to be more athletic.  The trail was much like a giant
> obstacle coarse, but very beautiful and empty of others as well as  
> their
> traces.  I believe I found the most solitude in all of Washington the
> day and a half I passed through.  I do not want to scare others out or
> declare it safe, only inform everyone it is quite the adventure  
> passing
> through.  Even though I was injured falling down a steep snow chute,
> tore up by thorny over growth, and had the smallest miles in all
> of Washington, I am glad I did it, mostly because I can laugh a little
> now and remember its beauty.  I hope they give us back this portion of
> the trail, for it will be a shame to let it fall into further ruin.
>
> I am already dreaming of next years thru-hike, where I will take the
> detour [mostly because I have not seen it].  Everyone have a great  
> hike
> and say hi to the PCT for me!!!!
>
>
>
>
>
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