[pct-l] Question for 2007 thru-hikers

Mon Feb 25 10:35:09 CST 2008

Below are some notes I made after walking northbound through the 
Glacier Peak Wilderness in the first week of September on my '07 
thru-hike. I was truly happy I stayed on the trail here, it was some 
of the most beautiful scenery of the entire PCT.

Keep in mind that any tree-bridge crossings we had in '07 may not be 
in place now.

Joel (aka Vlad the Impaler)

----------------------------------------- 

I walked the original PCT without incident along with a number of
other hikers. Others took the road walk, I did not meet anyone that
took the USFS detour at Indian Creek Trail junction. What I do know
about the detour from the Forest Service sign at the junction is
that it has 3,200 feet more climbing with "ascents and descents
steeper than those normally encountered on the PCT".

So.. here's what I encountered on the original, actual PCT:

Mile
2508.9 - Junction with detour
Beautiful alpine scenery
2517.9 - Started encountering blowdowns on descent, most were easily
stepped over or walked around. Blowdowns continue to 2523.2 with
some small overgrown area. No real major on trail obstacles
encountered in that stretch.
2518.9 - Brand new bridge on White Chuck River. A construction crew
was literally finishing up as I crossed
2519.9 - New bridge on Baekos Creek
2521.2 - New bridge on Chetwok Creek
2522.0 - Sitkum Creek has major washout with 10 foot high scramble up
sandbank. Water could be stepped over in a.m. If you moved
downstream finding a way up the opposite bank be sure to head back
upstream on the other side to find the trail again.
2523.2 - Kennedy Creek. Again washed out. Several pieces of wood at
water level in place to help you cross over. Morning crossing, low
water.
Good high country walking ahead until...
2533.5 - Once you get below the 4400 foot level descending to Milk
Creek the trail gets messy, numerous blowdowns and overgrown
sections. There are two places where the trail has collapsed into a
gully. The trail can be seen across the gaps but the good news is
that you don't need to cross those 2 gaps. If you look below you (on
your right), about 20 feet down, you will see the trail there.
Either go down through the bushes or step carefully down the gully
as I and seemingly most other hikers have done.
Just before Milk Creek itself you will be pushing through heavy
brush for a little ways. Be prepared to put on the brakes because
you won't want to take that next step. At this dropoff you will see
a path that has been beaten through the bushes. It is about 30 feet
down with plenty of limbs and heavy root systems to hold onto.
2534.8 - Milk Creek still has the remains of a bridge in place (5
feet above the water). The first 10/15 feet you will teeter your way
across a wide twisted steel girder, then get onto bridge with planks
still in place.
The ascent after this is another mess, though more overgrown than
blowdowns. Once you get back to alpine the trail is beautiful.
2540.6 till 2545.3 - More overgrown then some really major
blowdowns. Giant trees piled up next to one another. It might take
some time to work around these. Many I found it better to walk
around than to try and climb over. Downed trees are huge.
2545.3 - Vista Creek has two trees across it a few feet above the
water. Someone has kindly taken a saw and removed offending limbs so
you can easily walk the length of them.
2543.5 till 2547.6 - Lots of blowdowns around here but the route is
fairly level. Because of the level terrain I found it pretty easy to
get through. Again, often better to walk around downed trees than to
climb over.
2547.6 - Suiattle River is a major very wide washout. However, it is
a level plain to walk across. Head towards the water, walking
upstream (footprints may be visible). Several hundred meters
upstream you will find a large tree across the river. Again,
offending limbs have been sawn off. Tree is 5 feet above the water
and the water is moving fast and heavy. I scooted my way across,
while others say they walked it (good for them). On the other side
is a bit of cord tied to a living tree to help you up the sandbank
(about seven feet high).
Go back downstream following a few flags that have been set up. Soon
you will get to the trail again. On this ascent, after about 1,000
feet of climbing, you will suddenly get to... maintained trail.
Freshly sawn wood visible along the trail. It'll feel like a road
paved with gold.

I am very happy I took the original PCT. The scenery was beautiful
in the alpine portions. However, keep in mind that I went through in
pristine conditions. There had been no real rain for a week at
least. Whichever way you take, I am sure you will find adventure.

Also, in the home stretch there is listed a 21.9 mile Water Alert
(2618.6 to 2640.5). I passed through on 15 Sept and that was not
quite true.

1/4 mile after Hart's Pass I found a small stream across the trail.
Many seeps with holes dug out you could pump or put a cup into were
found until Windy Pass, 2629.5. A small spring with nice campsite
just below the trail between Windy Pass and Foggy Pass, 2631.7.
About a mile after Devil's Backbone, 2633.7, there was running water
to be found at Shaw Creek. More water sites occassionally after that.

Quoting minnjohn1 at aol.com:

>
>----------MB_8CA45DAA9EECF2F_13F8_8AF_WEBMAIL-DG15.sim.aol.com
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>Any input from 2007 thru-hikers that made it through
>Washington is appreciated.
>
>I found out there are some updates to the PCT Oregon
>& Washington book published by Wilderness Press. In
>fact, I downloaded them from their web site - all
>100+ pages of updates. These updates are for their
>6th and new 7th editions of the book. But, my
>question is about a detour that is detailed in these
>updates. It is called the "Indian Pass to Miners
>Creek Detour" and the following paragraph from
>Wilderness Press introduces their description.
>
>
>"In October 2003, a storm damaged 45 miles of the
>PCT in Washington State, from Indian Pass to Miners
>
>Creek, making some sections in that stretch
>extremely difficult. Following is a description of
>the
>
>51.7- mile detour, which requires a high degree of
>backcountry skill due to difficult navigation and
>deep
>
>river fords."
>
>
>The detour looks complicated. According to
>Wilderness Press, the detour was available to the
>2007 thru-hikers. My question?is - did any of you
>take this detour or did you follow the original
>PCT?? Can you give me some input on this? As stated
>above, Wilderness Press labels the detour as
>requiring "a high degree of backcountry skill due to
>difficult navigation and deep river fords".
>
>John - from Minnesota
>
>
>____________________________________________________________________
____
>More new features than ever.  Check out the new AOL
>Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com
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>
>Any input from 2007 thru-hikers that made it through
>Washington is appreciated.<br>
><br>
>I found out there are some updates to the PCT Oregon
>& Washington book published by Wilderness Press.
>In fact, I downloaded them from their web site - all
>100+ pages of updates. These updates are for their
>6th and new 7th editions of the book. But, my
>question is about a detour that is detailed in these
>updates. It is called the "Indian Pass to Miners
>Creek Detour" and the following paragraph from
>Wilderness Press introduces their description.<br>
><br>
><FONT face=Times-Roman>
>
><div align=left>"In October 2003, a storm damaged 45
>miles of the PCT in Washington State, from Indian
>Pass to Miners</div>
>
>
><div align=left>Creek, making some sections in that
>stretch extremely difficult. Following is a
>description of the</div>
>
>
><div align=left>51.7- mile detour, which requires a
>high degree of backcountry skill due to difficult
>navigation and deep</div>
>
>
><div>river fords."<br>
></div>
></FONT><br>
>The detour looks complicated. According to
>Wilderness Press, the detour was available to the
>2007 thru-hikers. My question is - did any of
>you take this detour or did you follow the original
>PCT?  Can you give me some input on this? As
>stated above, Wilderness Press labels the detour as
>requiring "a high degree of backcountry skill due to
>difficult navigation and deep river fords".<br>
><br>
>John - from Minnesota<br>
><br>
><div class="AOLPromoFooter">
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It was then I knew I'd had enough, 
Burned my credit card for fuel 
Headed out to where the pavement turns to sand - Neil Young