[pct-l] Washington Section Hike Plans

[Diane Soini]

I hiked Washington August 1 to August 31, 2009. It was relatively  
perfect weather for Washington. It rained the first 10 miserable days  
and then would mist up and rain sporadically after that with sunshine  
and great views in between.

I recall one troublesome creek crossing coming from a glacial melt  
stream off Mt. Adams. The opaque stream had multiple channels and all  
were at least thigh deep with rolling rocks and holes you could step  
into up to your crotch. The worst thing about it was the water was so  
cold it truly hurt worse than anything I've ever done. Once I got to  
the other side I had to take my shoes and socks off and stick my feet  
in the sun to warm them up and I was literally moaning and writhing  
out loud in pain until they warmed up.

There was another tricky one in the Glacier Peak wilderness, too.  
Another glacier melt stream that hurt like the devil. And in 2009,  
Milk Creek and the Suiattle were issues but there are bridges now.

I definitely needed trekking poles for these creeks. I needed them to  
test the depth of the water for each step so I knew whether there was  
a hole there, a rock or rolling rocks, as well as for stability. The  
water was opaque. You can't see through to the bottom at all. But  
other than that, they were not dangerous or impossibly difficult and  
I'm a short woman scared to death of these kinds of things.

I can't remember the names of these creeks, but I think someone else  
already named them. I thought the one in Glacier Peak was Gamma creek  
but it could very well have been named Kennedy.