[pct-l] Re-routing to the AT!

[radney@ix.netcom.com]

Hi Everyone,

After arriving in Hayward, CA and receiving word from our friend Janie 
McCutcheon that Sierra City, CA and further north still had lots of snow we 
decided to flip-flop the trail and go to Manning Park and hike south. Mother 
Nature had a surprise for us in the Northwest!  Although we thought we had a 
good working plan for continuing our PCT Adventure, our information said 
that Washington had received only 75% of their normal annual snow, we 
received an upclose and personal encounter that this was not, infact, so!  

Wayne "Gretsky" picked us up in Vancover.  Wendy, Bob, Walt and Pat spent 
the night camped in Wayne's backyard. On Saturday Wayne drove us to Manning 
Park where he hiked to Monument 78 and the PCT Trailhead with us. Our first 
day out was great, the trail was well maintained and the views were 
beautiful!  On our second day we encountered snow and an ominous message 
from "Grasshopper" and "Grateful Greenpeace" about possible avalanche 
conditions just ahead.  We decided to take their advice and re-routed to 
473, 472 and a valley route - beautiful valley views and no snow. We met up 
with a newly married couple, Ted and Deb Williams and hiked with them the 
rest of the time. The next day was spent hiking to where the PCT connected 
up with the trail and then tackling the wrong side of Slate Peak -- Snow, 
Snow and more Snow! We had to snow climb out of the bowl and up to the fire 
tower.  The next day was more snow hiking and an unfortunate creek crossing 
for Bob, he fell and broke his nose.  We were really under the gun now 
because we had to get out fast incase he had also received a concussion or 
got hypothermic somewhere along the trail!  Granite and Cuthroat Passes were 
both snow covered and dangerous to cross.  The trail was not visible and the 
snow was mushy and slippery in places.  Creek Crossings became a challenge 
too! Kevin O'Leary and Ted hiked ahead to Rainey Pass to summon help.  After 
several hours we made it to Rainy Pass where Bob got EMT help and left the 
trail. From here on to Stehekin the trail returned to beautiful views and 
was snowless.  After a layover in Stehekin we set out to resume the trail 
south.  The snow picked up again and after getting to Suittale Pass it was 
time to call it quits, the trail was becoming dangerous and this was NOT how 
we had wanted to complete our PCT Adventure. Ranger Ed Pontiband later 
informed us that this section on down was covered with snow and creek 
crossing would probably become very dangerous.  We left Stehekin by boat 
with Priscella and Jeremy Hart another PCT couple, and headed to Seattle to 
fly home.

We couldn't leave Seattle for a few days and took time off to do a little 
sightseeing. Jeremy Wilson (a fellow PCT hiker from '97) met us at the REI 
Seattle Store -- the Mother of all outdoor stores--. We spent a couple of 
hours here but could have stayed all day just browsing and dreaming! Friday 
morning we left Sea-Tac Airport heading for home. Mother Nature decided to 
let loose with a tremendous thunderstorm from Boston to Baltimore on Friday 
afternoon and our trek to VA was delayed. We left Pittsburg, PA after two 
false starts, arriving home Saturday morning around 4AM.

We have decided to stay in our own backyard for the rest of the summer and 
are re-routing our hiking adventure to the AT. Will post more later about 
our plans.

 

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