I had a good nights sleep and wake up at the usual time. I starting getting out of night clothes and into hiking cloths, and getting everything done inside the tent that I can do and am about ready to get outside and finish the packing when suddenly rain starts hitting the tent. Rain was not expected today, it was in the forecast for tomorrow. Now, I have heard to can’t wait out the rain in Washington unless you want to wait for a couple days! BUT, I decide to give it a few minutes and I just lie back down with my head on my pack. Turns out this time, waiting worked. After about 10 minutes the rain stopped and the only thing that got wet was the rain cover for my tent. I started out having no clue how far I was going to get. As far as I could was my only thought.
Turns out my day would consist of going up and over and down 3 peaks. The average grade of 11%. With long sections of 14 to 16%. Also this was going to be done on flat rocks that move under your feet. For me, every step up or down was an adventure and a slow one. I end up hiking for 9 miles and taking 10 hours. At the end of the day I texted Lenora and Martha indicating the day was ridiculously difficult. I was really, really down at how slow I was. After 2 days, I had done 17 miles. I needed to do 57 more miles to get to Stevens Pass. Certainly my goal of 5 days would not be met. BUT, I knew that I was not going to turn around. I was never going to do the 9 miles I did today again. Going forward was the only option. Well, not the only option. I thought about deliberately breaking my arm and then calling for an emergency evacuation. A helicopter could definitely get to my location.
It was a hard hike. But it was beautiful and while I was stopped and gasping for air I took a couple pictures and videos.
A rare moment when the trail was not rock and the Sooty Grouse was taking advantage of it.
I stop at a small pond near the top of an ascent. It has some decent camp sites and the small pond has good water.
