I Will Complete the PCT in 2011!

38-miles to go. That’s all I have to hike to complete my 2003 Pacific Crest Trail hike and the Triple Crown. I embark on that 38-mile adventure today to finish these two milestones. Thank God. For eight years, these last 38-miles have been a haunting reminder that I am not done with the trail. Every year I attend Annual Day Zero Pacific Crest Trail Kickoff (ADZPCTKO), I see pictures of smiling hikers at Monument 78 at the Washington-Canadian border, and feel frustrated. I’ve not been there yet.

Conditions at Devil's Park in 2003

In 2003, my hike on the PCT was re-routed through the Devil’s Park area of the Wenatchee Wilderness, since the trail was closed from Rainy Pass to Hart’s pass. The only map I had of the area was the free, colorful North Cascades National Park map I got in Stehekin, WA, and it was useless in snowy conditions with limited visibility. I had also made a commitment to be in Seattle, and I had no time to kill a day waiting for the weather to clear, so I bailed on my thru-hike attempt.

I am resuming the hike where I left off: at the Devil’s Dome Loop trailhead. Yes, I am continuing on the re-route from 2003, as I will hike up the Devil’s Dome Loop to Devil’s Pass. From there, I will head east through Deception Pass, and reconnect with the PCT at Holman Pass, where I will make the run toward the border. After I get to the border, I will turn around, and hike south on the PCT all the way to Stehekin, where I will catch the ferry to Chelan. From there, I head to Wenatchee, WA to receive my Triple Crown award at the ALDHA-West Gathering.

The time has come for me to complete this hike, and I will complete it. I have a very detailed Trails Illustrated map (on loan from Chigger!) of the area, better equipment, wit and wisdom from hiking the CDT, and a bitchin’ attitude that I am going to get this thing done.

Weather Forecast for the Next 5-Days... Yikes

The weather is looking like crap again. As in 2003, mid-September is looking really “iffy.” Highs will be in the mid 50’s and lows in low 30’s with precipitation forecasted every day. I figure that if the weather gets really bad, then I will head toward Ross Lake, and complete the trail on the north end of that lake. However, that’s a really bad weather scenario, and I certainly hope to avoid that.

I will be checking in from the trail through my Twitter feed, and I hope to write a more detailed account when I get to Wenatchee.  Until then, Happy (and snow-free) Trails!