DAY 152: A WRONG TURN

The view from our tent at Sheep Lake. 

miles: 26 (+2 detour miles = 28 miles)

Today was:

- In and out of the clouds
- In and out of mist
- Lake filled
- Ridge filled
- Cold Hot Cold Hot Cold Hot Cold Hot
- A Wrong Turn
- Long

Last night we slept at the wildly scenic Sheep Lake, along the shore. A break in the weather awarded us time to set up our tent without getting soaked, but as soon as the tent was up and we started the dinner process, wind and heavy rains returned.

I had an emotional break down last night after I took off my frozen, sopping wet shoes and socks and got in my sleeping bag. I am no fan of cold/wet weather backpacking and feel extremely vulnerable at the mercy of the weather.

Ben cooked a meal under the tent wings, eventually having to move the operation INSIDE the tent due to an increase in sideways wind and rain.

In the morning we woke to some spots of blue sky - OH THE RELIEF. We packed up and got a very late start, leaving camp after Smiles and Dr. Slosh. The going was tough because we kept having to stop and take off clothes/put on clothes due to rapid and constant temperature changes. Thermoregulation is near impossible out here: constant wardrobe changes. The sun comes out, then it hides, the clouds clear, then you are engulfed in heavy fog/mist, wind comes rushing over a ridge, pounding you at 50mph, then it is still as you descend down into a valley. You can never win.

leaving camp.

Clouds.

Clouds - a constant in this section.

One of many wardrobe changes.

The first sign of Mt. Rainier, peeking out during a rare clear moment.

Dr. Slosh and Rocky.

Unicroc and Rocky taking a snack break.

Relieved that the weather seemed to be more pleasant today, we slowly marched forward through ever shifting clouds and fog. There were so many unmarked junctions and confusing intersections in this section. Washington seems to have a dearth of trail markers/blazes, especially PCT related ones...

This leads me to tell you: We had our first unintentional "scenic detour" (as some thru-hikers call it) this morning. We descended down down down down down to a creek, and it was only after I noticed a sign behind me saying, "PCT 1 mile" pointing the way we came, that I realized we had made a wrong turn.

We had to climb back up that thing? I notified Ben, who wasn't happy about the predicament, and we immediately got to backtracking. Two bonus miles today.

Made it to the Urich Cabin, an awesome shelter ON TRAIL that is big enough to house 20 hikers, if need be! We thought we'd see Smiles and Dr. Slosh there (we hadn't seen them all day - they were cruising!) but we got word from other hikers that they had just left, determined to go another 4.7 miles tonight.

It was 6:00pm.

Ben and I went back and forth on whether or not to push on... we would certainly be night hiking if we were to attempt the last 4.7 tonight in order to camp with them. Although I am not a fan of night hiking, I was in favor of leaving immediately (even though the lure of a warm wood stove, fire, and night with fellow hikers under the safety and warmth of a shelter was tempting). Ben wanted to stay the night there, happy to call it a day (seeing as we'd had quite a frustrating day) but eventually he was convinced and agreed to night hike with me.

The Urich Cabin and all the hikers drying things out. 

THAT is the moon on our night hike through a small burn area. It was actually a really beautiful and fun night hike...

Made it to the camp site at 8:30pm and were pleased to find Smiles and Dr. Slosh set up there! We found them! They were cooking dinner at the teensy campsite and we managed to squeeze our tent next to their tent. Barely room for two tents, it'd be cozy, but we made it work.