August 3, 2018. From Bunker Hill to Frosty Pass.
Per usual, I got up in the middle of the night to adjust my fluid balances. I was surprised to look up and see no stars. Thick-minded, it took me a few seconds to realize I had solid clouds above me. I got back in my sleeping bag hoping it was just clouds, no rain. It would not be fun scrambling to set-up a tent on rocks in the dark.
In the morning, I was keen to get moving. Although I love being up high in open meadows, sometimes a lightly traveled trail like the PNT gets swallowed up by the robust meadow plants. I followed cairns for awhile, and then the trail entered a different burn area. This area was a lodge pole forest that had burned 15 years or so ago. Every year, more 40 foot tall skeletons of trees would topple over like the children’s game of pick up sticks.
The trail was faint. People had tried to make mini cairns. I was accepting at first, but after a couple hours (and more than a few cuts and bruises), it started to get annoying. It felt like the trail had not been tended to in five years. If the Forest Service treats a National Scenic Trail with such disregard, when will there be a critical mass? In other words, if maintenance waits for more hikers, but hikers wait for better rtails, how is the riddle solved?
At least there were huckleberries!
As if answering my question, after crossing the Pasayten River, I ran in to a trail crew. It was one person in charge and about eight teenagers. Because it was a Wilderness area, they were not allowed to use motors. So, no chainsaws, just the good old two person saw. It was a huge relief, I thanked each of them and shook their hand. Except for the one guy who was just laying down and napping. I figured he was a management trainee.
I had a gradual climb up along the River. It was still overcast, which was actually good, keeping the temperature low for hiking. I did run across a chipmunk that had the chubbiest cheeks and was willing to come out for a photo. I presume this is what I look like at home when I get in to a bag of potato chips after 10 pm.
Later, I saw a pika which is probably the cutest animal on this trail.
After I loaded up on water, and started soaking my dinner, I finally came across more hikers. They were three guys in their 40s or 50s eating dinner around a campfire. They wanted to chat with me while they ate dinner, but I wanted to get going as I had my heart set on sleeping up high again, this time at Frosty Pass.
I slogged my way up the switchbacks, climbing from 5,300 feet to over 6,400 feet above sea level. I did meet another backpacker on the way up. He was kind of an area expert having hiked numerous north cascade trails over time. He was very helpful. Not wanting to be rude, I did push off since my body was cooling off rapidly and I still had a climb left.
Eventually, I made it to Frosty Pass. It was very cool. Sorry. Again, these sound so funny to me when I am hiking.
The clouds were low, maybe 100 feet above, moving from west to east. They went over me, but covered the higher peaks to my left and right.
No cowboy camping tonight. I set up my tent. Then, I made a small fire. It was comforting and a great way to cap off the day and head to bed. Twice, deer scampered by over the pass, showing that humans are not the only ones who travel the path of least resistance.
backpacking over the hill 