The Adventures of...: Days 132, 133

Day 132, 11 miles, endpoint PCT mile 2166

This morning we did our usual frantic rushing around as we tried to finish things up before checking out of the hotel. We were also hurrying for another reason: my parents were coming from Portland to visit us in Cascade Locks.

When Mom and Dad arrived at the hotel to meet us, I got a surprise--my aunt and uncle, Kent and Judy, also pulled up. It was so nice to see so many of my family members after not seeing them for so many months!

We went back down to the waterfront brewery, Thunder Island, and had lunch next to the Columbia River. It was a great afternoon, and I wish we all could have hung out longer, but Josh and I still had to get some hiking in. This whole "getting to Canada before it snows" thing is really for the birds.

We said goodbye to the family and walked to the east end of town to rejoin the trail. In order to cross the wide Columbia, the trail follows a steel bridge called the Bridge of the Gods. The bridge is a narrow, two lane toll bridge with no shoulder to speak of. The toll booth operator told us to walk along the far left of the bridge, single file. We very carefully made our way against traffic as some cars swept wide to give us some room and others practically brushed us off as they sped by. I'm sure most of the drivers had no idea what we were thinking walking across that bridge. To top it off, the wind that the Columbia Gorge is famous for was in full effect as we crossed the bridge.

Halfway across the bridge we crossed the official state line: We were now in Washington! Our last state!

Following the Bridge of the Gods we got on the more traditional dirt trail and began a long ascent back up into the mountains. The going was slow, but after 11 miles we topped out at a beautiful ridge with river views and a colorful sunset.

The Bridge of the Gods is the PCT. We have been across this many times in a car and never have seen anyone walking across.

Hip Hip..... Hooray!

Washington trees.

A rare view from the trees looking out over the Columbia Gorge.

Homeless camp on the top of a ridge. Occupied by Uberdude (Berkely) and The Machine (Switzerland)

Day 133, 27 miles, endpoint PCT mile 2193

It was a rainy day. We were hiking by 7am through a cool, misty fog. By 9am the precipitation started. By 10am, it was coming down hard. I was so happy I had picked up my umbrella again at Cascade Locks; it was definitely needed today.

We walked along through thickly green and leafy forests as fat rain drops fell on us. I'm not sure if we had any views beyond the trees; the gray fog hung low and it was all we could see. It felt like fall.

We passed a group of trail runners heading south on the PCT doing a race called Bunker to Bonneville. Josh did this same race a few years ago. It was a nice break from the monotony of the forest as we dodged the runners and talked to a few of them as they went by. After the last runner passed us, the trail was quiet again.

After 4pm the rain finally let up but the air remained cool. Some of the leaves around the trail are already beginning to change color. Our daylight hours are diminishing; looking for a camping spot in the dark has become a more frequent occurrence. It is Labor Day weekend, and all signs point to summer coming to an end. Crazy.

At dinnertime we went into a campground hoping for a picnic table we could sit at. The campground was crowded, there was a baby crying, a group of kids on bikes zipped by, and a guy with a chainsaw tried to direct us to a trail somewhere (I have no idea why. I also have no idea why he was carrying a chainsaw). It was too much for us. We left the campground as quickly as possible, opting instead to make dinner next to a nearby river with peace and quiet. Much better.

Tomorrow we will hit mile 2200 as we continue our northward march. The day after tomorrow it will be our first Washington resupply stop in the small town of Trout Lake.