GLACIER PASS

​​PCT Day 148: Mile 2588.7- Mile 2613.8

Thursday September 8, 2016:  25.1 miles (40 km)

There was enough rain overnight to ensure that the fly was wet without being saturated. I was surprised to see that there were 7 other tents in the little campspot. I would not have thought it possible. So I packed up as quietly as I could and went up to the trailhead car park  to eat my morning oats. The coyotes were having quite a discussion across the valley.
I hit the trail in full rain gear as the plants on the side of the trail were wet. It did not take long for the shoes and socks to also be saturated. Rainy Pass had lived up to its name but I was hoping Cuthroat Pass would not. It was a long steady ascent to the pass and then a number of switchbacks on the descent. On the ascent I spoke to a gentleman who had returned to complete his through hike from 2014. He had left the trail with about 200 miles to go for the birth of his first grandson.

During the afternoon the rain returned and it was strange in that the period of highest sun intensity was also the time of the heaviest rain. It was like a really heavy sun shower. This was the 9th day in a row where there has been significant rain at some point during the day. Some hikers have tried to sit the rain out while most have just continued to hike through it.

This afternoon there was a climb to Glacier Pass, followed by a really significant climb with many switchbacks on the way to Harts Pass. There are still 10 more passes before the monument at the Canadian border, fortunately you stay at a fairly high elevation between the passes.

At times today the veil of cloud would lift and you would get fleeting views of some amazing rock formations.

A very nice campsite next to the trail came along about 6.30pm and although there was another hour and a half of daylight, I decided to stop. Harts Pass is another 5 miles and I would have had to walk for an hour or more with the head torch and then try to find a campsite in the dark. An early stop also gave the tent a chance to dry out.

It is now 36 miles to the Canadian border, so a pretty big day tomorrow and a short day to the monument on Saturday. It is then another 9 miles to get to Manning Park where there is food and accommodation. A bus then goes from Manning Park to Vancouver leaving at the very friendly time of 1.30 am for the 5 hour trip.

I have not had a phone or internet connection for 8 days and I believe it will continue until I reach Manning Park.

The Pacific Crest Trail journey is almost complete. Only a day and a bit more hiking to do. It will be bitter sweet when it does end. I am really looking forward to seeing Corky again a Vancouver airport on Tuesday.