ZERO TO SNOQUALAMIE PASS

PCT Day 12. Monday July 25, 2022
Mile 2296 + 0 miles today
Total Distance Hiked: 198 miles /318.5 kilometres

Hotel Maison was lovely, especially the room service breakfast. We liked it so much we were going to stay another night. The building had such an interesting history having been built as a Masonic Lodge. 

Our plan soon had to change as surprisingly  they had no vacancies at all for Monday night. Their sister hotel across the street, the Hilton Garden Inn was also fully booked.  So our next option is to get to Snoqualamie Pass and take a break there before hiking the next section to Stevens Pass.

A little disappointed we spent a couple of hours of internet searches and we were booked on two busses: the first a commuter bus from Yakima to Ellensburgh and the a BelAir airport transporter from Ellensburgh to Cle Elum. From there we have to hitch to Snoqualamie Pass. Sometimes it is easier to walk the trail.

It all worked like clockwork. We were dropped off by the BelAir transporter in Cle Elum at a gas station just off the I-90 on-ramp at 4pm. We didn’t have to stand in the heat of the day for too long. The third car coming out of the service station offered us a ride to Snoqualamie Pass.

Kevin who gave a ride is a musician, playing a mandolin in a blue grass band.   He was on his way to band practice. He was a great conversationalist and had some interesting  stories from his day job, making high quality microphones.  Always feel so humbled and undeserving of such generosity from strangers.

He dropped us off at the Summit Inn at Snoqualamie Pass. We were disappointed to see the Advaark Food Truck has disappeared from the carpark in front. It was such a great focal point for hikers coming through who are not staying at the Inn.  The Inn has not changed at all since 2016 when Hammer stayed here. Well past its prime, with inadequate and unreliable airconditioning. As it is so hot outside with more extreme temperature days predicted we would be better off on trail. So we will head off to Stevens Pass tomorrow. Extreme heat warnings for the rest of the week.

Category : CDT 2019