Twig Adventures

July 21st, 2018 Mm 2404 to Snoqualmie Pass mm 2393 Distance: 11 miles I just wanted to add that the day before involved 7900′ elevation gain and 5300′ loss. No wonder it felt so hard! I was on the trail by 0630 am, despite a chilly start. I didn’t sleep very well because it was so cold. I left most of my layers on until an uphill where the sun was hitting. The morning light on Rainier and the other mountains was again outstanding. The day before I was able to see 3 of the volcanos. Rainier was obvious and based on the map, the other two were Mt Adams and Mt Hood, the latter of which is all the[…]

July 20th, 2018 Waptus River mm2428 to Magical Mountain camp mm 2404 Distance: 24 miles It was another day that finished magnificently. I was on trail at 0645 am and moving upward. A million swichbacks brought me 2500′ higher to the top of an unnamed pass and a million more right back down. I spent the whole morning (5 hrs) going 13 miles just to cover 3 miles, as the falcon flies. The trail passed a series of creeks and one large stream that had to be forded because the bridge had been swept away. It was a two-wet-feet deal but I dived right in. There were a few others there who were really concentrating on the crossing. They might[…]

July 19th, 2018 Mm 2452 to Waptus River mm 2428 Distance: 24 miles The day got off to a rough start but ended as a really good one, mostly bug-free! It was another stay-inside-tent morning and I was on trail by 7 am, running downhill to escape the cloud of bugs. The mountains were pretty socked in but I could tell that it was clearing, just like the day before. The cool morning was a nice break from the heat. I saw my first snake on the trail..a harmless garter. It gave me a start anyways. Later I saw a deer. I also found some ripe huckleberries. Then there was a trail maintenance crew cutting deadfall with their headnets on.[…]

July 18th, 2018 Stevens Pass mm 2464 to mm 2452 Distance: 12 miles For once, no one in my room snored but a guy next door was sawing logs all night and the walls were very thin. Everyone could hear him but I was closest to the source. Nothing earplugs couldn’t solve, luckily. I slept in a bit, had granola for breakfast, and worked on my blog all morning. Surprisingly, the valley was socked in with clouds and it was considerably cooler. The first clouds I have seen in a week! Plants headed back to the trail pretty early but I was waiting for the PO to open at 11:30 am…I also needed the extra time to catch up on[…]

July 17th, 2018 Lake Janus mm 2474 to Stevens Pass mm 2464 Distance: 10 miles The bug situation seemed to be even worse in the morning. Plus, I was feeling groggy from the benadryl and slept until 6 am. I just did not want to get up and deal with the bugs. As a result, it took me forever to pack up. At 0720 I practically ran away from my campsite and did not stop for quite awhile. I even wore my head net for a few miles. If I never see that place again, I will not be sad. I later met two day hikers from a nearby town. They said it was the worst year for bugs that[…]

July 16th, 2018 Reflection Pond mm 2500 to Lake Janus mm 2474 Distance: 26 miles The trail did a lot of short ups and downs today but was pretty cruise-y. I took my time breaking camp and was on trail at 7 am, just in time to meet Lucas, who had already hiked 3 miles. He wakes up really early. We shortly caught up to the couple that was camped at the pond with me. Emily and Ryan are also hiking the whole trail. Emily hiked the AT previously and works as an outdoor guide in Finland. Then we caught another couple, Sherpa and Mr. Miagi. We all took a break at a Lake Sally Ann but no one was[…]

July 15th, 2018 Mica Lake mm 2521 to Reflection Pond mm 2500 Distance: 21 miles It was another big day with over 6000 feet of elevation gain and loss. We had agreed to sleep in a bit to let the snow soften but I was a awake at 5 am as usual, so I caught up on my blog. The sun began hitting my tent at 6 am, being that we were so high and exposed. I had a leisurely breakfast and enjoyed my views of the lake. It was already so warm, I didn’t mind taking my layers off as I packed. I left camp around 0745, my latest start yet. This was just the kind of place that[…]

July 14th, 2018 Mm 2543 to Mica Lake mm 2521 Distance: 22 miles It was another stunning day in the Cascades. This area has such raw, rugged beauty, it rivals all other places I have hiked. Today I did a whopping 8437 feet of ascent and 5794 of descent! It was huge day but the scenary gave me the energy to keep going. We were rewarded with an overnight at the frozen beauty Mica lake. It was the best day yet! I woke up at 5 am and was on trail by 0615 am so that I could catch up with the 5 ahead of me. Sure enough, two were still at the campsite and another two I met taking[…]

July 13th, 2018 Swamp Creek mm 2564 to mm 2543 Distance: 21 miles There were lots of interesting wildlife encounters today, plus a few really exciting events that involved things flying overhead. First, I nearly stumbled into a deer when I got out of my tent. I had to go to the bathroom and she followed me. As soon as I was done, she went to the spot and started licking. Gross. I guess they like the salt in our pee. I was on the trail by 7 am and it was a steady climb for 12 miles. I was listening to some music and suddenly heard a roar coming from behind. I looked up just in time to see[…]

July 12th, 2018 High Bridge Mm 2572 to Swamp Creek mm 2564 Distance: 8 miles The town vortex exerted its pull but I was able to escape it in the end. I woke plenty early because I still had lots of chores to do. First I wanted to hand wash some clothes and give them time to dry. I camped right near the bathroom, which had a nice sink. The campsites require a permit but are free for up to a week (I think). This is surprising, given such nice facilities and in a resort town, to boot. The scenery around the lake reminded me of the lakes in NZ. I would say it’s definitely worth a visit and if[…]