White Pass and Beyond

Sept 8,9
We met a group of section hikers a few miles from White Pass and they offered to take us in to Packwood and back to White Pass so we could go to the grocery store . We had our resupply boxes waiting for us at the store in White Pass but there was little to nothing in the way of fresh food to eat so we decided to take them up on their offer. Wayne, the youth group leader takes a church group out every year and this year the group of 6 did the PCT leg to White Pass. They dropped us off at the grocery store with a plan to pick us up within the hour. We bought fresh food for that nights dinner and the next morning breakfast and waited for their return. Afted nearly 2 hours and no answer from Wayne's cell phone we began to worry. They had our packs, which was everything we owned at the present. Being separated from your pack is like being without your shoes. Just as panic began to set in Wayne arrived with apologies. Apparently their vehicle overheated. No harm done. But we made a note to never let anything come between us and our packs again. Wayne took us back to White Pass and we dubbed him as our newest Trail Angel.

Thanks Wayne!

Once back in White Pass we did our usual chores. I met a woman who has been following my blog. It was nice to meet Liane and hear that she found my adventure inspiring. She was in town for business but she also made time to enjoy the outdoors and get some hiking in too.
During the night there was a big thunderstorm and we were lucky to have dodged the bad weather. This was the beginning of the predicted cold front. The next day we entered the Wenatchee Wilderness and hiked in the cooler temperatures.

The trail tread was great and we were enjoying our trek through Washington as we crossed over this rushing water on this very long well-placed log.

We met a group of bow hunters and learned it was the start of Elk Hunting with Bow and Arrows. We had been seeing Elk Foot-prints all day.

Elk Hoof-print

The hunters came in on horseback and we saw their pack animals grazing near their camp.

All went well until we reached a wide cold stream with no easy way to cross it. Other hikers were ahead of us trying to hop rocks which were much to far apart and every one fell in so Gone Fishing and I took off our shoes and walked through. I had sent my sandals back home just a week before so I had to walk through barefoot or get my shoes wet. I decided to go barefoot--bad idea. It was the most painful crossing to date. My feet were freezing and the water movement made it hard for me to see where I was placing my feet. I was lucky to have escaped foot injury. Next time I will just choose wet feet.
Here are some pics of the wilderness today-- enjoy!