Trail and Errors

One day from Snoqualmie, so you not what to expect - lots of talk about food. It is however, an unusual pre town day as Snoqualmie is set to be the last town stop before the end of the trail. Naturally there are mixed feelings about this. The journey is coming to a close and with it are the excitements of home and rest, but this has been their lives for the last 6 months, a unique and extraordinary life, one not so easily put to one side. These emotions are heard throughout the episode as Ethan, Molly and the gang face this reality for the first time, being now 2 weeks from Canada.  

Leaving Mt Rainier behind, Molly and Ethan plod their way through yet another burnt woodland but this time, from the fertile soils sprout small clusters of strawberries - not quite the selection at Sainsbury's but a delightful treat for the eyes if anything. This landscape of recovering shrub dominates the day which remains hot despite the grey cloud cover looming overhead. There is a random encounter involving a minor "PCT celebrity" - OTC - and a gamble between a spring water supply and rumoured trail magic. 

The team pass through a tourist hotspot as it draws close to the Labor Day national holiday. The usually quiet and thru-hiker occupied territory of the PCT is shared with countless national and international day hikers enjoying the trails around Mt Rainier. That said, much of the day is spent in mists, including yet another delightful pause for trail magic but, shortly after, the sun breaks through with a vengeance turning the previously damp day into a scorcher. The group swim in lakes, converse with passers by and share PCT anthems, written along the journey.  

One of those days; not a bad day but, just one of those ya know?  Following the explosion of beauty the day before at Knifes Edge, we dive into forests on a day of drizzle. It is beautiful and wild, but quiet. Lethargy sinks it's claws in. The day was taken easy, with lunch beside alpine lakes, talks of possible wolf sightings, crashing at the end with a very exciting food review.

In the Goat Rocks Wilderness, the PCT splits. You can take the original route or an alternative. Frankly, you'd be a fool not to take the alternative. Knife's Edge remains the most beautiful section of all 2,650 miles of the trail for us. This episode hopefully showcases that with a lot of ambient audio, "Wow"s and the occasional f-bomb of delight. There isn't much else to say really. Listen and enjoy.