MP 2402 Snoqualmie Pass - After leaving White Pass I camped at MP 2318, 2343, 2361 and 2387. Tripped over a root that put a big tear in the top of my shoe. My shoe then caught on a branch which tripped me and poked into the top of my middle toe. I was able to limp into Snoqualmie Pass only with the aid of large quantities of vicodin. Toe may be broken. I had Annette send a different pair of shoes only to find that i can not wear them because they pinch the toe and are too painful. Took a zero here but hike out tomorrow with shoes repaired with duct tape. I only have 250 miles to go and am determined to finish. Must hike out now because the fair weather will not last much longer. Have been feeling sad, nevertheless, because the hike is coming to an end.

Mt. Rainier:

M2303 White Pass. Staying in motel overnight. Went over the Knife Edge pass yesterday. Wind was so strong it knocked me down. Had to crawl over some portions. Very slow going. Couldn't stop because of loss of body heat. Sky was boiling with fog and mist blowing over the pass but if you looked straight up it was clear blue. Mt. Rainier would disappear and reappear in the distance. Totally exhilarating.  
After I got down from the pass I found out that Footprint and Illusion had been following me.   The group with Skeeter, Legion, Steady and Hamburger gave up and didn't try to make it over the pass.





Illusion and Footprint.   From the Czech Republic:

Steady eating a piece of cheese:

Skeeter:

Goat Rocks:

 

Knife's Edge:

M2283 Camped short of Teton Pass in the Goat Rocks Wilderness. Rain. Ice. Cold weather.

MP 2265 Camped next to Junction Lake. Lots of thunder and lightening and a little rain.

M2241 Camped next to spring.

Camped next to Blue Lake across from a bunch of bow hunters. Can feel the weather changing. Sky is a brilliant blue. The air is cool and crisp in the morning. Days are shorter now which makes it harder to get in the miles. Having trouble getting myself up in the morning.

MP 2191 Roadwalked through Stevenson and Carson, Washington on an alternate route from Wilderness Press guidebook. Felt like I was off the grid for the first time. Camped with Skeeter, Steady, Legion and Hamburger all of whom I have been tracking with for about 1,000 miles.    September 9

MP 2153 Cascade Locks. Got back on the trail 2 days ago. Camped above Timberline Lodge and then hiked the old Timberline Trail around Mt Hood. Went through Paradise Park, Ramona Falls and camped at 2127 N of Lolo Pass Rd. Left a stuff sack full of gear at the spot where I had lunch and had to hike back 3 miles to retrieve it. Finished Oregon by hiking down into the Columbia River Gorge on the magnificent Eagle Creek Trail. Staying at the Best Western Motel. Tomorrow I will start chipping away at the final 500 miles.      September 5

Paradise Park:

Eagle Creek:

 

MP 2057 thirty miles this day. Timberline Lodge finally. The next four days are zeros in Portland with the family. Hard to get myself back on the trail but I have only 550 miles to go.     August 29 to September 2

MP 2027 Onward toward Mt. Hood. Feels like home as I hike past Timothy Lake. Camped at Little Crater Lake.

MP 2007 Hit the 2000 mile mark this day. Resupplied at Big Lake Youth Camp. Fire closure to the North has been lifted. Hooray. Am starting to hike through very familiar territory: the awesomely beautiful Three Sisters, Three Fingered Jack and Mt. Jefferson.    August 25

MP 1988 Late start this day. Only 18 miles.  

MP 1970 Not much energy this day. Not much mileage. Late start.