Day 137, All We Want

Part 5, Washington, Day 137

All We Want

Miles: 9.6

Total Miles: 2390.6

***days 133-137 are up. To continue where I left off, go to day 133.

Things got pretty dicey last night and I barely slept. There was a steady rain and wind, and I was so tired when I set up my tent last night that I set up in a low spot. The rain water pooled under my tent and started to soak through the floor. It was a wet night. I was up at 5am and started packing up. I hiked out around 6am.

The sky was dark this morning, and I could feel a storm brewing. The forest was so dark that it felt like nighttime. I was in all of my rain gear. 

Luckily for me, I only had to hike 9 miles into Snoqualmie Pass where I'm taking a much needed zero. My head was aching so bad from fatigue and no sleep that I had to take some ibuprofen. 

I took a few pics while it was still lightly raining, but I had to put the camera away for a bit when the sky opened up and started pouring rain. 

The trail flooded after 30 minutes of heavy rain. I just kept moving to stay warm. Myself and all my gear was completely soaked. I put my sleeping bag and sleeping clothes into dry sacks, so I can always keep those crucial items dry. My rain gear did keep me warm though, as long as I kept moving.

I shuddered to think how it would be if I were days away from civilization in this weather, since it's supposed to rain for 5 days. Sustained and pouring rain with wind can be scary out here. 

Here's me soaked through. 

I met a guy who was unloading wood onto a dirt road. He warned me that 50 mph winds were coming. It's almost unbelievable how unlucky the weather has been lately. If it's not fires and smoke, it's thunderstorms and rain. Nature is punishing PCT hikers this year. Maybe it's revenge for allowing "Wild" to be published. 

I have no idea why this sign is here.

Here's nature devouring a trail sign:

I could see Interstate 90 below me. For a busy freeway, it looked like a pretty nice road. 

The rain would stop and start up again every few minutes. This is some tropical front that's battering lower Washington and upper Oregon. Unfortunately, it's barely affecting the fires up north. 

I climbed up the mountain and saw ski lifts.

Then I saw my destination. It was like seeing a mirage. Finally, a place to rest up and dry out.

The area was stunning.

I followed the road and came to the Chevron. There's only a few businesses here, but there's enough for hikers. I picked up my resupply box from Chevron, then went to the inn.

The Summit Inn is perfect. There's even a diner attached to it.

The food is like Denny's, I imagine, but a step below.

I finally found out where the hikers are. They're here at the Summit Inn hiding from the rain. Some have already stayed here too long and have to head out into the rain. I went next door to a small market and ate pizza with Bumble and Bonus Miles:

I'm back in my room and I plan to rest and do nothing all day. Stay tuned for a post about me zeroing and possibly double zeroing to wait out the rain as long as I can. I'm also waiting for news about the fires. Until then, later gators!