200 Miles Celebration

8/7/13

PCT miles 2350-2264  13 miles

Elev 5676-@ 5000

We slept til 6am and took 1 liter of water with us for the 5 miles to Ulrich Cabin where we planned to enjoy a rest and celebrate our milestone today. This is a snow club cabin built in the mid 50's to honor the memory of Mike Ulrich who loved the outdoors. It's kept up pretty well and a favorite place to overnight.

We filled 1.5 liters at the cabin's creek and hiked to the 10 mile mark at a small spring off the trail where we inflated our mattresses and rested in the shade, bone weary. At  about 3:30 we decided to move on for 2-4 more miles and dry camp.  We met Aaron, a tall, spare young man who'd started at the Mexican border.  He was getting water and moving on.  These kids hike big miles, anywhere from 25-40 each day. They have a lean, hungry look.  They say a few words and disappear up the trail leaving me staggering after them wondering how my own stamina leaked away without me  noticing until now??

We left our resting place and ran into open burn areas where we cooked in the sun and tried to get purchase in the sandy soil as we walked.  I did see this tree that I thought was fun.

Mt Rainier was visible a few times but water was scarce so we decided the more miles we could get behind us the better. We did 4 more miles and camped dry on the top of a hill before a road crossing.  I never like to be near a road, it's the only time I feel uneasy out here. 

Fireweed in the logged areas between road crossings.

For dinner I made Thai Lemongrass noodle soup spiced with chili oil.  When we'd gone to bed we heard gun shots, someone using the old dirt roads to do target practice.  It made us glad we'd camped a mile above the road.