Pacific Crest Trail: The Misadventures of Ghetto Blaster and Fire Belly

Day 1 - at the US/Canada border

After a brief stint in Vancouver, we greyhounded it to Manning Park arriving about 3:30 AM in the chilly darkness. After eating a can of baked beans and using some pit toilets, the sky began to lighten and so we started to walk. 8 miles south on the trail, we were back in the US. Along the Pacific Crest Trail, we experienced the most spectacular scenery I have ever seen in my life.
Note: All of the PCT images below are in chronological order as we cruised Southbound from Canada to Oregon. The text in italics comes from my journal.
Hope you enjoy the pictures and please do yourself a favor and go for a long hike on the PCT.

PCT: Day 2

Northern Washington

Hopkins Lake below - where we camped the night before

handstand!

Ghetto Blaster - highest point on the actual trail in Washington - over 7,000 ft

Fire Belly

not a bad lunch spot

campsite after Rocky Pass

Ah, lupines and more

PCT: Day 3

Pasayten Wilderness, Northern Washington

8-15 - Today we hiked 15 miles to Slate Peak. After a morning argument over the medical industry and western medicine, we got going. Following a tasty dinner of couscous, 4-cheese Mexican soup mix and miso soup at Windy Pass, we watched the pink colors in the sky and saw Mt. Baker. As we got up to Buffalo Pass - the full moon was in full effect and we hiked under its rays across a traverse of Slate Peak which was so gorgeous and so viewful.

full moon rising

PCT: Day 4

Alpine Garden Pass, Pasayten Wilderness, Northern Washington

Ghetto Blaster with the wind + view

8-16 - went 14 miles from Harts Pass to this rushing Matricon river after Glacier Pass Brush Creek - polenta on the bridge, very hot on the ridges today.

PCT: Day 5

Pasayten Wilderness, Northern Washington

Ghetto Blaster

near Granite Pass

That night we strung up our hammocks atop Cutthroat Pass. There was lightning and thunder not far away and the wind was especially blustery and intensely whipped our rainflies.

See how the valleys are U-shaped? Glaciers carved out these valleys.

PCT: Days 7, 10

North Cascades National Park, Washington

Ghetto Blaster by Coon Lake, Day 7

Bridge Creek near Stehekin - our northernmost resupply 'town'

Suiattle Pass, Day 10

8-22 - in Glacier Peak Wilderness - just crossed the Suiattle River and now we at Gamma Creek. So many wildflowers and wild berries and recently south of Stehekin - huge! trees like redwoods but old growth cedars & spruce firs. Rainy since Stehekin and tons chillier. Last night was chilly and we could see the snow on the mountains from previous nights. Today we hiked 15.

the infamous washed out Suiattle River crossing was a piece of cake

glacial, silty Suiattle River in background

PCT: Day 11

Glacier Peak Wilderness, Washington

Saddle on Vista Ridge

After spending the morning and early afternoon bushwacking without our packs up Gamma Creek in search of Gamma Hot Springs, we got back on the trail and hiked up more than 3,000 feet to arrive at this spectacular ridge. All of the fallen old-growth trees criss-crossing the trail slowed us down some, but our breakfast of grits, eggs and beef jerky helped sustain us.