Day 158 Towards Snoqualmie Pass

21.43 miles
From Mike Urich Cabin (mile 2350.2, elevation 4793)
To follow camp (mile 2367.3+3.4, elevation 3786)
Upload 3204
Descend 4468

Last night we heard a lot of elk bugling. I didn’t see any moose at night, but they have been very noisy in the meadow.

When I woke up, my InReach had 1% battery. Last night I charged it to about 80%. He couldn’t send messages overnight and I guess he kept trying (or maybe he kept trying to get the location before sending them). I think the logs in the cabin blocked their signal. I charged it again this morning from my battery bank and placed it outside where I hoped it could finish texting.

Our musical topic of conversation this morning was “Hamilton.” Apparently, we were discussing our favorite song, but we kept finding more favorites until we had about 10.

This morning I saw a moose on the other side of the meadow before I left the cabin. It was very far away, but I think I took a photo with both my phone and my camera’s zoom. When I enlarge the photos later, I think I can see the moose, but it is so small that I can’t be sure. In any case, the meadow was still beautiful this morning with the sun shining over all the frost.

I left the cabin before the others and finally caught up with them around mile 8. They went ahead and I caught up with them during lunch, after which we walked together the rest of the day. We are taking an alternate route to Snoqualmie Pass, which will save us a few miles. That will provide some protection for warmth if it rains tomorrow.

The weather is definitely starting to show signs of winter. While it only rained at 4,700 feet last night, Mount Rainier was covered in snow this morning.

Mount Rainier, covered in snow

The trail and fall color provided by the blueberry bushes.

white flower rhododendron

The sun filters through the trees along the trail.

Cheerful, outside his store

My store site

Luckily, the weather and forecasts have been favorable. Last night’s rain stopped before morning (as predicted), so we were able to start the hike in dry weather. Today’s rain is not supposed to start until 10 pm (later than previous predictions) and will end around 1 am AND no more rain is forecast for another 3 days. Previous predictions called for tonight’s rain to continue for 3 or 4 days. I know that getting to Canada depends on favorable weather. Winter weather can make things much more difficult, so I am happy with the weather that allows me to walk without danger of hypothermia.

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