PCT curtain call: the northern waterfalls

Pass to pass

While I waited in White Pass for a friend from Seattle to arrive to join me on the way for the next section, I spent a while looking at the map of the remaining trail ahead of me. Washington has more than 102,000 feet of climbing for Novo hikers, and the number of passes between White Pass and the north end spoke to this: Chinook, Stampede, Snoqualmie, Stevens, Rainy, Harts. Just to name a few.

There were many remaining ups and downs, and I was excited.

As he advances through the center and northern Washington, he travels through remote and pristine areas. The increases lead to impressive views and descents lead him to lush valleys with green and healthy forests. The elevation generally ranges between 4000 feet and 6000 feet with the odd 7000 feet and the crossing of Ríos or the trail head below 3000 feet.

Unlike his neighbor Oregon, Washington does not offer much level of level or quasi-silver. Certainly ‘wins’ the terminal when you get there.

White pass to Snoqualmie

We went back into the ‘Green Tunnel’ when we climbed the path north of White Pass. The great views just south on the rocks of Cabra had gone for the day. At least during the initial 24 hours. We were close to Rainier, but the clouds covered any view of it.

When we climb the path over the ski area of ​​Crystal Mountain, the views returned and the clouds rose. The path went further and further north towards Snoqualmie. The proximity to Seattle meant more one -day hikers and also more trail magic. For the first time, I really had lunch and dinner magic the same day. It was amazing.

J: Snoqualmie Stevens Pass

The northern half of Washington has two of the most qualified sections throughout the PCT: the J and K sections. He made the 4 days even more pleasant and memorable.

Section J does not expect much to present its beauty. After a five -mile climb, he is walking for a little breath taking crest lines with an impressive exhibition in some places.

It was also an additional advantage to have the alpine lakes along the path again for the first time from the mountains. August temperatures made swimming an activity welcome in the afternoon, and Los Lagos provided excellent camping funds. The sunsets were also quite spectacular.

Infamous K: Stevens

After a quick resupply trip to the Washington Bavaria through the city of Leavenworth, I returned to the road for 5-6 days to Stehekin. An important part of section K is Glacier Peak desert.

Glacier Peak had risen, which is the most remote of the main cascade volcanoes in 2022, but this time I would be walking for much more of the remote desert as we circumnote the peak.

Glacier Peak Wilderness did not disappoint. The days were long and with a lot of elevation gain, but the opinions were the reward. Apart from other PCT hikers, the area lacked other people.

With Glacier Peak always advancing on us, we cross the streams fed with glacier, we climb on innumerable blown trees, we finish numerous curves and wandering through miles and miles of pristine forests and alpine meadows.

In many ways, for me, section K was the incarnation of the PCT at its best. This even includes the literal icing on the cake: the famous bakery in Stehekin.

If you want an example of a good business model, the Stehekin bakery is: to offer delicious cakes and breads to a PCT hikers with the hunger for hikers induced by section K. It was very grateful that the bus stopped in the bakery both on the road to the city and at the beginning of the path.

The north end

When leaving Stehekin, only 80 miles remain at the terminal. With the stomach stuffed with pastry and a growing emotion with the border so close, the walk towards the rainy pass and then the pass of Harts was practically a blur.

When I entered Harts Pass, which is the final path that crosses in the PCT that goes to the north, there were multiple groups making magic of trails.

With the entrance to Canada closed in 2025, the term is a 30 -mile walking walk. While we walked to the border until what would be our final camp, the smoke of a fire in the next Ross Lake was a constant reminder that the challenges were still close.

When I woke up the morning of my 134th, the terminal was 14 miles away. Those 14 miles were blurred to me.

And then, there were: the border marker, the terminal score and the ‘Welcome to Canada’ sign. It was difficult to believe that the South Terms marker was more than 6 million steps to the south on the Mexican border.

While walking slowly towards the terminal score, I soaked everything: emotions, memories, feelings. I will write a final blog post about The Walk to the Terminus, but say for me that it was something magical and cathartic. And I had the 30 mile walk to the south to Harts Pass to soak up everything. Because with a simple shift, I went from being a Nobo hiker for the first time being a sobo. More path in front of me …

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