August 8

2293-2304

We stumble our way down the steep slopes of the white ski runs, electing to take the direct path down the instead of of the winding trail. This is probably a poor decision, as the slopes are brushy and meant for fast downhill skiing, but it makes perfect sense in the moment.

We get to highway 12 to find the road is closed to thru traffic due to a fire in the east side of the pass. Our dreams of heading to the town of Packwood for restaurant food are scattered to the wind. Packwood is well known along the trail for a pizza restaurant that sells absurdly deep dish pizzas. It is perfect hiker food. I stopped by the restaurant the last time I was hiking through here in 2017, and have been looking back at my pictures of the pizza in anticipation over the previous stretch of trail.

There are hikers standing on the side of the road hoping for a ride down to town, but over the course of multiple hours not a single car passes by. This we are left with the gas station mini mart on the top of the pass. Imagine being as hungry as you have ever been, and the only option for food is limited gas station fare. I eat multiple corn dogs in a rotten mood. No one has ever been this angry to eat a corn dog. Our resupply is also limited to the gas station mart. I walk away carrying multiple pounds of mayonnaise and grape jelly to use as condiments and a calorie boost to the assorted peanuts and tortillas I also purchase.

We charge our devices, and pay for showers. After multiple hours leave back to the trail clean and with full battery life.

The route takes us through a deep forest, occasionally opening up to wide meadows and countless small lakes. The smell of elk is noticable in the area, as we approach Mt. Rainier National Park. I get a glimpse of one, but it quickly takes off. Hunting season is approaching, and the elk are wise to be cautious around humans.

As night approaches, the campsites along trail are all taken. The hikers who skipped the last stretch of trail have caught us while we were hiking through. 100 miles worth of hikers are all in one small area. We hike an hour or two past dark, and find a camp well off the trail.