Day 126
Start: Three Corner
Finish: Big Huckleberry Mountain
Daily Mileage: 30.8
PCT Mile: 2195.7
Well, it had to happen at some point. The last time I was rained on while hiking on the PCT was the southern desert around mile 600 or so. I’m now nearly at mile 2200 and this morning we got our first bit of drizzle while walking. Such a fitting entry into Washington which is like this most of the year except summer.
It only briefly drizzled, long enough to fool us into putting on our rain gear. Given we were starting a climb, it was obviously a bad idea.
The rain never really started or stopped today. The first little bit of rain caused the trees to drip for hours and wet the plants on the ground just enough to continuously subject us to water. It was not a big deal since the temperature was moderate, but it is just something we haven’t had to deal with on this trail. You could theoretically never see rain the entire trail, though we did a number of times in the beginning. Many hikers aren’t carrying a tent, or just a tent without a rain fly, but that is their loss.
We passed through forest the entire day today, with only a couple of the briefest views. Not that we could see anything with the low clouds.
There were berries throughout the day, and we paused several times to raid a good looking bush. Always nice to have something fresh on trail.
It was a little dryer through the middle of the day, but it started raining again as we were having second lunch at a campground. We hid under a tree before it slowed and then we resumed hiking.
Our final stretch of trail for the day was a good 3500 foot climb. There was a good grade to it, but the PCT still found a way to draw it out over 9 miles somehow.
As we climbed, we rose into the clouds where there was perpetual rain from the clouds condensing on the trees it was blowing past. All the plants were wet, and many were reaching into the trail enough to transfer their water to us as we brushed past. However, the cloud in the vibrant green forest was scenic enough to let me forgive.
We got to camp still in the perpetual cloud rain and set up near a stream. It was one of those set up the tent and get in it nights with the continuous drizzle, but given the great weather for 99% of this trip, it can be forgiven.
Today was Washington demonstrating Washington. A little drizzly through bright green and cloudy forest. Almost as good as it gets.
