How did I get here?

Sometimes I wonder how I made it this far. The miles are not getting much easier for me even though I have been at this for 4 1/2 months.  With just 260 miles to go it's a bummer my feet are still killing me but the rest of my body and mind feel so good. I wish my feet felt better as it would make this all day hiking thing be a bit more enjoyable. However, the end goal is getting closer by the minute and I wouldn't trade what I'm doing for anything right now. I love the people I have met, the fresh air, scenery and being outside every day.

Katie and I have talked about nearly everything possible, even wondering why they don't call piggy-back rides horse-back rides instead. We have solved riddles, played 20 questions numerous times and even made up our own knock-knock jokes. I think we have almost become like sisters spending this much time together. There are also hours that go by where we don't talk at all and are lost in our own thoughts. I have a clear mind and many ideas running through my head of what is next for me after this hike.

All of our good hiking buddies are in front of us anywhere from 1-5 days. It is wierd thinking I may never see them on the trail again, but I know we will remain friends for years to come. You make a special bond with people out here; much quicker than I would in my "normal" life. Anything goes for conversation and we see each other at our smelliest, strongest and sometimes weakest moments physically and emotionally.

Not much exciting happened in this stretch from White Pass to Snoqualmie Pass, so I will sum it up like this:
-beautiful steep rocky hills and sunny
-then icky clear cut logging and dense fog
-then trail magic from Not Phil's Dad and a CRAZY thunder and lightening storm overnight that briefly turned our tent into a water bed
-then rain all day and hiking in the trees
-then more fog and rain but a short 3 hour day to a warm and dry hotel room at Snoqualmie Pass!
-breakfast at the Pancake House and dinner at the Aardvark food truck, YUM!

The end is near and the weather forecast shows sunshine for the next week! Onwards to Stevens Pass we go!

Trail stats after 143 days and 2402 miles:
- Longest stretch without a shower: 14 days (Cascade Locks to Snoqualmie Pass)
- # showers: 31
- # loads laundry: 21
- # days hiking in rain: 7
- # nights indoor: 21
- # chocolate milks purchased: 16

Here are just few pics from this section:
-Katie on the pretty day
-Me on the icky clear-cut logging day
- dinner at the Aardvark food truck...best curry in WA!