PCT Day 119 - 124

Hello Washington! Welcome to the land of green trees and the occasional rainy day.

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Day 119: 9/6/2025; mile 2159.8 - 2182.8

This morning, Julia and Gianna joined us for the first few miles of our hike up to the top of the climb. We said our goodbyes after trading some hiking snacks and just like that Julia and G we’re headed back to Cascade locks. Dennis and I spent the next few miles chatting about how nice it was to see my friend. We were attempting a 26 mile day, but ended up only making it 23 miles.

We enjoyed a long lunch break at a beautiful stream with intriguing green boulders. We ate our dinner just before the rain set in for the evening at a river crossing where we had access to freshwater.

I forgot to mention that earlier in the afternoon Dennis got stung by yellow jacket completely unprovoked. He was a bit annoyed at first. By the time we were getting ready to set up camp, we realized his ankle had swollen up a considerate amount, so we decided to rest for the evening and would reevaluate in the morning. There were no campsites available, but we managed to push aside some rocks on a river bed and create a flat surface for us to pitch our tent. 

Day 120: 9/7/2025; mile 2182.8 - 2183.1

We slept so well last night camping along Wind River. Upon examining Dennis‘s ankle, which was still extremely puffy from the yellow jacket bite, we decided we would hitch to Trout Lake. The upcoming highway crossing was the last paved road we would be see before Trout Lake.

It took a few cars, but quickly a young couple picked us up and took us into the town of Carson. There we studied the bus schedule and realized no buses would leave in the direction we needed until tomorrow. We grabbed a snack at the Dollar General and got another hitchhike down to Highway 14. Almost immediately after sticking our thumbs out on highway 14 two amazing Trail Angel’s, Jason and Denis, picked us up and asked where they could take us to.

They were heading into the town of wind River for breakfast before hiking Mount Adams the following day. They asked if we wanted to come into town with them for breakfast and we happily said yes! We had delicious mochas AND English muffin breakfast sandwiches AND grabbed some pastries all generously paid for by our Trail Angel’s.

These two guys were probably the best hitchhike we’ve received because not only did they take us to town, but they also offered to drive us into Trout Lake which was about 40 minutes out of their way. We picked up a few of the hitchhikers and dropped them off at the trailhead before being brought to the Trout Lake Lodge. Dennis and I spent the rest of the afternoon to laundry, showering, relaxing, and reading our books. We topped off the evening with a pizza dinner and some cards! 

Day 121: 9/8/2025; mile 2232 - 2243.6 

Today Dennis and I got as much beauty sleep as we could before catching the tail end of a continental breakfast. We took our last showers and headed out to the post office where a kind Trail Angel named Debbie gave us a ride. While I was at the post office, I found a bag of lentils in a hiker box which I’m going to play around with cooking for some extra protein this week. Then we walked over to the general store where I bought a couple of days of food to last me until the next resupply. We set our things outside for about four hours while we waited for the Trout Lake shuttle to take us back to trail. This shuttle is amazing because it is run by the general store and they ensure hikers get picked up and dropped off back at trail three times a day. It also ensures that we use their general store for our food resupply. Trout Lake is the only place to resupply between cascade locks and white pass, but it is about a 13 mile drive off trail to get into town, so the shuttle makes the resupply so much easier and hikers are way more likely to spend their money. I spent my rest day hanging out with Mango, Rambo, and Noah, who are all being goofy out by the hiker hang out then at 4 PM.

We all piled into the back of two pick up trucks and enjoyed a comfy ride back to trail. Once on trail I found a delicious blackberry bush to take a break at and picked berries for nearly half an hour to fill my Talenti jar. Dennis and I watched the sunset where we could see Mount Saint Helens Mount Adams and Mount Rainier From, and continue to hike on a few more miles in a light rain.

When we finally got to camp, the rain has stopped just enough for us to put up our tent and cook one out of two dinners. As soon as it began raining, I threw everything I could under the rain fly and finished cooking with my stove tucked under my vestibule.

Day 122: 9/9/2025; mile 2243.6 - 2272.6

This morning we woke up to a chilly mist covering the mountain and our camping area. There were crazy cracks coming from the mountain, and I couldn’t tell if it was thunder, or the sound of the glaciers melting.

I hiked across a large lava field and enjoyed views of Mount St Helens in the distance, covered in fluffy clouds.

I also spotted some beautiful sights of Mount Rainier in the distance!

Dennis caught up to me for lunch which we barely finished before a light drizzle began.

Right before sunset we came across a hunting camp with their own pack goats.

Today was a long day, 29 miles of hiking and the last 9 were done completely in the dark. With the last 6 to go, I was barely awake, but we needed to make it to the next town by 8:30 am on 9/11 to catch the ride we organized around the Wildcat Fire closure at Chinook Pass. Tomorrow we would have to go another 26 miles if we were going to make our ride. 

Day 123: 9/10/2025; mile 2272.6 - 2298.1 

We woke up early even with our late arrival to our campsite and were packed up by 8am.

We had some beautiful ascents into Goat Rocks Wilderness. Today reminded me of hiking in Switzerland, but without the cute cows with bells around their necks. The views here were STUNNING and we even had our first mini snow crossing in hundreds of miles.

We built a mini snowman to welcome all the hikers across the pass. I walked down a really cool ridge for a while while calling friends from home.

Dennis and I pushed on until dark, until we at last arrived at the Kracker Barrel store and gas station.

They had hiker camping in the back, so we grabbed a spot next to the other 20 tents in the area, quickly cooked dinner and were asleep almost instantly.

Day 124: 9/11/2025 11.5 miles out of chinook pass

We were in and out of the Cracker Barrel and about 12 hours with a full resupply and a ride from a Trail Angel around the fire closure. Thank you Keith for driving seven of us to the trailhead by Mount Rainier National Park. Dennis and I walked to see the national park sign took a photo and then gathered our things to begin our climb.

It ended up being a very mellow climb up to the first lake where we stopped to have a lunch break. I jumped into the water and then headed out long before Dennis.

The next section of climb was a bit punchy, but once I was on the ridge, it was a beautiful, gradual ascent for the rest of the way with full bars of service. I called my mom and my sister and enjoyed the views stopping periodically in hopes that Dennis will catch up.

Eventually, it was getting late about an hour from Sunset so I decided to wait for Dennis to catch up. I was in a spot that was extremely foggy and I was so cold that I got into my sleeping bag and curled up. Somehow, Dennis walked by me, and I didn’t see him and so at dark, I started to worry (panic!!) about where he was. He thankfully had satellite phone messaging available and texted me that he was a mile ahead and I quickly got up and started running towards him. Once we were reunited. We were a bit shaken up because it was scary to be separated in the dark and fall, but we walked two more miles until we found a campsite and then cozied up in our tent.