Days 126-130

September 8 — day 130
Camped off-trail in Stehekin mile 2572.4 hiked 20.9 miles today.
I would be completely out of food today. I hiked very quickly down from the alpine landscape into the old-growth rainforest along the Agnes Creek. Took the shuttle into Stehekin on Lake Chelan. There were loads of thruhikers there. I showered and did my laundry. Had a huge passable dinner of calamari meatloaf and salad at the restaurant.

September 7 — day 129
Camped mile 2551.5 hiked 25.5 miles today.
Another beautiful day walking around Glacier Peak. I almost stepped on a Grouse. They are surprisingly UNafraid of people. I camped short of where I wanted to due to the pending thunderstorm. I found a nice secure spot surrounded by a grove of trees. I ate dinner as the rain began to fall in earnest. The thunder and lightning were exciting.

September 6 — day 128
Camped mile 2526.1 hiked 24.1 miles today.
It was a rainy cold morning. Saw a bear. Mica lake was gorgeous with incredibly beautiful deep blues in crystal clear waster. Took a much–needed swim. I felt incredible afterwards. I walked into the dark looking for a campsite around Milk Creek.

September 5 — day 127
Camped mile 2502.0 near White Pass hiked 27.7 miles today.
Another gorgeous day of hiking. I found out that I was mistaking blueberries for huckleberries. The blueberries are growing on lower plants typically growing at higher elevations and have a whiteish coating on them and are better tasting. The huckleberries are growing in taller plants and are shiny and darker they and using a wine tasting term have a slightly barnyard taste to them.

September 4 — day 126
Camped mile 2474.3 Lake Janus hiked 17.2 miles today.
Got to the Stevens Pass ski lodge early. Salsa was there picking up a resupply package. I was really surprised and lucky that the hiker box had enough food for my entire resupply. There was plenty of ramen, some Knor sides, an odd assortment of bars, spicy peanuts, hot chocolate, instant coffee, and some instant energy drink packets. I already had about a day’s worth of food in the form of granola bars, a few other bars, nuts, and dates. I had already made a sign in anticipation of hitching the 35 miles to Leavenworth which I was dreading. After the resupply bonanza I found out that there was a cell tower at the ski resort and made some lighting fast downloads of some podcasts. Later I went to the Mountaineers Lodge where I found another hiker box and got more ramen in exchange for the slower cooking Knor pasta sides and a few tuna packs which I normally add to my ramen meals. I only had to pay a $5 day use fee to do a bucket laundry, shower, charge my devices, and cook a few of the rejected pasta sides for lunch. My laundry wasn’t dry when I left so I had drying laundry draped all over my pack. Eventually, I stopped along the trail and got the laundry mostly dry.