[pct-l] thru-hiker sightings 9-10 near Snoqualmie and alternate route musings

[Connie Davis]

My son and I (other son, Tristan, not Mongous) hiked north on the PCT 
up to Ridge Lake from Snoqualmie Pass in the mist on Saturday and day 
hiked above Joe Lake on Sunday in the brilliant sunshine. On our hike 
out on Sunday morning, we met the following thru-hikers:
Cheers
Paul
Giddy-Up
Swiss Miss
Pang
Sugar Daddy
Mike
Chert
Grizzly Adams
They are very bummed about their fire detours/PCT closure.  They almost 
universally expressed a wish for a monument photo.  Some of them 
wondered if they could get across to Canada on the Ross Lake detour, 
then hitch up to Manning and hike into the monument.  I told them that 
unfortunately, the PCT is closed from Manning to the border, too.  Info 
  on Manning Park is at 
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/manning.html  (The map 
is not very helpful, you really can't tell what is the PCT, but 
basically all the backcountry trails in Manning are closed.)  The RCMP 
late last week also asked people to not drive on Hwy 3 east of Hope due 
to poor visibility from smoke.

The inci website is good for updates on the fires.
http://www.inciweb.org/state/49/

I've been trying to collect up some information about the alternate 
route suggested by the Methow Valley Ranger District (on 
http://www.pcta.org/planning/during_trip/Trail_con_W.asp?sect=L):
"the alternate route begins about 5.5 miles north of Methow Pass. 
Hikers can either take trail 756 over Mebee Pass and down Boulder Creek 
Trail 729 to the junction with Chancellor Trail 754. Alternately, 
hikers can take the Mill Creek Trail 755 from the junction with the PCT 
over Azurite Pass and down Mill Creek to the junction with Chancellor 
Trail 754. The route continues west on trail 754 to the East Bank Trail 
on the eastern shore of Ross Lake. Thru-hikers can then continue north 
on the East Bank Trail and the Lightning Creek Trail to Hozomeen 
campground and the Canadian border. The road from Hozomeen connects to 
Highway 3 in British Columbia west of Manning Park."

The road from Hozomeen campground on the US side to Ross Lake 
campground (on the BC side) is a 39 mile road, most of which is 
apparently gravel.  I don't know how well-traveled it is to the end.  I 
will try and find out in the next few days. One option would be to just 
turn around and head back down to North Cascades highway instead of 
actually coming back through Canada--Apparently, you can make 
arrangements with the water taxi on Ross Lake to take you back to the 
Ross Lake Resort (206-386-4437).

Has anyone thought about an alternate route further west?   I am just 
looking at maps and checking the WTA website http://www.wta.org  I 
considered a hike earlier this year from Ross lake dam, up the west 
bank to Big Beaver creek, then over Beaver Pass, up Little Beaver Creek 
  to Whatcom  Pass (VERY BRUSHY on a July trail report), then north on 
the Chilliwack river trail to Chilliwack Lake in BC.  Chilliwack Lake 
is much closer to Hwy 3 and probably more heavily visited.  Remember, 
this is all paper tripping, I have no personal experience.  Has anyone 
on the PCT-L hiked in this part of the North Cascades?

Bad news is that I will be out of town from Sept. 16th to the 23rd.  
Harriet is also away. Any other folks nearby who could help hikers who 
come into Canada via an alternate route?

It's time to do a rain dance for a major downpour on the Tatoosh fire 
and hope the PCT from Rainy Pass north will re-open soon.

Lookout
Abbotsford, BC