Pacific Crest Trail - Rainy pass to Snowy Lakes (Aug 2014)

  This gem of an adventure started with the intent of hiking 31 miles or so northward to Harts pass, where I started and ended my last trip. I found the parking lot, the correct lot this time, and began hiking around 1100 on August 4th. What a beautiful trail! Almost level, and hardly any rocks or roots to trip over. The work began just a few miles up the trail.
   With the heat of the day increasing, as well as the incline of the terrain, I soon found myself sweating in places that I'd rather not. No problem. There were plenty of streams to cross and dunk myself and hat into. After about 3 hours of hiking, I crossed Methow Pass and descended down towards the ridge that eventually arrives at the Snowy Lakes cut off.
   My shoe choice of the day was a disappointment at best. I would even categorize the choice as an epic fail. I've read that it's best to not wear Gore-Tex shoes as they don't really breathe, and they don't really keep your feet dry. Either wear a good pair of rubber boots or go with something that will breathe and dry if/when you have to cross a creek. So here's what happened to my shoes/feet.
   My poor choice of the day was a pair of North Face low top, Gore-Tex hiking shoes. Around mile 6-7 my feet began to get very hot and uncomfortable. I stopped and doffed them, allowed the dogs to cool for several minutes. I also met up with a Washington PCT thru hiker by the name Grand Pappy Amos. After allowing my feet and shoes to dry somewhat, I continued N/B.
   As I neared the Snowy Lakes intersection, my toes were screaming for relief so I decided to hike up hill another 1/2 mile and camp at upper snowy lake. What a beautiful basin. I pitched my tent and then stuck my feet in the lake. My Gore-Tex, "breathable" shoes were damp to almost wet inside. This caused the start of many blisters on my toes and forefoot of both feet.  The wind kept the mosquitoes at bay, or at least tolerable for most of the day. I arrived at the lake around 3 pm, and enjoyed some solitude for a few hours. A few hours later, 6 other hikers arrived. The wind died and the mosquitoes began to swarm. I hid inside my tent and watched the "no-see-ums" dive bomb by tent netting.
   As night fell the basin grew very quiet, and the remaining sun's rays painted beautiful red and purple tapestries on the mountainside.

   The following morning I awoke early (5AM) and thought I'd be able to out smart the mosquitoes by getting up before they did. Not so. The heat of the day must have been keeping them at bay...during the early morning hours, they were worse than any other part of the day. I packed up quickly and heading towards the trailhead at Rainy Pass.

  During my trek back to the car, I met two PCT thru hikers. Butters (Bread and Butter), and Charlie Dayhiker. I later googled Butters PCT 2014 and found an entertaining video he and Wet Burrito posted. I've entertained the thought of thru hiking the PCT, but it seems that even short hikes have so many adversities. I suppose the difficulties "iron themselves out" and one week of hiking isn't really enough to get good "trail legs" so...maybe next year.