Both in reaching Canada and in completing our fundraiser of earning at least 1$ per mile for "Inspiring Girls Expeditions." We made it!
2658 miles from the southern border with Mexico to the northern border with Canada. What a feeling! Accomplishment, joy, exhaustion, nostalgia, and more than anything gratitude. Gratitude toward everyone who helped me on this grand adventure. I couldn't have done it without the trail crews and advocates who created and maintained this trail over the past 50 years. I couldn't have done it without the many sponsors who donated to our fundraiser for "Inspiring Girls Expeditions." I couldn't have done it without the kindness of family, friends and trail angels who helped and hosted us in town. And most importantly I couldn't have done it without the strong community of thru-hikers and my trail family - the Naked Suncups. Cheers and thank you to each and every one of you!
I will post a final blog with reflections and thoughts from the trail but first enjoy the following pictures and captions.
Cheesing for the camera. The "Naked Suncups" always have a good time no matter how cold, wet or tired we may be...
So happy to be in the beautiful north Cascades!
One of many marmot friends. Their piercing whistles echo incredibly well throughout the rock cirque basins of the north Cascades
Our campsite on top of a small knoll - 360˚ views and a perfect grassy sleeping spot
Sunrise is always beautiful but especially with a little added smoke in the air from the nearby wildfires
Spectacular north Cascades... I couldn't get enough of the colors and wide open vistas. A camera simply cannot capture it, but I certainly tried.
The team at the 2500 mile marker. What good looking group!
2500 miles. So proud
Sometimes the bridges break but we use them anyway.
Mist and clouds rolling into the North Cascades
Awesome granite with veins running every which way through the rock
Mist and clouds hanging in the high elevation rocky ridges and cirque basins.
Peanut floating in his blow up doughnut in Mica lake. It was a freezing cold morning but he started a trend and we all ended up swimming in this crystal clear water.
Gorging on wild blueberries. Yum yum yum!
Look at that classic U-shaped glacial valley!
Chicken of the woods - a visually interesting fungus that is supposedly delicious. Kareoke was our mushroom expert and highly recommends it although we never got around to actually frying some up.
Almost home!!!
Bamboo enjoying the rope swing at the Stehekin River Resort. A huge thank you to grandma Rudi for letting us use the cabin and spend the day relaxing!
Maybe I'll take a break from hiking and just kayak on Lake Chelan
We happily slept 8 hikers in this cozy cabin - Thank you grandma Rudi!
The team lined up with Grandma Rudi in front of The Ranch at Stehekin. What a delicious buffet! Thank you Jim and Judy Jensen for joining us!
A happy girl smiling in front of the Cascades!
Braids for everyone! Can you tell I am trying to start a trend?
Trail magic! Thank you for the hot pancakes and coffee in the morning!
The PINK ladies!
Misty northern Washington
Lots of hikers in camp... dinner party!
Shout out to Uncle Dave for hiking in a feast of Pizza, baked goods and fresh fruit at Rainy Pass. What a treat before the final push to Canada. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Fall colors are changing.
Just look at those mountains!
A face full of blueberries... I won the bet on how many switch back it would take to get to the top of the ridge (46) but Ungerwhere was probably the real winner by squishing the entire prize (a handful of blueberries) in my face.
Thanks Aunt Susan for leaving little messages for me on the signs!
A few more creek crossings in style
Tower peak, Golden Horn, and Mount Hardy in the background.
I didn't even recognize myself in black and white... thanks for the fun photo, Unger!
The larch are turning yellow and the trail is turning white. Yay for fall and winter all in one.
Snow snow snow. The boys still love their umbrellas...
A winter wonderland!
Sitting on top of the monument. Notice the long line shaved into the forest to mark the border between the US and Canada.
Naked Suncups made it! Love that trail family so much.
Special love for the ladies in pink.
And to Unger who hiked hundreds, if not a thousand of the miles right next to me and was at my side for all the crazy adventures and side trips.
