Stevens Pass... that means I've really walked home from Mexico!

Walking out of the mist and rain this morning I was greeted by family at Stevens Pass. That is when it really hit home... I walked here from Mexico. MEXICO! Four months ago it sounded like a preposterous idea, but now we can say we have almost done it. The count down has begun and in less than ten days we should be at the border. Reflections and nostalgia are already creeping into our conversations. It has been quite the journey and I couldn't have done it alone.

So three cheers to Aunt Barbara, Grandma Marilyn, Grandpa Jim, and the best mom a girl could ask for. They were the smiling faces to meet the Naked Suncups at Stevens Pass this morning. Aunt Barbara joined me for a little hiking, G + G joined the team for lunch, and mom was the superhero who drove us all to Wenatchee for laundry, showers, and some home cooked goodness. THANK YOU!

The past week we have been fighting fires... not physically but in a logistical way. For the past four years a dry summer and lots of lightning meant a good fire season and a big pay check. Now I am seeing the other side of the coin where thru-hikers are frustrated by closed trail and smoky skies. We had to skip a 70 mile section between Chinook Pass and Snoqualmie Pass but as a silver lining we got to fit 10 people into a Toyota Highlander with 9 packs tied precariously on top. Talk about a clown car!

Enjoy the pictures

Smoky skies and patches of snow sticking around till September... what a strange year in terms of weather!

Washington is FULL of beautiful lakes

The team posing in front of the 2300 mile marker

Smoke can be beautiful in its own sort of way

Granite ridge walks are my FAVORITE!

Smoke, sun, and alpine lake reflections

2400?!? This is getting real!

Beautiful fall colors everywhere!

Bright wild flowers in an old burn contrasting with smoke from a current wildfire... it is all part of a natural cycle. 

The smoke burned off and we were treated to blue skies and wispy clouds in the valleys 

More of my favorite fall colors

Deception lake - a glorious swim!

Jumping the creek (there was an easier crossing... don't worry)

Reflection time

Mist and wild blueberries!

Trap lake - what a beautiful blue

Loving Washington

Classic Wasabi... sitting by a creek with a bag of Wasabi peas and my doodle journal in hand

Take a look at that symmetry! 

Lunch with the family at Stevens Pass - thanks Barbara, Grandma, and Grandpa for coming out to visit! 

Enjoying some crockpot trail magic from Aunt Barbara!

Squeezing seven hikers in one car on the way to Wenatchee. Much easier than the ten that we fit during the hitch around the fire closure!