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!

Cascade locks to White Pass

It feels good to be home.

Washington is beautiful (as expected) and I am lucky enough to have friends and family close by to provide a little bit of trail magic. Huge shout out to the BEST dad in the world who hiked 40 miles into the Goat Rocks wilderness to camp and hike with us. What a champ!

Also thank you to Darin and Pam Belton who opened up their cabin to our team of hikers so that we could shower, organize resupply boxes, and cook a couple of giant meals. What a cozy a wonderful place.

And finally a huge shout out to Kyle and Fly who came out to hike 100 miles with me and created a luxurious vacation on trail. Gourmet meals, lazy mornings, swim breaks multiple times a day, and huckleberries galore. Three cheers to slowing down and only hiking 15-20 miles a day!

One highlight from this section was a side trip up mount Adams. Five of us made a spur of the moment decision to summit the cascade volcano and spent a glorious morning at 12,000 feet.

Crossing the bridge of the gods... with a 50 lb pup in your arms because dogs can't walk on metal grates. What a way to start the 100 mile section!

Hanging out in camp with the guard dog on duty

Sometimes it's difficult to get all three people to look at the camera during a selfie

 

2200 miles and teeth stained blue with huckleberries!

Fly making friends with the trail fam

 

Sunrise on the way up mount Adams, 3:30 start and enjoying the views on top by 8:45

Walking along the suncup-ed summit

Sunset colors in the Cispus basin

Milky white glacial runoff from mount Adams

The huckleberries are starting to turn red and show their fall colors in contrast with the white of mount Rainier behind

Walking into the Goat Rocks wilderness... so much anticipation!

Goat rocks, walking up "Old Snowy" for a 360 degree view!

Dad hiked in 20 miles to enjoy these knife edge views in the Goat Rocks

Summit team

Posing with mount rainier in the background!

Standing in the suncups on top of mount Adams with mount rainier smiling in the background

Dad having fun being an honorary member of the Naked Suncups for two days

The entire team clean and full of delicious food at the cabin at White Pass, thanks again to Darin and Pam!

Entering the home stretch: WASHINGTON!

Today we crossed the Bridge of the Gods. It spans the great Columbia river from Oregon into Washington and marks a very significant milestone for thru-hikers... the last state! It is particularly meaningful for me because I am home.

As we hike these last 600 miles we are also pushing to finish our fundraiser for Inspiring Girls Expeditions. We are 86% of the way to our goal of raising 1$ for every mile we hike to help send high school girls on a wilderness-science expedition. Please consider donating even $10 to help us reach this goal. You can read more about the program here:

https://www.crowdrise.com/dashboard/chelanpauly/pct-fundraiser-raising-1-for-every-mile-we-hike-to-help-future-young-adventurers

Enjoy the second half of Oregon!

The team lined up in rainbow formation, thanks Aaron for joining us to get the red color we've been looking for!

 Rosary Rock reflecting in Upper Rosary Lake, it is a 400 ft slab known for great climbing!

Hitching around the fire closures in Three Sisters and Jefferson... seven hikers and eleven backpacks all crammed into the bed of a truck, no problem! 

Ring pops to celebrate Kareoke's birthday!

"Little Crater Lake" is a deep blue color with crystal clear water that comes out of a spring at about 40˚ F. Brrrrrr

Hey there Mount Hood, you are looking good!

Sunrise above the clouds from a campsite behind Timberline Lodge on the flank of Mount Hood 

Saying goodbye to Mount Hood after an incredible "all you can eat Breakfast Buffet" at Timberline Lodge. 

Enjoying the late season wildflowers on Paradise Loop at Mount Hood

Ramona Falls - a short but worthwhile alternate from the PCT

Sunset with the new moon shining in the background

Does it get any cheesier?

Yep, you just have to turn it into a selfie... Ungerwhere, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Otter, Lady, Wasabi, Peanut, Baby Carrots, and Bamboo from front to back. 

Lined up watching the solar eclipse

Eclipse viewing party complete with snacks and solar glasses

Hiking again

Made it to the Bridge of the Gods, hello Washington!

Time to celebrate the last state!

Took a day off to visit a dear friend in Portland... shout out to Katie Lei for hosting a hungry hiker and shout out to baby Jackson for being the cutest little guy on the block!

 Large ice-cream from East Wind in Cascade Locks... Olaf and I BOTH ate the entire thing

Hiker gathering at Basecamp in Portland... such a great trail family!