After a much needed zero day in Stehekin, we were ready to get back on the trail. Stehekin is a lovely place, quiet, with beautiful clear water that practically begs you to jump in for a swim. I hope we have a chance to return someday. That said, the pay-per-use hiker showers are some of the most disgusting I have ever encountered. Truly. It's better just rinsing off in the lake.
We caught the 8:00 a.m. shuttle this clear, sunny morning with extremely heavy packs to carry. This section marks the start of our longest yet through the Glacier Peak Wilderness. There has been quite a bit of fear mongering going on regarding the condition of this section, so we are most likely overprepared by a lot.
The bus made its customary stop at the bakery, so we fueled up on ham croissants and a berry Danish. Then it was back to High Bridge and the start of the climb.
From High Bridge the climb out from the river began with shaded switchbacks through the forest, steady and predictable. Eventually the trail opened into rolling terrain, slightly uphill, with blueberry bushes pressing in on both sides. Our goal was 9.5 miles to Cedar Camp.
Around mile seven, we stopped short. Across Agnes Creek, high on the mountainside, I spotted a small wildfire burning. It looked new. We stood and watched for a while, trying to gauge its size and direction. A plane circled the area, which at least told us it was on someone’s radar.
With nine days planned in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, we weighed our options. A new fire close to the trail was not something to ignore. Since we were still only a few hours from Stehekin, turning back felt like the cautious choice.
On the hike out, we managed to get satellite updates from Mary at the Lion's Den and from my mom. Both reported no trail closures yet. We chose a campsite about five miles out, positioned with a clear view of the fire on the mountain. Through the evening, helicopters passed overhead several times carrying water buckets, and the steady thrum of their rotors echoed through the valley.
For now, we are staying put and reassessing in the morning. If the fire looks stable or improved, we will continue on. If it grows or the smoke worsens, we may head back and adjust our route as needed.
Hike Details ⬇️
📍PCT SOBO Mile 80.7 - 84.9
🥾8.2 Miles (6.2 miles + 2 backtracking)
📈 59 Ascent, 413 Decent
🕘 5 hours
