My Hike Into the North Cascades Wilderness Begins

Jul 18, 1986 Fri0

After visiting the Cascades area of Washington in 1984 I knew I had to return. I used my frequent flyer miles and booked a first class ticket to Washington in 1986 and hiked about 65 miles in the North Cascades Wilderness area over a week. I kept a travel diary and have reproduced it here as I wrote it in 1986.

5:30AM I will use local time now. Yesterday I was shocked by low 50 degree weather when I landed in Seattle. For some reason I was a little down. I don't know if I was homesick or maybe I was upset because the car cost more than I expected. It was also very cloudy which did not help. As I got farther into the mountains the clouds began to disappear and my spirits picked up. I got my back country permit in Marblemount.

When I saw the valley where my hike will begin I got very excited. I camped a few miles down the road at Lone Fir Campground. This gave me a chance to check out my equipment before going into the wilderness. I ate corn, baked beans, mixed fruit and cherries. I was tired and by that time it was 11:00PM in Cary, NC. My body was still on Cary time even though it was 8:00PM local time and the sun was still up, so I went to bed. I had a rough night, but I have some ideas to make tonight better. I bought doughnuts to eat for breakfast today. Barometer = 28.1. Skies are clear. Temperature inside tent is 52 degrees. Outside is 42 degrees.

Jul 18, 1986 Fri
First night camping before I head into the wilderness. Lone Fir Campground.
Bobby

7:00AM I am warming my hands for the last time. I'm taking the coil wire off the car so it will be harder to steal. Washington Pass is 5477 feet in elevation. Barometer where I parked the car is 27.7. I copied the Stehekin Shuttle Bus Schedule for future reference in my diary but here is a photo.

Jul 20, 1986 Sun

9:00AM I am at the trail head going to Twisp Pass. It is 3 miles back to the car. I made the distance in 1 1/2 hours with about 20 minutes of rest. Mostly down hill. It will be a long walk back next Friday. I had only been on the trail for one minute when I saw two small deer. Just spoke with a man who has been clearing trails. He said it has rained the last 2-3 days. It is beautiful today. He said that they had a base camp with horses.

Jul 18, 1986 Fri
Motorized vehicles are prohibited from wilderness areas. These are contractors that are clearing the trail for the season. They have horses and a camp while they clear the trail.

6:10PM I just finished supper. Chicken Supreme was not bad. I walked farther than I planned on the first day, 13 miles. I am at Walker Park Camp. I just built a fire to keep the bugs away.

7:04PM I've cleaned up camp and am in my tent. I'm dead. I have a blister on my right little toe. I put some moleskin on it when I felt it getting hot, but it blistered anyway. I don't think it will be a problem. I hung my food from a tree. Hope it is high enough.

Jul 18, 1986 Fri
Camped along Walker Park Trail. All this stuff was in my pack.

Jul 18, 1986 Fri
Camped along Walker Park Trail. View from the tent

I did not meet a hiker all day. I met a ranger this afternoon. We talked for a while and he changed a couple of campsites for me. He had a small radio but when I asked he said they had a repeater on McGregor Mountain. He also said to be careful with my food because there were bears in the area.

It is never quiet here. You can always hear falling, running water. I wiped myself down with a warm, wet washcloth and put on clean clothes so I feel pretty good now. I think I will sleep well tonight. Tomorrow I plan to leave camp set up here and hike lightly packed to the end of North Fork. Then return back here tomorrow evening.

It has been a beautiful day. The Ranger called for the forecast today. Warmer tomorrow and maybe thunder showers Sunday. Baremeter is 28.3. 61 degrees.