♪ Slip Sliding Away ♪

clipart via google images

Scarecrow's spirits were up leaving Cascade Locks, as he is now in Washington state, in the homestretch.  We left it as he would call on Friday after hiking another 150 miles.  He did exactly that - he called from White Pass, listed as 2,304 miles on the PCT map.  Into his second day of walking, Teddy decided to hike .2 miles off the trail to a place called Panther Creek Campground, for the privilege of using the privy.  He came across a guy in a bright orange vest, exiting the woods from a day of hunting.  He directed Teddy to the campground, where he actually had his pop-up camper parked.  Teddy received an invitation to join him and his girlfriend for a meal of hot dogs and beer - he happily accepted.  The hunter guy, named Don, played his guitar and hung out, sharing their meal and talking with Teddy about his adventures... yes, another trail angel...

photo owned by jaythom256

I located the above picture through Google images - this is the stretch of trail where Teddy had a rough time.  This photo is owned by http://www.flickr.com/photos/taggman/with/3836127860/ and I am so thankful to have seen this photo.  It has truly put into clear perspective on just how dangerous the conditions are for Scarecrow.  And in case you are wondering, YES, I would have wanted to see this.

Morning eventually came, as it always does, and Teddy was relieved to be moving on.  Little did he know that his most hazardous moments were yet to arrive.  The wind was blowing hard from the West, which Teddy explained, created a drift.  This wedge filled in the trail making it barely visible and unable to follow.  He was walking a fine line between the trail and the edge of this ridge, in this drift.  At some point, Teddy lost his footing and fell onto his belly and went sliding down the side of the ridge.  I guess, in these situations, you are supposed to be thinking clearly and just whip out some tool and self-arrest.  Teddy did not have his ice axe, or any other instrument in which to self-arrest... I am not sure if he was just in a state of panic, or just couldn't reach for anything, but he slid about 20 feet down this ridge.  Good thing he said his prayers the night before - he caught a glimpse of a piece of lava rock sticking out of the side of the mountain and grabbed onto it to stop himself.  He laid there for several moments, just trying to process what just happened.  I am sure he said a few more prayers, and then begun to see other rock formations jutting out that he was able to grab onto VERY SLOWLY, and pulled his way back up the side of the ridge.
After what I am sure felt like a heart attack, Teddy got himself back together and continued on.  His immediate destination was the Cracker Barrel in Naches, WA to pick up his packages and I am sure, grab a yummy meal.  When he arrived, a woman named Dolores gave him a huge bowl of soup and a delectable sandwich, both which Teddy enjoyed and was extremely grateful for after what he had just endured.  Not only did Dolores offer this amazing meal, it was followed by a 20 mile ride into Packwood to the Cowlitz River Lodge where he was going to stay for the night.  Yes, another trail angel...

photo via google images

A good night's sleep and a continental breakfast under his belt, Teddy was ready to resupply and get back to the trail.  He stopped in Blanton's Market in Packwood to purchase his next week's worth of food.  After throwing his backpack into the shopping cart, and beginning his hunt for his supplies, a couple approached him and asked if he had just gotten off the trail.  Teddy explained that he was actually heading back to the trail and onward to Canada.  The couple were in amazement of his story.  The woman mentioned that she was actually involved in the construction of the wall near the Mexico border where Teddy began his journey.  It was part of her duties while serving in the Army.  So after sharing some stories, Teddy wandered on his way through Blanton's gathering his meals and supplies.  The couple met up with him again in the breakfast aisle, and asked if he needed a ride back 20 miles to the trail where he stepped off.  WOW.  He immediately accepted the offer, as the wonderful woman Dolores had offered to take him back, but it would have had to have been at 6:30 am, as she was due back to work at the Cracker Barrel.  Teddy declined her, as he wanted to sleep in and catch up on much needed rest.  So as he piled into the couple's pick up truck, they presented him with a goody bag that included a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, 4 pretzel sticks and some Hershey chocolates. Unfortunately, when they introduced themselves, Teddy didn't quite catch their names.  So, to the wonderfully amazing, generous couple who helped my husband - THANK YOU for your kind, generous spirit, for contributing to the positive experience my husband is living, and most importantly, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.  Yes, more trail angels.
Teddy is well on his way to Snoqualmie Pass, mile 2,402 on the PCT map, where my wonderful cousin Beth Jump will be picking him up for a few days filled with family, food, and frosty cold beer.  From what I understand, we will have a chance to skype with Scarecrow - we cannot wait.
GOD BLESS all of the trail angels, and GOD BLESS Scarecrow.

Until next time,
~The Thruhiker's Wife~

Blessings...

Out of difficulties grow miracles.  ~ Jean De La Bruyere

With the turn of a new day, comes lots of blessings... Teddy and I are so grateful for all that flooded into our lives over the past several hours and days.  So, the 300 mile diversion Teddy thought he had to take due to bad weather just outside of Crater Lake turned into a mere 144 mile section being temporarily skipped instead - WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES...

via google images

We both agreed that there is a reason why he was not meant to hike that section during that particular time - perhaps there was some hiker-eating monster up in the mountains, or another storm was brewing , or it could have been to simply allow him to take advantage of the great sale at REI on his boots... whatever halted his progress there allowed him to mentally and physically resupply, call home, and then move on.

Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit. ~Napoleon Hill

Teddy's trail angels, Lloyd Gust and Lloyd Miller picked Teddy up, as promised, and brought him into Bend, Oregon where he was able to purchase his new winter hiking boots, resupply his pack and call home with some positive news.  The information seemed bitter sweet - Teddy found out that just 30 miles from the blizzard like conditions he was hiking in yesterday, there was not an ounce of snow on the ground - the trail was untouched by inclement weather.  He was a bit disappointed that he had already traveled up the 144 miles, and wasn't able to jump back on the trail to only have to return for the 30 impenetrable miles - but immediately begun to be thankful for the safety and availability for resupply he was surrounded in now.  He said "Having to return to hike 144 miles is a hell of alot better than 300 miles."  According to his average daily mileage, he can bang that 144 miles out in  less than 6 days.
So, onward to his ever-changing newest plan of attack - he is being dropped off in Sisters, Oregon - mile 2,010 on the trail.   He will continue walking, hopefully with some new-found thruhikers, onward to Canada only 5 or so days ahead of where he would have been prior to the weather hiccup he experienced.  Once he reaches Canada, he will make his way back down into Oregon and decide whether he will hike that last 144 miles northbound or southbound - I guess it will depend on the weather at that minute... and once that task is done, he will have completed the total 2,650 miles that make up the Pacific Crest Trail.

I hope I didn't confuse anyone who is actually trying to keep track of all this mileage stuff - all I know is that the plan is better than the one we formulated yesterday, which in turn lifted Teddy's spirits, which in turn lifted my spirits, which in turn allowed me to sigh relief and breathe again, which in turn allowed my children to see the "positive, rational, closer to normal" side of me again... everyone wins...

So, he is back up and hiking... looking to be in Cascade Locks in a few days, hopefully with a cell phone signal so he can send some pictures - he entered back on the trail at 1,856 - exactly where he stepped off - this means he is days away from hitting the 2,000 mile mark.  He already has his candy ready to eat in celebration of the milestone.

There are no mistakes, no coincidences. All events are blessings given to us to learn from.
 ~Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Thank you for these blessings ~ thank you for the lessons...

~ The Thruhiker's Wife ~