It's Time to Come Home.

An expected call from Teddy this afternoon brought some unexpected news.  After hours of deliberating with himself, Teddy has decided to step off the Pacific Crest Trail and come home.  The decision he has made was a difficult one, but a necessary one.  Upon leaving Snoqualmie Pass, Teddy encountered nothing less than 12+ inches of snow, 20 degree weather, and fewer and fewer opportunities to thaw out before continuing his next day's mileage.  This hiking trip transformed from completing a thruhike to surviving the elements, which are getting progressively more dangerous with each passing hour.  In speaking with my family in Washington, they reported a severe winter storm heading into the Northern Cascades over the next 10 days, which is right where Teddy was headed.  So, in our emotional conversation, Teddy asked for my support in his decision to step off the trail and of course, he has it. He always had it.  After 2,476 miles hiked and 155 days away from his family and friends, Scarecrow is heading home.

Teddy was picked up at the Skykomish Post Office by Jerry and Andrea Dinsmore - Trail Angels on the PCT that are well-known in the hiker community.  Their website http://www.dinsmoreshikerhaven.com/ was sent by another trail angel named Alan Artman, a.k.a. Patchwork who has been in touch with me about assisting Scarecrow in any way he can, after meeting with him earlier in the trail.

I am currently awaiting a call back from Teddy on his next move - he will make his way back to my family in Washington and then fly home in the next day or two.  I want to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to every single person that has been involved in this journey - I know and appreciate that Teddy (and I) will have your continued support through the next part of this bitter sweet journey.  We will keep you posted as things unfold - I know and love how much everyone is dedicated to and supporting Teddy's dream through reading this blog.