Blessed on the PNT

"A mistake is often serendipity in disguise." I'm going to amend this quote from my birthday hike to include mistakes AND disasters. Here's why...

My hiking support crew, Anita and Chris, had once again agreed to help with a drop off, but this time I'd be hiking back to my car. We agreed to meet for dinner in Tonasket on Friday, after they had secured a camping spot somewhere in the area. Then we'd caravan 40 minutes outside of town to a trail angel's house where I was going to leave my car. After that, they would drive me another hour to Sweat Creek. I planned on making a stealth camp there, so I could get up super early to get my 15 miles in - a requirement because as far as I knew, there were no opportunities to make camp within that distance. 

In fact, it was 22 miles to get to an actual campsite - miles thru hikers have no problem with. But the "slowest hiker" had to make arrangements with yet another trail angel to camp in their yard. A yard that was a full 15 miles from Sweat Creek. So an early start on Saturday morning was very necessary. 

Bonaparte Lake

Disaster #1 was Chris and Anita getting a flat tire. This part is too much to explain, but the only solution to this disaster was for me do drive them up to their campsite, 45 minutes in the opposite direction, then back in the morning to Tonasket Tire where hopefully their car would be ready to go. I still had the delusion I could get in 15 miles the next day, until...

Disaster #2 of losing my car key. After having had this happen in the past (story) I was not the least bit surprised, though obviously still extremely distraught. We were on BLM land, miles from ANYTHING, so it was a real problem. You know how when you lose something, you start looking in every ridiculous spot just because you are in such a panic? It was a situation, for sure.

I had to really wonder if God was keeping me from the trail to protect me. I do hate the saying "everything happens for a reason"... and yet, I still cling to it. I actually prayed, "if I find the key, I won't do the hike. I just don't want to ruin Chris and Anita's trip." 

Did I feel guilty still hiking after finding the key (in the pocket I checked at least three times...I mean, seriously?) even though I made that promise and clearly my hiking plans were shot to hell? Not really. God is surely a subject far too big to go into here; but whatever you believe God is or is not, all I could imagine was an eye roll and sly smile, with an "of course I knew you'd still do it." 

So many free roaming cows in this area

And would you believe that after it was all said and done, my late start on Saturday actually set me up for a much more enjoyable and dare I say "blessed" adventure?(Details below for those interested.) Whether that was divine providence or dumb luck, I still received it with great thankfulness. May your happy trails be as fortunate, even if you are as stubborn as me. 

Sammy says, "I didn't make no promise."

HIKING LOG

Day 1: My original plan of setting up camp late on Friday would have been fine for me, but for Anita and family (granddaughter included) it would have meant getting back to their camp at around 10 pm, which is another reason I'm thankful for the flat tire "disaster." Plus it gave me the chance to get to know Linda, the trial angel who let me park my car at her house and ended up being the one to drive me to Sweat Creek. She was also going to come rescue us when I couldn't find my key - which would have taken up her whole day. So much sacrifice for complete strangers. A true angel for sure. 

I left Linda a copy of my book and a sticker because
she would not accept money

Day 2: Got on trail close to noon, but took at least a half hour deciding which trail was the right one. Signage here would have been super helpful, being my FarOut app was being wonky.

Would it be so hard to add "PNT"?

Two miles in and I knew 15 miles was out of the question, as there was quite a bit more elevation than I anticipated. (Meaning I wasn't paying close enough attention to that in planning; per usual ;)) I found some notes on my app I had previously missed mentioning stealth camping opportunities, and sure enough, a great spot at around 5 miles that even had cell service.

My first attempt at a bear hang...
I think I should stick with the canister ;)

Day 3: I think I did close to 18 miles, which is almost a record for me. Most of my worry about this trip was centered on the up coming road, which had all kinds of warnings from other hikers (on the previously mentioned app) like "weird uni-bomber/militia vibes," "no trespassing signs that include gun sights," and "skull mask and rudimentary attempt at fencing." And though it was indeed creepy, I was grateful to be hitting it in the morning when it seemed everyone was still in bed; plus whatever "stay away" fencing had been taken down. When I finally made it where I had originally planned to camp, I wanted to find Matt the trail angel to tell him I was okay in case he was worried, but he ended up finding me. What a super sweet guy. 

thanks Matt

Another six miles left, and not all of it road walking- surprisingly nice old dirt bike/ATV paths to walk on. It was so wonderful being around people once I got to the Bonaparte Lake State Campground, as I had not seen a soul on trail. The camp host let me set up on a "non-site" which he didn't charge me for, and he informed me about the trail washout ahead, which was vital info. Also, I got a free hot shower in the bathroom across from the resort restaurant. So yeah, my headstrong self was feeling not just forgiven, but indeed blessed. 

God knows I love free ;)

Day 4: When I got to the washout, just around the other side of the lake, I knew my hopes of scooting down and climbing out of it were a no go. The camp host had let me know others were scrambling up the mountain until they hit the first switchback, which I'm not sure I would have attempted without that suggestion. I could not see the trail at all until I was on top of it. From there it wasn't too hard to follow, until I merged onto the South Side Trail #308. A mile or so into this trail and it completely disappeared with yet another washout. Thankfully I was able to locate it again, but the next couple of miles were quite stressful with a very overgrown and then suddenly burnt out trail. Reaching the "blue line" (alternative route to the official PNT red line on FarOut) was like making it to the freeway after suffering miles of a pothole clogged forest road. I LOVED meeting the Fire Lookout staff person at the top and also looking up at the tower from my tent. None of this was in the "plan," but I was there for it.  

Sammy making a friend...this is Winter

Day 5: A very uneventful 7-ish miles to my awaiting car, but that last mile has brought my total up to 401! I'm almost to my 500 mile goal, woo hoo! Anyway, I again expected all road miles once I got down from Bonaparte, but was pleasantly surprised to find the forest road had been abandoned and turned into a trail. I did encounter hikers this day, a couple with their 3 dogs. The biggest dog seemed hyper focused on my backpack - so much so that the owner finally said, "you got a bunch of beef jerky in there or what?" My food was completely gone, so I couldn't figure it out...until I remembered Samsquatch! He is a dog toy after all, and surely would have been disemboweled if I wasn't protecting him. I got you Sammy! 

Paws off !!