August 27, 2008

30-30 and I left Packwood to hitchhike back to White's Pass. After a few cars whizzed by, a Korean born commerical realtor stopped in his very nice Lexus. The realtor sold gas stations and hotels so as we made our way back to White Pass, the businessman made stops at hotels and gas stations to build a rapport with the owners. I began my day in a skirt, which helps with the hitches. We got out of his car to thank the kind man for picking us up and within seconds, I dove right back into the Lexus. It was very cold at the trailhead and I changed into warmer clothes as 30-30 explained to the businessman what in the world I was doing. Now dressed with many layers, I exited his car once again and thanked him. My pack was heavy b/c I was carrying out real food and sodas from town. The misery of carrying the additional weight is worth it to me to be able to have a real treat in the wilderness. As I hiked along, I met a young couple. The young man was carrying a 60 lb. pack for a day hike and the gal was carrying nothing. He told me that he was out for the day planting cameras in the field to try to track the Elk. Hunting season was to begin in a week and this method would give him some valuable information during his hunt for game. I hiked to Sand Lake to find 30-30 spread out on his Tyvek. "This seemed like a nice place for a picnic," he said. The weather was drizzling and Sand Lake had a cloud mist...it was perfect. I was enjoying my sandwich and cheese puffs when a hiker came along. He eyed our picnic and stopped to chat. We learned that his trailname was Snacker so I teasingly joked and hid my food from him. Snacker took a photo of our picnic at Sand Lake before hiking on. The remainder of today's 17.3 mile hike was more of the same...drizzly weather...cloud mist layering lake after lake. At one point I set down my pack to find a discreet spot to take care of business. Then I laughed to myself...."Am I on one of the cameras that the young man set out to monitor elk sightings?"