Mom's Post!

This is Carrie's (Siesta's) mom.  She asked me to update her blog.

Carrie is doing very well. She is very fit, healthy and happy but getting weary.  She and WeeBee have hiked together for weeks now, it might even be months.  It is hard to comprehend that they have been hiking since mid April.  They have hiked 2400+ miles of the 2660 total miles on the trail.  

The reason for me updating the blog is as Carrie and Weebee explain, everything is a chore when you are so tired. They hike all day 20-25 miles with a few breaks, one of them being a "siesta." Then as they find a spot to camp for the night, setting up the tent is a chore, making dinner is a chore, everything is a chore. They do their "have to dos" then fall into their tents and fall asleep.  If they are lucky, they get in a little reading.  Updating the blog has become a chore.  So she asked that I update a little, even if it is just tickler words.  She can then come back and expand on those ticklers so the blog doesn't come to a complete stop when the hike is over.  Enough explaining!!

August 10ish, Carrie arrived at Crater Lake with Bill, her boyfriend, after hiking the section from Ashland with him.  I'm sure you have read his guest blog entry!!  Gene and I along with Carrie's brother Joe and fiance Kyla met them at Crater Lake.  It was our first time seeing her since she left April 19!!  It was so good to see and hug her!!  We also met WeeBee for the first time. What a peach!! After the adventure of 8 of us riding in Joe's Crown Vic from Crater Lake to our B&B 30 miles away, we had a great time feeding them and letting them rest.  They ate so much food I could not believe it!!

At the end of our time together, we sent Carrie and WeeBee off into the woods again and we headed back to Stanwood.  In the 9 hours it took us to drive back home ˜500 miles, they hiked about 25.  But the things they see, the thinking they do, the health they gain, the stars they sleep under...I am envious.

They plowed through Oregon saying it was not as dramatic as the High Sierras and just too excited to get to Washington, the dessert of the hike and Carrie's home! (WeeBee is from CA but now living in Alaska.)  They crossed the Columbia at Cascade Locks and began a section of 150 miles and beautiful scenery with Mt Addams, Mt St Helens and Mt Rainier to greet them!  "More beautiful than you can imagine!."

Their first resupply in Washington was White Pass, on the SE flank of Mt Rainier.  Gene and I had just returned from vacation in the Black Hills Tuesday night Sept 3. Carrie called Wed mid day and said they would be at Whlte Pass Wed evening 9/4.  We called to reserved a room, left after work and got there about 10pm.  Carrie and WeeBee were in the room having already eaten an entire pizza and a 6 pack of beer!!  They were all but asleep when we got there but rose to hugs and more food before crashing in their "nests."  Thursday consisted of eating and resting.  Pancakes, eggs (a dozen), bacon (2 pounds), fruit, o.j. then a nap.  1 1/2 hours later they were ready for another meal!   Grilled cheese sandwiches and chili, more fruit and veggies, cookies and whatever they could get their hands on including the care package Bill had mailed to White Pass!  Then another rest!  We were so close to Mt Rainier and Gene and I didn't get to see it the night before driving in. I kept hinting we could go up to Paradise on the mountain but they really just wanted to stay put and rest.  They said it felt good to have something to sit on (like a couch or chair as opposed to the ground) much less something to sleep on!!    So Gene and I went for a "hike" around Leach Lake there on the pass. 1 hour, 3 miles. We were pretty proud of ourselves, especially Gene!!   The enormity of what Carrie is doing is hard to comprehend. 5 months, 2660 miles....

After 2 more meals and 2 more rests, the girls decided to spend another night because of the impending storm.  (I figure about 7000 calories were consumed by each of them!!)  Gene and I left about 7pm returning to Stanwood in the worst thunder and lightning storm I have ever seen in Washington. Carrie and WeeBee were safe and sound, warm and dry, watching Forrest Gump in their nests!!  They headed out the next morning in the rain which cleared off for the rest of their journey to Snoqualmie Pass.  This section was 4 days, 100 miles and again amazing scenery!  Mt Rainier was still in full view, they were truly on the crest for most of the time. They could see the rock cliffs on the north side of Snoqualmie Pass for most of the 4 days.   Gene and I met them at Snoqualmie Pass yesterday, Tuesday, 9/10.  I even hiked out onto the trail to meet them.  It took me across the ski area and up over a saddle at the top.  There was Carrie taking a rest at the edge of a small lake.   During this section, they saw 2 or 3 herds of elk and a herd of mountain goats as they woke up one morning. They also heard bull elk bugling, calling in the females.  One evening after hiking longer than normal, trying to find a good camp site, WeeBee went just a little farther... they found a site that was just above tree line with an open view of Mt Rainier.  They sat and watched it turn colors with the sunset before going to bed.  Early the next morning they watched the sunrise and Mt Rainier change colors again.  Again, this Mom is envious.

Carrie and WeeBee headed out again today 9/11 from Snoqualmie Pass. They are hiking the section I was hoping to join her on.  75 miles to Stevens Pass.   Carrie sheepishly told me earlier in the summer that I probably shouldn't plan on hiking with her.  By far her worst week of this entire trip was her first week. It was very hard on her body, feet and mind. And I had picked one of the most difficult sections to join her.  So while I was and am extremely disappointed to not be hiking with her this week, I understand.  Turns out she has had multiple requests from people to hike with her on various sections and she has had to tell them all no.  She said, and I agree, it's for our own good.  We would be miserable!  She can do this because she's been at it for 4 1/2 months nonstop.  

Carrie will arrive at Stevens Pass approximately Sunday evening, 9/15.  WE will meet her again and bring her resupply box.  We will meet her again in Stehekin 4+ days after that!