- The Pacific Crest Trail Blog of ‘Tatters’ 2017
- Scout and Frodo ‘A Homely Beginning’ – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [01]
- Am I Really in a Desert? – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [02]
- Scissors Crossing and Julian ‘A First Time for Many Things’ – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [03]
- Early Mornings and Desert Superblooms – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [04]
- Paradise Café & Idyllwild ‘The Motivation for Food and Alcohol Grows!’ – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [05]
- San Jacinto & Fuller Ridge ‘Alpha Mountaineering Crew’ – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [06]
- Trail-names, Burgers & Sleeping in Cyclones – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [07]
- ‘Hippy Hot Springs’ & Big Miles to McDonald’s – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [08]
- Motivation into Wrightwood & Mount Baden Powell – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [09]
- Trail Closures & Reuniting at Hiker Heaven – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [10]
- Trail Family United & Casa de Luna – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [11]
- A Truly Hot and Dry Desert Surrounding Hikertown – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [12]
- Tehachapi Zero and Nero Day Morale Boosting! — PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [13]
- Nearing the End of the Desert? – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [14]
- Lake Isabella & Last Stops Before the Snow and Mountains! – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [15]
- Kennedy Meadows ‘Into the Mountains We Go!’ — PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [16]
- Off to Lone Pine – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [17]
- Badass Mountaineers on Mount Whitney – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [18]
- Forester Pass & the Township of Bishop – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [19]
- Glen Pass & the End of the Family: PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [20]
- Mountaineering on Pinchot Pass & Mather Pass – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [21]
- Muir Pass, Evolution Creek, & Flooded Creek Crossings – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [22]
- Walls of Snow at Mammoth & Donohue Pass — PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [23]
- Solo Hiking to Yosemite Valley – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [24]
- The Waterfalls of Yosemite & Sonora Pass – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [25]
- Truly Alone in the Wild (near Ebbetts Peak) – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [26]
- South Lake Tahoe, Dicks Pass & Frozen Lakes – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [27]
- Desolation Wilderness & Truckin’ to Truckee – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [28]
- A Week Off-trail for 4th July with Rex! – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [29]
- Back on Trail, Sierra City & Out of the High Sierra – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [30]
- New Faces, Middle Feather Fork River and Belden – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [31]
- The PCT Halfway Point and Lassen Volcanic Wilderness – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [32]
- Chilling with Bears, Old Station & Burney Lodge – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [33]
- Burney Falls to Dunsmuir – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [34]
- Deadfall Lakes and Finding the Long Lost Dinosaur – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [35]
- Rockin’ Through the Trinity Alps Wilderness – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [36]
- Sky High Lakes & Grider Creek – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [37]
- Bye Bye California, Hello Oregon! – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [38]
- Rollin’ Along the Meadows to Lake Hyatt – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [39]
- ‘A Hike of Ice and Fire’ – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [40]
- Frustrating Closures & Shelter Cove – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [41]
- ‘Bending’ Past PCT Fire Closures & Homely Trail Angels – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [42]
- Mt Hood, Timberline Lodge & the PCT Days Event- PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [43]
- Preparations for the Final Month in Washington – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [44]
- Mt Adams & Ascending into Eternity – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [45]
- Amazing Goat Rocks Wilderness & Resting in Packwood – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [46]
- White Pass & More Fire Closures! – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [47]
- The Beautiful Deception Lake & Loving the New Trail Family! – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [48]
- The German Town of Leavenworth & Hiking in Beauty – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [49]
- Mica Lake, Suiattle River & the Final Push into Stehekin – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [50]
- All Good Things Come to an End… The PCT Northern Terminus! – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [51]
The Beautiful Deception Lake & Loving the New Trail Family! – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [48]
Previous Post:
Part 47 ‘White Pass & More Fire Closures’
Day 150 (01/09) – Summit Chief Mountain
The plan was to get up at 6am, for a 7am leaving time. I had my coffee, and breakfast and was packed up rearing to go at 7am. The others were… not so on schedule haha – I guess I had just become super efficient hiking alone I guess. I was enjoying hiking with these guys though, and wanted to stick with them. We started hiking at 8am in the end. Although, I have to hand it to them for making press coffee which takes more time – I wanted in on that!
We had some fairly gnarly terrain to cover today – a steep downhill, a steep uphill, followed by another steep downhill – fantastic! It was also blistering hot, and I drank two litres of water to just get up the mountainous climb.
The highest point of the day’s climb saw us hike alongside a ridge off Summit Chief Mountain, there was a nice little lake we all went for a swim in. I went in twice, it was that refreshing. We decided then that we were the worst hikers – only 12.8 miles by 4pm! Luckily, it was easier hiking from here.

Hiking with Copper, the dog was funny. He’d follow you up close and personal to the point where he’d be walking on you. Sometimes he’d even find that opportunity to overtake and squeeze by you unexpectedly.


We camped by Waptus River just after a large bridge crossing. I merged dinner with the other guys and we made alfredo pasta. I made the sauce in my jet boil and Rise cooked the pasta.
Distance hiked: 20 miles
Total PCT hiked: 2425 miles
Day 151 (02/09) – Deception Lake and Glacier Lake
After getting up and hiking, we soon hit a smoky part of the valley. The fire was over the ridge to our right and a lot of smoke was accumulating in the valley. We could breathe ok, but our breathing was definitely hindered somewhat – our buffs helped a little. The sun’s intensity was reduced also, but it felt like a greenhouse with humidity.



We ended up at Cascading Stream, the stream leading out of Pea Soup Lake high above. On a normal year, this would be a hard crossing, but we were quite late, and it was quite dry in Washington. It was but a mere leap to cross.

The day was hot, and climbing up the mountains was sweaty work. Deception Pass was the obstacle, and we were rewarded on the other side with Deception Lake – one of the most beautiful swimming lakes we had come across. Within seconds – Mr Blisters, myself, Rise and Shine had all jumped off the rock into the lake for a swim. Mammal and Snakebite must have hiked ahead and missed the opportunity. It was amazing! Several other hikers who had arrived also followed suit and jumped in after.

We ascended to Piper Pass, and passed huge white granite boulders and cliffs looming above Glacier Lake. It was awesome hiking over the white shiny stone.


Eventually, we descended to Glacier Lake and met up with Rob (with his golden retriever – Tucker) and Robbie, and two of Snakebite’s friends as well. All nine of us ended up cooking a communal dinner on one of the huge granite boulders by the lake. It turned out incredible! Rob also had packed out a bladder of red wine, and we were in a happy place. After dinner, a few of us played a game of cards before heading to bed.


Distance hiked: 22 miles
Total PCT hiked: 2447.5 miles
Day 152 (03/09) – Stevens Pass
I slept pretty remarkably and didn’t get out of bed until about 7:30am. Rise was brewing filtered coffee and we all gathered around with our mugs. It was delicious, and much nicer than my instant coffee crap.
A few of us climbed a huge boulder by the lake and grabbed some photos before deciding we should probably hike. We left around 10:30am – literally the latest I’ve ever left! But who cares, it was an amazing spot to hang out!


I knew today had several steep climbs, but damn… were they steep! It was so hot and tiring that I had sweat cascading off the front of my face. There were views of some incredible lakes all day. We ended up taking a swim in Mig Lake – it had a great deep end with a rock to sit on. It was by no means one of the more remarkable lakes in the area, but damn, was it amazing on a hot day!


At around 5pm, we made it up to the final pass and down under the ski lifts to Stevens Pass. The lodge and ski park area was open in summer for hikers. I picked up my resupply box there with a delicious dripping waffle cone ice cream in hand (probably smeared all over my beard too).

We then ordered some beers and hot chips before they closed and sat on the balcony. I saw Corky again briefly, who was still with Caddy Shack and Still Phil. It is really hard to want to hang out with different groups of friends on trail I’ve found. Although I wanted to hike with Corky again, I hadn’t hiked with the other two he was with before, and these guys that I’d been hiking Washington with since the White Pass detour were cool.
It was here that Rise’s partner Mr Blisters (only section hiking) and Shine’s dog Copper would leave trail. It was a little sad to say goodbye to them both, along with our newly made friends Rob, Robbie, and Tucker the dog.
Rise, Shine, Snakebite, Mammal, and Wolf (who joined us due to his group not returning from a hitch into a nearby town) cowboy camped in a parking lot at Stevens Pass. It stunk like piss, and some group of people were in the distance playing weird rave music, but thankfully Wolf played some amazing blues on his tiny guitar – he was insanely good and soothing.
Distance hiked: 14 miles
Total PCT hiked: 2461.5 miles
Next Post:
Part 49 ‘The German Town of Leavenworth & Hiking in Beauty’
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