Journey Day 172 | PCT Day 172

We were relieved to reach Stehekin.

10/5/85

After early morning writing and reading, back to sleep.  Up again dark. Out of tent, on trail as daylight hits. Pass Keith and Jeff just up the trail. Tired, I hike through dense forest to bridge across Agnes Creek. Cross, down road to guard station. Keith and Jeff show up quickly. We sit, decide to hike uphill to bus stop. But a truck ride changes this plan. We ride into Stehekin. 

Beautiful ride down to Stehekin, on Lake Chelan. Head down to showers, laundry. After first shower since Packwood, head back to cafe. $9 meal a bit overpriced, but a welcome change from freeze-dried fare. Talk with Goodales, a couple from Twisp, who'll call my brother Bob for me about meeting in Canada. Never conceived our last stop would be phoneless. Keith shows up. Apparently he tired of being launderer. We're left to retrieve our own. Exchange words. I get clothes, return to update, kill time 'til we get a better shot at our mail.

Lounge on deck, read Rolling Stone from David Forrest, a co-worker in Midland, Texas, cover to cover. Passersby amused, interested by my repose.

The only in or out of Stehekin was by plane or on foot.

Head down, pitch nearby at campground. Head back for dinner. Postmaster shows up as we drink at bar. Ecstatic, although happy for respite, get mail from Don Pitts, our latest savior. Back at restaurant, we open mail. Boxes from Mom, JL will get me to the border. Also letters from Mom and Grama with $20.

Big steak dinner. Down to visitor's center for mushroom presentation by pretty rangerette. Afterward I tell her my joke: What did the left toe say to the right toe? There's fungus among us." Back to camp as rain returns to unsettle my nerves.