August 20 - Stehekin Washington
One source said the shuttle to town left the trailhead at 10:00; another said at 9:15. So, being the optimistic hikers we are we believed the 10:00 source and got on the trail by 6:30. At three miles per hour we would be at the pickup point with time to spare. We missed the shuttle by 30 minutes, having arrived at 9:45. The good news was that our pace topped three miles per hour. The bad news was that the next shuttle was at 12:30. So what to do?
NoEnglish got some stretching in. Both of us had tea and oatmeal for a late breakfast or early lunch. We had a nice conversation with some people from Vermont whose niece lives and works in Stehekin. And we talked about what to do first, laundry or shower?
The shuttle arrived on time. We exited at the bakery where I helped NoEnglish pick out something to eat. It's really hard to tell someone what is in a pastry or sandwich if they don't speak the language. I learned that she likes moderately sweet pastries and is okay with most sandwich items.
We walked the two miles to the laundry/shower facility and then another few hundred feet to get change at the store. After showers and laundry it was back to the main part of town, a block away, to secure a camping spot in the National Park campground. Of course PCT hikers are free there and we get the group camp at the top of the hill nearest the horses. It was a great spot with restrooms right there and a view of the sky. After setting up camp it was back to the store and restaurant for dinner with other hikers.
Hikers at High Bridge Ranger Station waiting for the bus.
The bakery.
You can't see it, but the Chelan Lake is fifty miles long and the only way to Stehekin is by boat, plane, or trail.
Hikingsolo (aka Allen)
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