The Adams Creek Decision

Miles Hiked 185.7
PCT Mile 423.8
Elevation 1,890 feet
Miles Hiked Today 14.6

This morning, I’m about 9 miles from Forest Service Road 5603.  I started at 6:45 with the plan to reach the road by early afternoon, and then turn around and head back south.  The hope that I could snag a ride back to Trout Lake was there but unlikely.  It’s an hour drive from FS5603.

So, I’m hiking along and arrive at Adams Creek 20 minutes later.  I was shocked at what I saw.  It was an angry, raging creek strewn with boulders.  Of course they were wet and most likely very slippery. 

I went up and down the shore of that creek for a half hour looking for a place to cross.  Finally, I found a place other hikers had used.  There were two thin trees going across one part of the crossing.  I couldn’t see what the other hikers used for the second part.  The water was pouring over the two thin trees I did find.  Those trees were most likely very slippery, too.

So, there I was.  I believed, given the conditions, that if I attempted the crossing I would at the least fall in or at the worst get injured in the fall.

I’ve crossed many streams on the PCT.  Not all could be considered “successful.” I’ve lost trekking poles, banged up my knees and gone “swimming.”

I gave the situation a lot of thought.  My OCD was compelling me to finish the last 9 miles, so I could say I hiked every mile of the trail in Washington.  However, the reality is, “who cares besides me?” Crossing that raging creek once – maybe.  Crossing it twice – forget it.  It was a tough decision, but ultimately the right one in my opinion.

I turned around and headed south.

My new goal became hiking to the Trout Lake trailhead and catch a shuttle into town.  For some reason, I got this overwhelming taste for a huckleberry milk shake.

Like a bad song you can’t get out of your head, I kept thinking about the milk shake.  I stepped up my pace, so I could reach the trailhead by 3:30.  And at 3:30 I reached the trailhead but no shuttle.  My guess is I missed it by a few minutes.  At that point, a car approached.  I stuck out my thumb and to my surprise three older women in the car stopped.

The ladies gave me a ride all the way into Trout Lake and right to the restaurant where I ordered my huckleberry milk shake.

I found out later the shuttle schedule was changed to 4:30.