75 Miles on the PCT in 3 days

Tomorrow I set out on a three day run/hike from Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass. I have a meeting at 7 a.m., and whenever that is done, Heidi will drive me to Snoqualmie Pass. This trail have several tough climbs fluctuating in elevation between 2500 and 6000 feet. It is supposed to be one of the most beautiful sections of the Pacific Crest Trail. The segment of the Mexico-to-Canada Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail between Snoqualmie Pass and Stevens Pass traverses the complete south-to-north width of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, sampling superb scenery of the Cascade Crest, highland flower gardens, deep-shadow virgin forests, lakes, waterfalls, the peace that surpasseth, all on a well-graded trail with numerous choice camps and a lifetime of sidetrips. The forecast looks good until Tuesday night. I hope it doesn't rain much after that. I will alternate between running and hiking in order to make the distance in this amount of time. I hope to do some journaling along the way.
Wednesday Night -- I made it!
I actually complete this in 2 1/2 days.
First, let me say that this section of the PCT is very difficult -- a seemingly endless trail of ups and downs that take one between 3000 and nearly 6000 feet in elevation -- time after time.
On Monday I started at noon and made it to Lemah Creek (21 miles) at dark. This day was a scorcher.


On Tuesday I was hoping to put in 25 miles and make it at least to Cathedral Pass, but exceeded this and managed 33 miles, finishing 2 miles past Deception Pass. I finished at dark once again and the rain was falling while I set up camp.
Today, the rain was steady and quickly turned into snow. The snow was accumulating at the top of two of the passes I went over -- windy, with snow flurries, sleet and rain. I had to keep moving to stay warm.
I ended up finishing at 4:15 this afternoon -- 20 miles for today. My ride wasn't expected until 7 p.m. so I was grateful for some kind employees from Steven's Pass who invited me to their place until my ride showed up. We had a good time drinking warm coffee and discussing our diverse lives and what brought us together for a shared cup of coffee. It reminded me or a quote that I really like: Friedrich Nietzsche: "A few hours' mountain climbing turns a rogue and a saint into two roughly equal creatures. Weariness is the shortest path to equality and fraternity — and liberty is finally added by sleep." I was wet and cold, but happy to have completed this amazing hike.