Bannock Lake Fire Detour

PCT 2018 Day 105, August 5, Sunday

Start mile 2527.4, creek near campsite

End mile 2549.3, then mile 9 of 11 of Hart Lyman Trail

Miles walked: 30.9

Descending down to walk along the Suiattle River, I pass a grove of the largest trees on the PCT. A climb from 2.5k to 6k brings Suiattle Pass, and views of more glaciers. The trail diversion due to wildfire is well-marked. Southbounders tell me the route is clear and easy to follow. The steep climb to Cloudy Pass reminds me that other trails are not built with the limited grade specifications of the PCT. This is what toilet facilities look like at many of the recent lakes. The trail goes by Lyman Lake and then Hart Lake, both with many campers. Blueberries, or huckleberries, are at peak ripeness just beyond Hart Lake, and yon can reach your hand out and grab several at a time while passing. I walked until dark closer to Holden Village, a Lutheran Camp that southbounders tell me is a nice place to stop and have a meal, or perhaps more. Breakfast is from 7 to 9, and I would not like to be late.

Before today, approaching southbounders did not know much about fire diversions, having missed them. Now they offer advice. One that impressed me warned me that the next part of the Bannock Lake Fire detour, 11 Mile Creek Trail and Company Creek Trail, is 17 very hard miles, and that the final descent to Stehekin is treacherous, and that he would not hike it in the direction I am going. He suggests an alternative, that I will explore more at Holden.

Author: Jim, Sagebrush

Jim (trail-name Sagebrush) codes audio software for Windows, Linux, Android, and embedded systems. When not working at sagebrush.com, he enjoys backpacking, which this blog is about.