We decided to take an unplanned zero today and it ended up being a nice break from the trail. We are staying at condos at White Pass Ski Area that they rent out in the summer season. It is very remote here–it is literally just these condos and the gas station/store that are located where we are. Luckily, Tofu and her dad were heading into Packwood today and let us tag along. Before we headed out, we got breakfast at the Kracker Barrel Store at the gas station. Basically just bananas and muffins and OJ. While we were eating one of the woman at the store made an announcement to all the hikers hanging out at the store that she just got a call from the Forest Service and they opened up the section of trail that had been closed yesterday due to forest fire! Yes! There was still at 25 mile section that was closed, but they also opened a section, so now we had to skip fewer miles. We were really happy to hear this!
We did laundry at the Kracker Barrel Store at the gas station and checked out of our room at the condos. Tofu and her dad are letting us crash in their room since it has beds for us–so kind of them!!
We then hopped in the car with Tofu and her dad and headed to the town of Packwood. There is a flea market there this weekend so it was pretty hopping! We got burgers and ate until we couldn’t eat anymore. Then Tofu went to look at the flea market and I decided I could stand to eat some ice cream as this didn’t really count as eating more. We found out that Yote and 2.Toe were in town so we met up with them at a bar and Tofu’s dad bought us a round of drinks. It was so great to hang out as a big group once again, likely our last time before the end of the trail. Yote and 2.Toe are hiking with family the next few days, so they’ll be doing shorter miles and likely won’t catch us before the end. We were all very glad to reminisce and spend time together before parting.
We stopped by the grocery store before leaving town and I secretly bought a couple of mini cakes for Wolf Bird and Tofu’s dad. Her dad’s birthday is tomorrow and Wolf Bird’s is coming up on 9/4. We then headed back to White Pass. We hung out at the condos for a while and then had some dinner and surprised the birthday boys with their cakes! They enjoyed it and we all devoured them easily.
We went to bed excited to get back on the (open) trail tomorrow!