Rainy Pass to Stevens Pass, 1979 - page 15

Clouds pouring in from Fire Creek Pass

What really decided me was the clouds coming back fast and furious over Fire Creek Pass. Man, they were really boiling in! I assembled my gear, strapped on the pack, and took off.

Just about a quarter-mile out of the lake I had to stop to change film. I should have checked it at the lake, but I didn’t think to. Sadly, the clouds blew in so fast that I had absolutely no view from the pass itself. That was a real bummer, because all the guidebooks just raved about what a spectacular view it is from Fire Creek Pass.

No view from Fire Creek Pass

It was very cold at the top, so I just snapped a couple of photos and moved on. The guys I had talked to earlier were right; it was really socked in on the other side. I did my three mile-per-hour blistering pace down from the pass to a meadow (with a lovely campsite) and then had to switchback up a small ridge. My legs were starting to feel like lumps of lead. A little while later, my back started spasming.

I figured if I didn’t stop I would make Kennedy Hot Springs at about 6 PM. But I wound up stopping for a few minutes now and again to let the muscles relax in my back.

I rounded Little Kennedy Basin and came upon a hiker at a horse camp. He informed me that the Hot Springs was only four more miles and it was all downhill. Woo-hoo! I took off, blisters complaining and muscles aching. I silently admonished them that they would have two whole days of leisure to recuperate.

I rolled into the campsite at Kennedy Hot Springs at 5:45 PM and found myself a protected little site. It had no doubt been passed over by others for two reasons:

1: No fires allowed
2: No really level space for my little tent, let alone a typical two-man tent.

– Keep reading.