1980: The Boundary Trail, page 15

Micki at Harts Pass.

Day eight, Monday
8PM

You'll never guess where we are – Hart's Pass! 

I have reached my limit today ... 31-miles – the most that I have ever done in one day. I am suffering for it, too. I wanted to quit so badly at the crossing of the West Fork, but I didn’t.  I think I'm proud of myself, but I'm too tired to be sure.

The day started off pleasantly enough, an easy walk through the forest with minor ups and downs.  And there was a nice sturdy bridge over the river which helped to keep my feet relatively dry. But once we hit the West Fork trail, we were hiking in as much horse pucky as mud.  This is evidently an equestrian-preferred trail.

The Pasaytan Airstrip.

At one point the trail skirts along the edge of the grandiously-named Pasaytan Airstrip, a pebbly clearing suitable for small craft with skilled pilots.

What a brutal way to finish off a 31-mile day – four-miles from the valley floor to within 100-feet of the summit of Slate Peak. The trail just went up and up, via countless switchbacks through old avalanche scree.  And just when I thought it was over, that we could head down to Hart's Pass, there – around the shoulder – were more switchbacks. Once we finally reached the top, our reward was a depressingly long mile trudge down a gravel road to the pass itself.

The Slate Peak lookout looms in the distance, on the final haul up to Slate Pass.

I pitched my tent on a site right across from the Ranger Station. There is no one around at the moment but I expect that will change this evening.

I just lanced a huge blister on the outside of my right heel.  God, I thought my feet were sore before! This is utter agony. Human feet were simply not meant to hike 20-miles, let alone 31, over mountains in sneakers. 

The woman Ranger, Linda, just pulled up on her all-terrain motorcycle a few minutes ago. She says it is supposed to be clear through tomorrow and then change to stormy towards the end of the week.

It's cold here as the sun begins to drop behind the nearby hills. Hart's Pass is at an elevation of 6026’ so it’ll probably get close to freezing tonight.  But I don’t care, as long as it stays dry.  I just hope my feet feel like walking tomorrow.

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