Second view of the new cairn saluting the setting sun in the incredible edible North Cascades.


Skip a few days (because my camera batteries were both drained!) and I find myself at the Stehekin Valley Ranch paying out the nose for a room to recover in. The price is vey reasonable by real world standards since it includes four all you can eat meals, but maybe my everything was too stuffed and clogged up to fully appreciate that. Met with a number of other hikers as well as the person pictured above, who - why does this still surprie me? - had taught English in Cuenca, Ecuador and knew and was friends with several people that I knew while in the Peace Corps down there.That's not just a small world, that's a tiny world. We discussed authors that have influenced us like Daniel Quinn and Derrick Jensen (He was actually reading the Endgame Series when we met). Really cool experience sitting around the fire with wine and beer and seeing all of the little strange connections out here.


Moonpie and Giddyup, two hikers about do their final four days to anning Park. This is inside the Ranch's nice dining area. Dirt floors, like a ranch should have I suppose.


Stehekin is FAMOUS among thru-hikers for its bakery. Now on the day this was taken the bakery was actually closed but outside they do place day-old items for sale on an honor system basis. Hungry hikers don't care one bit how old it is ... it's food you can actually CHEW.


Oh Princess Leia, where art thou? hehehe.