September 26, 2017

Miles: 7

PNT mile 1205

Camp: Cedar Creek – Olympic National Park Wilderness Coast 

Clear skies in the morning gave the day an early glow. Sunshine touched the tops of trees and worked its way down to the beach. We grew warmer as the day progressed, finally out of the rain once again.

A lot of today involved beating the tides around rocky capes and points along the shore. Some of the tide warning areas do not have overland trails, so you just have to make it before the tide comes rolling in. Sounds easy enough when dealing with a short distance, but coast walking is different. It is hard.

Often we are crossing tidal pool zones that are covered in seaweeds and slick as oil. You learn quickly which color rocks to avoid (usually brown, always shiny) or you would easily have to answer to your tailbone; and that is the best case scenario. This kind of walking requires patience and caution and it takes a lot longer than usual. We are up against the ocean and she is fierce. 

The tidepools were very cool and so we’re the views. The day was fun for me, I felt so good and happy. Then one of the worst things that can happen, happened. Pink twisted his ankle.

At first he said he had just fallen and was fine, but soon his limp told a different tale. He was struggling to walk and it was obvious. He painfully admitted that it did not have a good outlook, but powered on to camp because he kind of had to. We could have pressed the emergency beacon Thumbs carries, but he felt he could make the short distance. Gerry (the saintiest saint on the whole trail) hiked fast ahead of the group to the first obstacle (some boulders) and dropped his pack. He then returned to carry Pink’s over the boulders and moved on to the ropes at the next overland trail. Gerry alternated carrying his pack and Pink’s pack for the whole 2 miles, over obstacles and down one of the steepest ropes we have had on an overland trail. Gerry is so amazing and selfless and I am in awe of him. Not to mention he is (was) a doctor who doesn’t seem overly concerned with Pink walking on in this way. I don’t think I can be more grateful than I am for his help today. It was a long 2 miles of Gerry hopscotching and Pink hobbling while Thumbs and I tried to keep spirits up by keeping it light; admiring the gorgeous views and singing songs. It was a trying day on everyone.

We will evaluate the situation in the morning. For now we are all pretty beat from taking on a bigger load today. Thumbs and I split most of the camp chores and let the guys rest. Now it is our turn.

The sunset was also very classic and I saw my first green flash! I always thought it was a myth.