Warming up in Winthrop (Part 2 of 6) (Posted 3 November 2012, 09:56pm)

ED hitching from Rainy Pass.


It was a rough night. It was extremely cold and the room felt like a concrete icebox. A mouse tormented us, scrambling over our gear and shredding toilet paper, presumably trying to make itself a nest. I guess it was feeling the cold too. We survived though and managed some sleep. Outside had been transformed into a winter wonderland by a thick layer of snow, the storm had passed and the sky was a bright blue. We packed up and headed back to the road to resume hitching.

It took us a while to get a ride - we were a bedraggled quartet. Finally a brother and sister stopped but they could only fit three of us. Heehaw volunteered to stay behind. As we were loading in, another vehicle stopped with space for one. ED, Scallywag and I squeezed into the back of the first vehicle, Heehaw went in the other, and we arranged to meet in the town of Winthrop. As we descended the snow disappeared and it was warm when we arrived in Winthrop, dressed in our down jackets, hats and gloves. There were places to stay, a supermarket and, importantly, a good outdoors outfitter. We had lunch and then Heehaw went off to find us accommodation. He found a cabin which sounded promising so we headed there to organize ourselves and dry out.

Our cabin had two double bedrooms, a bath, a laundry room, leather couches, a full kitchen and its own hot tub. We made phone calls, showered, did our laundry and hung up our tents and sleeping bags to dry. We headed off to the supermarket where we bought food for a feast and extra food for the trail. I had never seen the point of "fun-sized" Snickers bars but bought a few bags of them, since Heehaw had told me they were easy to eat even when frozen. I got some extra sliced salami and pop tarts - high energy food that is easy to eat without stopping. On the way back to the cabin I went to the outfitter and bought a pair of waterproof pants and a balaclava.

In the evening Heehaw cooked up a storm. He made a pot roast, a salad, steamed asparagus and macaroni and cheese. Talk around the table descended to American politics - being back in civilization we had caught talk about the second presidential debate the night before. After dinner we pored over a detailed map Heehaw had bought, working out a plan for the next few days. We planned distances and identified possible side trails to safety if the weather worsened again. We ate ice cream while we soaked in the hot tub. It was such a contrast to the night before - what a difference 24 hours can make! I stayed up adding photos to this blog, watching movies, reading the news - sucked in and swept away by access to the outside world. It was early morning by the time I got to bed, which was a mistake considering what we were planning to attempt over the coming days...

Heehaw in action.

Comments

Return to full list of posts

Trail Mail

Enter your email address below to be notified when this blog is updated:
Receive notifications for:

Map (View larger)

Recent Check-ins (View all)

October
21 I made it.
15 About to catch the last bus for the season out of Stehekin and planning to walk out of America in four days time on the last day of my visa...
09 It looks like some bad weather is finally on the way. My rain gear might actually get some use! Tough climbs ahead but getting closer to Canada each day and with great group of fellow stragglers.

September
22 Quick stop in Cascade Locks to shower, do laundry, resupply, eat and 'rest'. Across the Bridge of the Gods, over the mighty Columbia river, into Washington today - the first day of autumn.
13 Resupply for Washington all sorted with some help from Mum, who is visiting on her way home from Europe. Now it is time to escape Bend and resume the race to Canada.

Photos (View all)

Blog Archive

November
30 True to the thru (Part 4 of 4)
30 The waiting game (Part 3 of 4)
30 Something was wrong (Part 2 of 4)
30 A story that needs to be told (Part 1 of 4)
21 "I knew Typo would make it" (Part 6 of 6)
19 Throwing the Hail Mary (Part 5 of 6)
10 Up and down, but not out (Part 4 of 6)
06 Crossing Cutthroat Pass (Part 3 of 6)
03 Warming up in Winthrop (Part 2 of 6)

October
30 We're sleeping in a toilet (Part 1 of 6)
25 Another radio interview (Audio)
21 I made it
04 Nearly there

September
29 Trail Magic
19 Walking with Mum

August
28 Cold food
28 Hello Oregon!
20 40 miles in one day
08 Official trail name: Typo
06 (Humbolt) Summit Fever
06 Road walking around a wildfire

July
30 Two trail birthdays
18 A picture is worth...
10 Pain and gain in the Sierra

June
28 Hiker hunger
27 The inquisitive marmot
19 Stage one survived
05 Live from the Mojave (Updated)
04 I just walked 500 miles...

May
31 Current nemesis: Poodle dog bush
23 Mexico to McDonald's
23 Gear review: Sleeping pad
18 Hot and getting even hotter
12 Videos
12 Wildlife
10 People on the trail: Sunset
05 Eagle Rock
03 Hiker discount: 100%

April
30 The beginning
25 Final preparation
17 Blogging along the way
16 No publicity is bad publicity
08 Walking before the walk
08 Maps for the trail