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TOWN NOTES We made notes about the towns we visited in 2002. But
remember... things change! Mt Laguna Julie at store will hold hiker boxes, and their opening hours are
better and more predictable than the PO next door (which changed without
warning). It is possible to re-supply there, and while she had Coleman fuel,
she only had rubbing alcohol, but promised to get some de-natured in for
2002. Laguna Lodge, 10678 Sunrise Highway, Mount Laguna, CA
91948 (619) 445 2342 or -473 8533 Their hours are 9 am - 5 pm seven days a week Warner Springs The resort does a 1 night hiker special - a cabin (sleeps 2) for
$50. Worth sharing, as its a room rate. The Golf Course grill across the road
does good breakfasts and "lunch" (burgers, fries etc.) until 4pm.
The dining room buffet is $25 and questionable value. But the huge thermal
spa pool (104f) soothes aches and cures blisters. The lady in the gas station/mini
mart tries hard to get stuff hikers want (lots of moleskin) but it would be
hard to re-supply here. No alcohol. The staff in the small post office get
quite harassed with all the hiker boxes. Hiker Oasis, Anza Paul "The Bear", and Pat ran this behind the RV park
Kamp Anza, but have moved to another, still nearby property. In 2002 we rang
Paul and he picked us up outside the Paradise Corner Restaurant on Pines to
Palm Highway. He hopes to secure land easements so hikers can walk on in. In
2002, hikers camped on his lush lawn, showered and did laundry in a trailer,
and he has big plans for the place. Get his number from the Hiker Oasis water
stash, which honestly, you will not miss, or e-mail: thebear1@jps.net He
doesn't allow smoking or drinking alcohol on his property. Idylwild Lovely town, easy to stay too long. The Forest Service
Campground has a small Hike & Bike section where camping costs $1 pppn,
but it's next to a road, so don't expect a lie in. Knotty Pine cabins have a
2 night minimum. Barbara has geared the Tahquitz Motel to hikers (at this
time of the year) charging $50 for a room with a kitchen, fridge, microwave
& TV, so it's easy to live here cheap for two nights. She also has a box
with shampoo, toothpaste, razors and will drive hikers 3m uphill to the
trailhead when they leave - a very valuable service. The laundry is nearby
($1.75 wash, $.75 dry), the Red Kettle is good for breakfast, but there's
excellent coffee and mouth-watering baked good to take out directly opposite.
Two hardware stores, both have denatured alcohol, Nomad is a good outdoor
equipment shop used to patching up hikers, and Fairway Foods near the PO has
a much better selection that the more central Village Market. Highway 10 - The Pink Motel An alternative place to send re-supply boxes to avoid hitch to
Cabazon. Run by Don & Helen Middleton, it's two open cabins for PCT
hikers in the middle of what looks like a junk yard (collecting & fixing
things up is Dons hobby). They live down Cottonwood Rd. There is a gas &
a wood stove, couches to sleep on, and a fridge stocked by these kind trail
angels. Send boxes to: Self, c/o Helen Middleton, Middleton Hiker Cabin 13010
Cottonwood, HCR-1 Box 2001 Whitewater, CA 92282 Tel: 909 849 8440 Big Bear City Seems more compact for re-supplying that Big Bear Lake, but the
latter has a European style backpacker hostel (we were its first PCT
thru-hikers) which normally caters for skiers & mountain bikers. Dorm
rooms $20 each, laundry $2, very casual. Take bus ($1 exact fare) and get off
at Knickerbocker. James Grayson McNeill will hold re-supply boxes sent to:
C/O Big Bear Lake Mountain Hostel PO Box 1951, 527 Knickerbocker Big Bear
Lake CA 92315-1951 (909) 866 8900 If you do make it here, Grizzly Bear Manor
Cafe on Big Bear Boulevard does the best (& biggest!) breakfast we'd had
so far in the US. The paint store behind it sells denatured alcohol. Cajon
Pass You walk past a McDonalds, cross the Interstate, to find a gas station
with a Taco Bell in its mini mart and an excellent, family run Best Western
Motel (702) 798 1020. It has laundry, pool and hot tub. Double room $65. Wrightwood The guide suggests going 5m down Acorn trail to town. Better is
to hike 6m further on the trail to the highway and hitch. Plenty of rides
with towns folk bringing hikers up and down all the time. It means not having
to hike 5m UP Acorn Trail with 2000ft elevation gain with full re-supply
pack. Hardware store is hiker central and sells alcohol by the ounce or can.
Motels vary hugely in standard, but you'll find folk ahead of you who'll say
which they like & don't. There's no laundry in town but some trail angels
listed in the register at the hardware store offer to wash clothes and give
rides back to the trail. Incidentally, several hikers have found their
running shoes start to fail around this point. Excellent breakfast at the
Coffee House. Soledad Canyon Nine miles before Agua Dulce, no one would re-supply here. But
it's worth pointing out that there's a burger restaurant here, giving vital
fuel for that last haul. After the ford and before the railway line, there's
a RV park to the left. Walk past the pool, keeping it on your left, and
you'll come to the restaurant. Agua Dulce The Saufley's. Most people know about this place. Loan clothes
when you arrive, your washing done, a tent city on the yard, an RV and a
trailer with shower, kitchen and lounge. And the use of a Jeep, just for
hikers. Wonderful. BUT, it gets very busy, up to 30 at a time. Some hikers
want to party when others have an early start, so if you're going back on the
trail, take a tent away from the main trailer. Green Valley Case De Luna Twenty two trail miles from Agua Dulce, 2002 was
Joe & Terri's third year as trail angels, and their place is like I suspect
the Saufley's used to be. Two tents with air mattresses, showers, food, beer
and a nice relaxed atmosphere in a lovely, green valley. It's off the trail,
so some folks don't come here, yet Joe gives rides to the trailhead. If you
bring your packs here the day before using the Saufley jeep, it makes a great
slackpack. Lake Hughes Not on the trail but on the "alternative" "short
cut" route across the Mojave, get separate directions from Joe &
Terri. There is a post office, small store with PCT Register, and Harley's
Rock Inn (661 724 1855). Rooms are $59, there's a bar, and burgers etc. (incl
veggie) are served from 8am. Tehachapi Easy hitch from the Willow Springs Road. But this places is very
spread out. Most hikers stay at Santa Fe Motel $40, plus $15 for ride to
trail. But it's a 4ml round trip to Albertsons, 4ml round trip to Post
Office. Probably better to go to Mojave. Whites Motel will collect from
trailhead. Kennedy Meadows When you reach the road, turn right and hike up the pavement to
the store which has showers, a clothes washing machine & a washing line.
The folks here know hikers want denatured alcohol or Heet, and usually have
it. You can mail out from here and there is now a payphone, but it costs 35c
even for a 1-800 number. The new Pocketmailer works but not the old one.
Everyone hangs out here. Movies in outdoor screen on Sat. night. Their phone
no is 559-850-kmgs e-mail kmlahansen@earthlink.net The forest service
campground is a long 3ml road hike. However, 1.5ml down the same road, take
first left after the cattle grid, and there's a fire safe camping area with a
lavatory. Much nearer the store, and free. Water from the river. There's a
restaurant - in the other direction from the store with grudging service but
OK steaks. Poor veg option. Another restaurant, Grumpy Bear, will collect
hikers for Sat night meals. Independence Many go straight through to VVR. Having done the JMT, I
wanted to hike the Kearsarge Pass trail and was not disappointed. Our map
suggested 2 routes to the pass from the PCT - we planned to go up the low
route via Bullfrog Lake, and down the high route. Trail signs, however,
suggested the low route didn't reach the pass, so we took the high route both
ways. It looks like the low route DOES reach the pass, but the high route is
superb - the views of the lake and the pinnacles make it worth the hike.
Getting a ride down Onion Valley is easier in the afternoon when day hikers
are going home, but we managed at 10am. Mairs Market was shut for remodelling
in June 2002, but ought to have everything needed to re-supply. It sells
hardware so it should have alcohol fuel. There's also a medium sized
mini-mart (oxymoron?) at the Chevron gas station. The laundry has shut, and
no motel advertises a laundry, but the nice woman at the Mt. Williamson Motel
(760 878 2121) did ours for $5. The Post Office is not open Saturday. The
Greyhound route down the Owens Valley has been cancelled, but Inyo Mono
Transit (1-800-922-1930, 760 872 1901) now run 2 busses every weekday to Lone
Pine and to Bishop (Wilson's Eastside Sports 760-873-7520 is very well
stocked, and DO NOT miss the late Galen Rowell's "Mountain Light"
gallery 760 873 7700). Busses also run to Ridgecrest where you can catch a
Greyhound. The fare is $4 and they can run somewhat late. Getting a
ride out of Independence up Onion Valley to the Kearsarge Pass Trailhead can
be difficult if you don't catch the early tide of weekend day hikers. Skip at
Wilderhouse Shuttle Service does to journey for $20 (1-888 313 0151 or 760
878 2119 wilder@wilderhouse.com) He shuttle people between Yosemite &
Kennedy Meadows too, so he knows most places. With his wife, they run an
upsacle bed & breakfast place just outside Independence at $105 per
couple per night. Vermilion Valley Resort Peggy sold the resort in 2002 and I've heard mixed reports about
the new set-up. Hiker-friendly yes, if somewhat more expensive.
If Muir Trail Ranch was more welcoming to hikers it could be an
alternative. I've stayed at both, (VVR twice - once when Butch ran the
place). VVR is clearly the most popular choice and has all you need. A
great stop in a wonderful part of this hike. Reds Meadow On 16 June 2002 the store was still stocking its shelves and the
campground had yet to open. The restaurant is tempting but was the worst
value meal we'd had. A double cheeseburger had patties so small they fit on
the tiny bun side by side! The tuna melt was two slices of toast with tune
salad between. Both served with chips (UK=crisps) not fries. With two drinks
the tab was a whopping $25! Other reported being ill after eating
there. Tuolumne Meadows Store (sells denatured alcohol), post office and small fast food
place. The campground is fine, but the lodge wanted $60 for a tent
cabin. If intending to layover, consider going to Yosemite Valley or Lone
Pine. There is one shuttle bus a day to Yosemite valley from mid-June
where there is a laundromat (none in TM, not even at TM Lodge, despite
reports). For information about transportation inside the park call Yosemite
Lodge Transportation Desk 209 372 1240. There's also a daily bus down
to Lee Vining (1-800-626-6684) which has motels (Lee Vining Motel $44 but be
aware of road noise) a store, laundromat, internet access (tourist info
centre) and restaurants. Also interesting Mono Lake. IÕve removed the side-thought about Bear Canisters which was on
early versions of these notes as I suspect the information is out of date. Kennedy Meadows, Sonora Pass It's a 15ml West hitchhike or yogi a ride at the parking lot.
There's a sign to KM on the highway (north side of road), but try to get your
ride to drive you 1ml down this road to the store. There are cabins for $67,
showers $5(!), laundry $2, and a good value restaurant which also does
breakfast. Poor selection in the store. Only bug spray in aerosol! No
Coleman or Denatured Alcohol in store, but rubbing alcohol. Echo Lake If you're going to South Lake Tahoe, hitch when you hit Highway
50, 1.2ml before Echo Lake Resort. If you go to the resort, the one way taxi
fare is $20 (Clue Taxi 530-577-2583). There are motels which will shuttle
you, but they're not well placed. Or try to yogi a ride in the resort parking
lot. The store is pretty poor for re-supply and fairly expensive. No alcohol
fuel. Best go to S.Lake Tahoe. Stay near "The Y". This is place
where roads 89 and 50 split. There's a K-mart, Baleys Supermarket,
Laundromat, Post Office (shut Saturday) and many budget motels, although
prices rise at a weekend. Many hikers like the privately run Matterhorn
Motel. Busses run to the casinos (buffets!). Alcohol at drug store or Heet in
K-mart. Sierra City Nice place, little more than a main street, with the feel of
Idylwild or Wrightwood. As an Englishman, I can confirm Beryl, another Brit
and owner of Mountain Shadows restaurant, makes excellent Fish and Chips.
She's been in the US 15 years, so also does a good breakfast. It's open from
early until 2pm. The RV park will let hikers camp free and use showers.
The camp spot is some rough land near the river so not luxurious camping and
the area is reportedly visited by a bear which likes dumpster food, so hang
bags. The store did not have heet or denatured alcohol, only rubbing alcohol.
Quincy Those seeking R&R will not find it (or much else!) in Belden
so Quincy is a better alternative. ItÕs a 15ml hitch from Buck's Summit via
Meadow Valley (or 30ml from Belden). Full service town with a good music
festival in 1st week of July. Near centre of town are 3 motels. 2 in West are
most convenient; Spanish Creek Motel 530-283-3686 and Gold Pan Motel
530-283-3686. Identical rates- room for 2 is $55 in each. Pine Hill Motel is
in East 530-283-1670. Chamber of Commerce has list of those further out
530-283-0188 qchamber@psln.com and is very helpful, hoping to encourage more
PCT hikers. Good whole food store on main street. Old fashioned barber cuts
hair (very short!) for $9. Free internet access in library (limited to 1/2hr
per day). Alcohol fuel at hardware next to Safeway, Rite Aid and Laundromat
at east end of town. Belden Not really a town but an RV park with a few cabins in varying
states of disrepair, bar/restaurant with a very limited menu and an attached
store with very limited stock. No alcohol fuel. Cabins cost $70 per night(!)
camping $10 despite old cold showers. Railroad engines just yards away
make sleep impossible. Try not to spend long down here. Cross the river, turn
left and walk down to Post Office run by kind & helpful Dorothy. Trail
behind PO back to PCT. Drakesbad Guest Ranch Turn left rather than right when approaching Warner Campground.
They serve great food and welcome PCT hikers. Breakfast 7.30-8.30
$9.75, Lunch 12-1pm $11, Dinner 6-7pm $18.25, vegetarian dinned $15.75,
hiker's plate $7.50. We arrived at 1.50pm when lunch was just being cleared
away, but still we had a huge, filling salad with cold meat, cheeses, and
lots of yummy stuff. Old Station If I had my way, Doug at the Hat Creek Store (530 335 7044)
would be knighted for his services to PCT hikers (see our journal for reasons
http://www.pcthiker.com/pages/journals/2002/simon.shtml). The store sells
Heet fuel and limited supplies, but the resort is good. There was a
breakfast place 2ml up the road and a new one opening at the store itself. Burney Falls Store $3 charge to hold packages. No alcohol fuel but a pretty
good supply of basics. Hot food in Snack Bar extremely limited - nachos, hot
dogs, meat pizza slices and meat sandwiches. No burgers or fries. Breakfast,
just coffee, muffin and cinnamon roll, although staff can be persuaded to
microwave a slice of pizza. Castella/Dunsmuir When you reach paved Riverside Rd turn left for Castella, Right
for Dunsmuir. Dunsmuir - you can hitch from the Interstate interchange, or
walk 1.2ml on railroad tracks to a crossing, then go left and walk 4ml into
town. The road starts on the left bank of the river, then crosses to the
right, then back to the left bank. The town is spread over 3ml with cheaper
motels at either end. Try the Oak Tree on your way in then ring the Acorn Inn
(530-235-4805) at the very far end to compare. There are two rather seedy
looking residence hotels in town. The Acorn Inn charged $45 plus tax for one,
Travel Lodge near town centre was $62 plus tax for one. The main food market
is at the far (North) end of town past the Interstate underpass (a long walk
in summer heat but closest to the Acorn Inn). The burger bar and laundromat
are near the pizza place downtown. Nice "Gandy Dancers" cafe
downtown (shut Monday) on a street parallel to main street but one block
downhill nearer the railroad. The town of Mt Shasta is a 6ml hitchhike up the
Interstate or highway and has a good outfitter, drug store and Black Bear
Diner. Castella - Post office is right next to Ammiratti's market/gas
station which has lots of drinks & chips but basic re-supply only. I saw
no powerbars or alcohol fuel. Tough possibly waterless 22ml 4000ft climb out
of Castella, although 2 streams ran mid Aug 2002. Seiad Valley The Grider Creek Campground is fine with a good pool under the
bridge to bathe in. Traffic only goes there or up a logging road, but I'm
told people sometimes give rides 6.5ml to town (although thatÕs cheating!).
Rick's, the Seiad Valley Restaurant, is of course home to the Pancake
Challenge. 7 winners in 18yrs as of 17 Aug 2002, eating 5x 12oz batter
pancakes. It's open 7 days a week, 7am-2pm but he shuts if business is quiet.
The store, part of same building, shuts 8pm. Rubbing but not denatured
alcohol. The Wildwood Lodge (0.8ml West) no longer has rooms. It's a lunch
and dinner restaurant (530 496 3195). All a la carte, chicken is $11, 14oz
Ribeye $17, plus tax & tip. Owner Rita Herbst. Mid River RV charges $5
for camping, but has a great $10 bunkhouse, with fridge, microwave, VCR and
free movies! With 3 beds and a couch it's in demand. Coin-op showers and
laundry right alongside, hikers box and nice people. Run by Marj & Rick
(different Rick to the pancake king) they will drive hikers places in emergencies.
If less urgent locals often head 53ml to Yreka (big town) or 1ml Happy Camp
(much smaller) and give rides. A very hiker friendly place. Also Mon &
Fri there's a bus, which stops right outside RV Park, to Yreka a full service
town including a hospital which sees a lot of PCT hikers, including me! Interstate 5 near Ashland Callaghans has a register and gives the first beer free to PCT
hikers. Meals from about $10, an all-you-can-eat spaghetti plate (aimed at
hikers) and rooms from $65, which includes a full service breakfast, probably
worth about $20. An excellent four course meal for two was $33. You can tent
on the lawn for 5$ and come for breakfast is good value. If they're not full,
the owners Ron and Donna Bergquist told me they'll let you do laundry, use a
robe while your stiff is washing, and shower in empty rooms. They go to
Ashland daily and even if you're not staying, will give rides whenever they
can. Donna told me all this in the car. It doesnÕt appear in Craig on-line
planning programme but they will hold hiker packages. 541-482-1299
callahan@mind.net Ashland Ashland is the place from which to sort all the food for Oregon
but itÕs expensive, especially hotels & motels. The $40 Columbia hotel is
reportedly uncomfortably hot without A/c. However, the Ashland Hostel (also
without a/c) is $15 a night for dorm, backpackers getting $5 discount off
regular $20 price. 541-482-9217. It wasn't hot when I was there, but imagine
the basement mens dorm would be stuffy & sweaty in different weather. Ground
floor private rooms $50. Coin-op laundry, free movie rental for VCR, close to
town centre, and very friendly. The door is locked afternoons 1-5pm but if
you're staying a couple of nights they'll give you the door code which
changes daily. There's a free bus service, Mon-Fri 5.30am-7pm through town
running every 15 mins so getting around is easy, even to out of town motels.
$1 to go to Medford, but why leave Ashland? At the west end of the 10 bus
route is Albertsons, Mailboxes etc. (for UPS) and a second post office,
inside the Rite Aid store, open Saturday unlike the main PO. Denatured
alcohol at downtown hardware. Expensive but fresh organic food at Ashland
Coop. Half hour (free) internet access in library and (pay) several cafes.
Safeway is nearest supermarket, one block south past library, with 1hr photo
processing nearby. For me a great attraction was the Shakespeare Festival
which runs all summer. The big plays sell out several days ahead, but other
tickets go for half price an hour before curtain up. Try for VOM tickets -
temporary seating which most folk don't want but is every bit as good as real
seats, often in better position. And VOM is short for vomitorium. Don't ask.
Also people gather before performances in the square infront of the box offices
to buy and sell tickets for that and coming days. I spent four nights here
waiting for my partner to arrive from the UK and loved the place. Hyatt Lake Resort Very small store, not enough to re-supply and no alcohol, but
hold packages sent UPS, and give free camping (site 4) and free hot showers.
The cafe didn't open in 2002 but there's one 0.5ml North on road open until
8pm. Crater Lake NP The PCT deposits you onto Highway 66. Turn right and the park
entrance is less than a mile downhill walking along the highway. People have
got lost on short cuts in the guide book. Just past the entrance booth, turn
right into Mazama Village. The laundry and showers are part of the store, and
this is the best place to mail boxes. Don't try to send them to the Rim
Lodge, as was the old advice, as they just come here. The small store would
be a tough re-supply. There's a hiker box, but no denatured alcohol, and no
cafe - just coffee and muffins for breakfast. There's a trail to the rim, or
the 4ml road to the Post Office, then 3ml road to the rim. Hitchhiking in
parking lots seems fine but "discouraged" on the narrow roads. But
the Rangers do give rides. Ask at the entrance booth or ranger station - they
sent a patrol car for us. Nice people, just ask nicely and don't expect. The
Post Office, (541-594-3115) 4ml up the road is open Mon-Sat 9-12 1-3. It just
holds packages 30 days, but is good for a bounce box. It's another 3ml up to
the Rim Village. Very close to the Post Office is the Ranger Station. This is
dispatch - the place to ask for a ride to the rim. It also issues backcountry
permits. Permits? I'll explain. On the PCT your permit covers you, but PCT
hikers like to camp near the rim, off the PCT, to visit the all-you-can-eat
buffet and to eat breakfast. Some folk just stealth camp in the woods, but if
you're stopped during the day, or youÕre getting rides with Rangers, it's
nice to have a formal answer to the question "where are you
camping?" I got a permit for "Dutton Creek Dispersal", so when
you're finished on he rim, you just have to walk 1ml down Dutton Creek to
legally wild camp. If you've asked for "dispersal" you don't have
to go all the way to the official backcountry campground. All nice and legal.
And of course if you THINK you've gone a mile, then you can just walk into
the woods... Highly recommended is the $12 All-You-Can-Eat buffet in the
Watchman Restaurant from 5pm-10pm, above the Llao Cafe. The Llao Cafe opens
for breakfast at 8am. However, Crater Lake Lodge opens for a pricier but
lovely breakfast at 7am. Rooms in Crater Lake Lodge, 100yds along the rim
from the cafe/gift shop, start at $117 but you can visit for a look around.
It too does dinner but reservations are required. Diamond Lake Reportedly a
very good stop with lodging, cafe and store. Quickest route is North Crater
Trail from near Highway 138, returning to PCT on Howlock trail. But it's an
additional 3ml and 1000ft ascent and descent so we skipped it. Shelter Cove Resort Friendly folk but small store, would be expensive & limited
re-supply. Does have Heet alcohol fuel. No cafe, just hot dogs & coffee.
$6 camping site is not wonderful. Showers $1.50 for 3mins. Laundry $1 soap,
$1 wash, $1 dry. Cabins at various prices, but none cheap! Elk Lake Didn't
visit. I'm told their bacon cheeseburgers are good and they have Ben &
Jerry's Ice Cream, but like all these places, are pricey. Big Lake Youth Camp Not signed and easily missed. A very big Christian camp for kids
and adults. They hold boxes, free showers, $1 laundry (not coin-op) and ask
at the desk for a $4.50 meal ticket for an all-you-can-eat lunch or dinner.
Santiam Pass is a much easier hitch-hike point than McKenzie Pass. Ollalie Lake By now you know what these Oregon resorts are like. Limited selection
and naturally expensive. Timberline Lodge Now this place is different. It is a very large ski-station high
on Mt Hood. It has a range of lodging options and a decent if overpriced
restaurant. Opposite the main building is the Wy'East Building with a cafe
(bfast, lunch & dinner between certain hours only) and a gift store where
you pick up hiker boxes. This store sells to the ski crowd, so if you need
fleece clothing, warm gloves etc they have these. No alcohol. Cascade Locks/Stevenson/Carson Cascade Locks, OR is a small town. Two good eateries (esp.
Charburger). Econo Inn Motel $45 for two incl tax. Denatured alcohol at
hardware store. But consider NOT sending box here. If you're going to hike
the alternate road start to WA (21mls shorter with 1ml less of climbing) then
in 3ml you'll pass through bigger town of Stevenson which has PO and more
facilities (possibly fewer motels). DonÕt wait until you reach Carson
in another 4.5ml as it has a PO and little else. White Pass At $55 (inc tax) for 2 people I think a room with kitchen is
good value, especially since there's only hotdogs and burritos at the store,
no fries or burgers. Tough re-supply, but they sell HEET alcohol. Each room
is a privately owned condo, so each is furnished differently. Some (the same
size!) have 2 beds, some 5 beds, and all your trail mates can pile into the
spare beds. It's reportedly an easy 15ml hitch to Packwood. The "rural
post office" here accepts and holds packages. If you want to mail stuff
out, remarkably they don't have scales, you have to guess how much it'll
cost. In the twenty first century! One woman helped us guess, the other
repeated the mantra "your guess is as good as mine". Priority Mail
seemed a new concept, and international mail a black art. Snoqualmie Pass Ugly is the first word which comes to mind when you see this ski
station from above. The Ward Home B&B was shut in 2002 due to sickness
but plans to open for 2003. The Best Western Summit Inn (425-434-6300) does a
$65 PCT rate, with big TV's, pool, hot tub and every luxury known to mankind.
Even coffee machines. The (attached) Pancake House is an upscale fast food
/breakfast/dinner place open all day. You could re-supply out of the Chevron
and Time Wise Deli together if you're not too fussy. I saw rubbing alcohol
and Heet gel - not sure if that works. The deli is a rural Post Office, but
is only open 6am-2pm weekdays. You can collect parcels outside this time,
provided they don't require delivery confirmation. A bounce box mailed at
White Pass Monday reached here Thursday morning. Mail arrives & leaves
8am, and they DO have a scale so you don't play "your guess is a good as
mine" game. Skykomish The Sky Chalet across the bridge on Highway 2 does superb
breakfasts and other meals. They plan to rent rooms in the future. The deli
is up for sale, but the Chevron might have enough to re-supply and sells
Heet. It has a sign advising PCT hikers that showers, laundry and a campsite
are available at Scotty & Bridget's house 677 0167. People also camp at
Bob Norton's house and he has the hiker box 677 2347 514 E.Railroad Ave. Two
of the three hotels have shut, so the cheapest room is a rip-off, the Sky
River Inn is $80. It was the worst value on the PCT. Our drift box mailed
from Snoqualmie Friday morning was waiting for us Monday morning, so a bounce
box is possible in Washington if you want back-up winter gear. Stehekin Ring 360-856-5700 x14 and check times of shuttle bus from High
Bridge to Stehekin Landing. They change yr to yr but it was 9am,12pm,3,6pm.
After 30 Sep the big old school bus (thru hikers get to sign the roof!) is
replaced by a twice daily NPS shuttle van. There's nothing but an old ranger
station at High Bridge (where you get on the bus) which takes you down to a
small resort community built along the side of Lake Chelan. The fabulous
bakery is 1.7ml from town but the bus will stop. It opens at 7am and people
have done most of their re-supply from here, but youÕd have to like bread
& pastry! On-the-day savoury stuff (Pizzas etc) ready after 11am. The
Park Office is on the right as you enter the settlement with the main
campground opposite (Purple Point). It's free, you write your own
registration, and there are food lockers. There are free showers and a
coin-op laundromat (open late), then the Post Office but its opening time
change - ring to check PO times 509-682-2625. It was open just 1hr Saturdays,
not at ! all in October. Our bounce box mailed Monday from Skykomish had
arrived by Saturday morning. Indeed we successfully mailed our bounce box
between every re-supply stop in WA which gave equipment options for the
fickle weather (tent, Gore-Tex, boots all in the box). A little further down
the side of Lake Chelan (pron. "Shell-ann") is the lodge, store
(poor re-supply) and restaurant. The restaurant says reservations required,
but served us without - steak dinner $16, buffet breakfast $8. Outdoor
supplier (with fuel & some hiking food) just a little way uphill past the
store. This is a nice, peaceful, relaxing place to hang out before the
"final push". Manning Park We didn't stay but they do try to help PCT hikers. Best deal is
a cabin split four ways ($30 each). Or camp 4 miles out as we did and eat
breakfast in the cafe. Main reception has the register. They'll tell you about
the bus arrangements. Ignore what the guide book says about needing the right
money, you buy your fare when you each the Hope depot. We stayed in Hope ($45
Canadian for a room) and did laundry, bought clothes at the thrift store, all
easier here than in Vancouver. Buy the Greyhound fare as a through ride from
Manning Park to Vancouver with a stop in Hope (rather than two tickets
Manning-Hope, Hope-Vanc) and it's no more expensive. |
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