31. PCT - Stehekin to Harts Pass

[@garycrockett4477]

My sister, son, and I hiked Harts Pass to Rainy Pass in Aug of 2020. We loved the hike! Then in May-June of this year, some of my siblings, my wife, and I stayed at the Hotel Rio Vista. We were on the 2nd floor - loved the place! Very nice accommodations.

[@TheHikingRev]

Wow Gary you may have stayed in the very room that I did when I was waiting out a horrendous storm. I thoroughly enjoyed hiking in that section of the country.

[@garycrockett4477]

@@TheHikingRev From the angle to the chairs on the grassy beach, I'd have to say you were on the 1st floor. We were up on the 2nd floor - further upstream than your room. Watched a mother deer with twin fawns for entertainment! Take care!

[@Learningthetruth7]

My family is from The Methow for 4 generations. Rain in the Pasayten area in September can become a big storm so fast up there. Good job, Rev.

[@TheHikingRev]

Yep. I’ve never liked rain but oh well. 😁

[@tracyd7432]

Absolute Nail Biter!

[@TheHikingRev]

Hope you enjoy the conclusion.

[@douglasconrad8969]

Still awesome

[@TheHikingRev]

Thanks Doug.

[@YourInOnIt]

Yes!! What a cliffhanger!!

[@TheHikingRev]

Well, you know the end of the story. 😁

[@miyahosaka8361]

Ahhhhh almost there! Go get it!!! :)

[@TheHikingRev]

Only 30.7 miles left.

[@LostAussieOnTheTrail]

Wow 30 miles left. Way to go.

[@TheHikingRev]

Yep...so close, yet so far away!

[@aisforadventure4573]

I'm not sure I am ready for it to be over!

[@TheHikingRev]

Neither was I. 😢

[@terribrearley6667]

Oh what a cliff hanger...thank you for taking us along on your journey you have done a fantastic job! I got my husband hooked on your videos also. Between yours and Roadkill's adventures I think I almost have him convinced to do the PCT after the AT. Even if we do it in 500 mile section hikes. It's nice to see people in our age group documenting their hikes. In a previous video you talked about mountains and seeing them in the distance, then you walk around them, then you see them in the rearview mirror - there's a sermon there.

[@TheHikingRev]

Sounds like a good sermon to me. BTW...Section Hikes are the best way to do the PCT. 5 1/2 months is a long time to be gone from home and loved ones. IMHO.

[@markfletcher8084]

Better to be safe than sorry.

[@TheHikingRev]

Yes. It was pretty scary out there.

[@rrichardson53]

I love the town of Winthrop. Wise idea to wait out the frigid weather there----the rattlesnake was quite the surprise. Sad your journey/ video's have come to an end. Thank you for taking us along on your PCT adventure. You are amazing.

[@TheHikingRev]

Thank you Rebecca. Winthrop was a great town to zero in. Small but it had everything you need. My last video will be coming out soon. Stay tuned...

[@rrichardson53]

@@TheHikingRev Oh good...another video??? That's great. Can't wait.

[@lawrencejohnrobinson4843]

HA! On the PCT I saw 5 rattlers before I got past Mt. Laguna!

[@TheHikingRev]

I know…crazy, huh? I didn’t see one rattlesnake in the desert. 😳🤷🏼‍♂️

[@martinboothroyd6846]

We are enjoying your videos and looking forward to see how your journey ends. My wife and I are close to your age and planning roughly a 500 mile section next year. I am interested in your experience with the Zpack Duplex tent. Do you think there is enough room for 2 with gear (I'm 5'11" and she is 5'5")? Also you commenting on a couple videos about water getting in the tent. Would you use that tent again or look to something else even a double wall? With our age I am hoping to minimize weight and the duplex is an attractive option but I don't want to be pound foolish in my selection.

[@TheHikingRev]

Martin...I love my Zpacks Duplex and would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to cut weight from their setup. It’s a great tent for one person and I think it would work with two. There wouldn’t be a lot of extra room to spread out but each person would have their own vestibule in which to put extra stuff. I only had condensation problems a couple of times and I think even a double walled tent would have had problems as well in the particular situation. When I had water pool in my tent I believe it was my fault. It was raining pretty consistently and I set it up in a depression where water gathered. (I know...dumb, rookie mistake.). But other than that time I really didn’t have any problems when it rained. The zippers failed on me toward the end of my Journey but I’m getting them repaired at Zpacks. (2 year warranty). Next time I will be more careful and really “baby” them. BTW...the last video of my PCT hike will be coming out very soon. Stay tuned...

[@michaelthunfors2438]

Appreciate your wise decision to not push on during the conditions you were facing. Another plus is that it also gives us one more video. Yeah!

[@TheHikingRev]

Yes. The weather was not conducive to hike in at all. I’m glad I waited.

[@tomsalter3570]

I'm already starting to get nostalgic--knowing that there is probably only one more video left. Thanks for sharing. Of course, I know the outcome and your victorious finish! Amen! But a good, brief video it is!

[@TheHikingRev]

Thanks Tom. I can’t wait to put out the last video. It’s going to be awesome!

[@joannemaass5068]

I've been watching your videos and love them! Did you do any training before you set out on your journey?

[@TheHikingRev]

Yes. I would hike about 6 miles with 20 lbs. in my backpack every other day in the Santa Rosa mountains by our house. Then on the other days I would go to the gym and work out with weights. By keeping this regiment I feel that I was well prepared when I started my Thru hike. I met other hikers who did not train before they started and they had a rough time. I also would do 3 to 5 day overnight trips to get used to my gear in a camp situation. I will be doing a video in my “Things I’ve Learned” series on KZbin concerning “Preparing for a Thru hike.” Stay tuned...

[@randysmith6493]

your pure white beard is looking worthy 👍. congratulations on you journey.

[@TheHikingRev]

Thanks Randy. Many people thought I was Santa Claus. When I was in a Trail Town I had one kid look at me and turn to her mother and say, “Mom, there’s Santa. But he’s so skinny.” 😂

[@randysmith6493]

@@TheHikingRev I was hoping years ago to be heading out on PCT 2020, ran into employment layoff which has left me far short financially. not sure I will get out there now, currently 66 at age. I did not see your post in spring so I’ll follow your trip now that your almost done. please accept my prayers for a safe and enjoyable journey retroactively. 🙏😄

[@TheHikingRev]

@@randysmith6493 I felt an urgency to finish the PCT this year because of my age. I don’t know how many years I have left so while can, I will.

[@Learningthetruth7]

Eastern Washington is loaded with rattlesnakes. Don't ride my horse in the desert on the East Side of the state after April because of the snakes.

[@TheHikingRev]

Wow…I didn’t know that! 😁

[@mikematenkosky]

So close, yet so far...lol! Question, do you do all of the video editing or do (did) you have somebody "at home" do all of your videos?

[@TheHikingRev]

Mike...that’s exactly what I was thinking at Harts Pass only 30.6 miles from the border, “So close, yet so far away.” I recorded 99% of all the videos personally. I used my iPhone X camera to record them. When I got to a motel in a Trail Town (with good internet/WiFi) I would edit them in iMovie and then upload them to KZbin. I would usually take a “zero” to edit and upload.