By Joan “Bump” Napolitano
This summer, I volunteered on “my” section of trail between Granite Pass and Methow Pass (within 60 miles of the Canadian border). We had temperatures in the 80s and snowflakes. Just another week in August on the PCT! “Yurtman” and I adopted this section by volunteering with the PCTA’s North 350 Blades. As adopters, we’re the “eyes and ears” of the trail. We hike it when the snow melts and we work with the PCTA and U.S. Forest Service to identify the areas that need maintenance. Together we keep the trail open.
Early in the year, we determined that a stretch of trail in our section needed some attention. It was narrow, poorly defined and it had completely washed out a couple years earlier. So the PCTA, Forest Service and a group of volunteers got ready to re-bench and re-build the trail.
Bump and her volunteers spent a week rebuilding a washed out section of trail in Washington. Photo by Loren Schmidt
Base camp was set up below Snowy Lakes, nine miles from the nearest road (Highway 20 at Rainy Pass). Since the section of trail that needed the most work was before camp, we couldn’t use horses to bring in the food or supplies. The trail was too narrow and dangerous for large stock.
The Forest Service folks were a big help. They hiked into camp ahead of time and left us tools. But for the rest of our gear, it was llamas to the rescue! We loaded six gals with names like Dot, Sadie, and Sugar with food and tools. Each of them could carry about 60 pounds, but it was still a big job. We needed food for a dozen people, plus other supplies and food for the llamas. Something had to be left behind and that something was the hot sauce. The lack of hot sauce became quite the joke within our crew. Everything would have been sooo much better if only someone (me) had brought the hot sauce.
Llamas like “Sugar” hauled equipment nine miles into the backcountry so volunteers could spend a week rebuilding the trail. Photo by Loren Schmidt.
Our volunteer crew came from Tacoma, Blaine, Seattle, and Concrete, Washington, and Germany. Some had volunteered before, others hadn’t. One was a thru-hiker with extra time who stopped to help for a day. Our volunteer cook prepped meals and appetizers and kept an eye on camp all day…and missed that hot sauce at each meal! The days fell into a nice rhythm: up for an early breakfast of pancakes, French toast or oatmeal, out to the trail to work in the heat for a few hours, back to camp for sandwiches and fruit, then back to the trail for a few more hours. In the late afternoon, we returned for cheese and crackers and a welcomed stream bath, then gathered around camp for dinner. Our meals were delicious and plentiful, although they would have been greatly improved, says our cook, with that left-behind hot sauce!
The first trail work was to cut across the scree slope and create a wider, more stable path. We moved rocks to build a wall that would support the trail, and then we dug into the slope to make a flat bed for the trail. We utilized techniques we learned at Trail Skills College and seasoned volunteers mentored those with less experience. Together, we created a wide, flat trail suitable for stock and more comfortable for hikers.
Another job was rebuilding the trail where it had been washed away by snow- and rain-created gullies. We harvested boulders from above the gullies, stabilized the downslope and flattened the tread to provide a safe way across the cut. We moved huge rocks with rock bars, gravity and careful planning. It was incredibly satisfying work to see how a solid trail can materialize with hard work, a few tools, lots of determination and fun!
Volunteers spent a week widening and stabilizing a section of trail that was too dangerous for horses to travel. Photo by Loren Schmidt
After five days of heat, we met a weekend hiker from Seattle and asked him for a weather report. To everyone’s surprise, we learned snow was predicted! What? We had clear blue skies and 80-degree days. Well, the forecasters were right. On our second to last day, we walked up to Methow Pass under cloudy skies and falling snowflakes. Who would have thought? Fortunately, it didn’t last long, and we worked the day widening the trail down from Methow Pass.
The afternoon before our last day, the six llamas walked back into camp to carry out the gear. We were very proud of the work we accomplished during the week, inspired by the hikers that we met, and happy to be hiking out for warm showers and fresh food! Our week working on the PCT was fun and fulfilling. But sure, it might have been that much better if we’d brought the hot sauce.
Volunteer in 2017 and don’t forget the hot sauce! To get started, fill out your volunteer application or contact [email protected].