an update from me

[Aaron Doss]

Yeah ... i got my self to write an update too! i more or less hate writing but i thought it would be time for me to let you guys know what's going on here.

 

the pct story continues in different ways than we might have expected a few weeks ago. Aaron and i barely had 3 days after our return from Europe to somewhat get our lives in civilization back on track. on Saturday we found out that we were going to have a house full of pct hikers for the next couple of days. while we barely gotten ourselves car insurance, subscribed for phone and ADSL and gotten our selves cellphones (YUK) and organised our house, i found my self preparing guest bedrooms. Zack had let us know that he was going to flip-flop. he was going to start hike south from the Canadian border to get through the cascades before the snow set in. he met a girl, Rebecca, from Montana and she was willing to give him a ride to the tri-cities. from there on we would bring Zack to Canada. in Ashland he also met Cumcumberboy and Three Gallon (from now on referred to as Q and TG) and we told him to bring them along too. in the meantime Squatch was in Skykomish interviewing hikers and he wanted to drop by and visit us. he was just thrilled to find out that we had a house full of hikers too.

It was so great to see them all. on Monday afternoon the busload from Ashland arrived. it was a typical pct image again: to bearded guys looking like bums got out of a small Toyota sedan type of car. of course there were the girls too that just looked like hikertrash too. Rebecca's's bike on the rear of the car, on top of the back of the car were two backpacks strapped in some dingy looking tarp. the car was filled with backpacks and food and all this was loaded down to the max. Rebecca just fitted right in with all the other trail angels. she wanted to help the hikers out so she just made it work and squeezed them all in there. it was pretty funny.

we were glad to host Rebecca too for the night and add someone new to our pct friends. we got to find this girl a trail name. pretty soon the house was buzzing with hiker stories, looking over pictures and tons of hiker gear spread out over the house. it was like old times; super relax with lots of humor and friendship. i cooked homemade lasagna since Zack had been craving this ever since he heard me talk about it and this was like ... what? three months ago?

on Tuesday rebecca left late in the morning and we were expecting Squatch somewhere that afternoon. the day was filled with cooking, making liabrary runs (to use the Internet and phones since we still didn't have the connection) and lounging around like pcters do in town. We found out that north of Stehekin all the way up to the border the trail is closed due to severe forest fires. so again, zack,Q and TG had to change plans. Aaron and Zack threw them selves over the guide books and maps and like old times they were working together to find the best route. they went to the library and called the Forrest service and made a new plan. it was so cool to see them working together again, just like on the trail. i have a big weakness for zack, he is almost like a brother, although i never had one. i felt almost guilty again for not hiking with him anymore. we had great times together. i know he is fine by him self but it's also kind of lonely by your self on the trail.

i truly hope that hiking with Q and TG will work out good for him. any ways, around 5 pm Squatch came over and it was a big happy reunion. we went to kennewick to go to REI, and an optometrist and then went to eat at Chico's Tacos. We raved about Chico's for ever on the trail and now we could share it with our friends! and of course they agreed: Chico's rocks!

The rest of the night was filled like it was the night before: laughing, relaxing and reminiscing.

they were all going to leave the next day but for tradition sake they got all sucked into the vortex. TG and Q still had to resupply big time and besides... it was just great hanging around. Aaron and i truly enjoyed the company and didn't urge them to leave either, hehehehe. i cooked indonesian and a dutch applepie (a REAL dutch applepie, not the soggie american one) while resupply foods and boxes were dumped in our living room...the in-town-obligatory-ritual... and sorted. while tents were washed, hiking poles being scrubbed and gear being sowed together i was already dreading the moment that they had to leave.

So the next day it was Thursday, and my birthday. they thought it would be a good excuse to stay another day ... yeah yeah yeah! so they borrowed our car and went to the post office and library again, while Aaron at home took care of some of their gear and later Aaron and i went shopping together. Soon we need to apply for jobs and although we like the trail fashion, i don't think prospective employers will be exactly charmed by our permanently stained shirts. so we got Aaron a new jacket and dress shirt. i have to say though ... i don't think Aaron is anywhere near ready for looking for jobs, yet. it seems he is going to hike south from Snoqualmie with Zack. Not me, although my heart aches for the trail. i am studying for my exams and become a licensed RN in the states. anyway, it was a good excuse to shop and check the fashion, which, thank heaven, is a not a bizzar as in Europe. I was afraid i had to conform to the fashion i saw in Holland: a very sloppy, raggy looking image of what's supposed to be fashion. really, many pct hiker does not look that way. Any way; all is fine in the good old US (fashion wise, that is. hehehehe).

On Friday we finally left ... at 3pm. after a good breakfast and dealing with the police. around 10 am Aaron discovered that the rear window of our red car was smashed and shattered by a rock. Long story short: because of the impact and the damage done it is highly unlikely that this was done accidental. we suspect that kids at night did it, although we also need to look into one other possibility.the police isn't going to do much so Aaron took the glass out and together with Zack and TG they taped it. these things only happen when you are out of a job.

So we brought them to snoqualmie, from where they are hiking north to the border. hopefully by then the trail will be open again. then they will return to Snoqalmie and from there Aaron will hike down south with them for a couple of weeks.

 

So that's the pct update for now. both Aaron and i are going through a little heartache right now for the pct. it is so easy to forget all the painful and hard stuff and just totally wondering why on earth we stopped hiking this wonderful adventure. but when i get out of bed in the morning and stumble with painful feet for the first 15 minutes, i do remember that i might have put permanent damage to my feet if i wouldn't have stopped in time. Aaron's feet feel more or less normal, mine are a lot better so we expect to be fine before we start working again. from this week on we will have to get back to life again and it is a bit scary. i know i will have to make my self a daily routine. i will go work out in the morning and then go to the university library to study for a couple of hours. i have made my self a study schedule and i expect to do fine. i promised my friend Kathy to help her organize some stuff in her house, and there are a few chores around the house that i want to do. i also want to get involved with trail maintenance. so i am making sure that I'll keep a routine. for Aaron it's a bit different. he is still searching a bit about what he wants to do, now and in the future. one thing is for sure: new, unknown adventures are ahead of us and we will do them together. The pct hasn't changed anything about our love for each other and it still grows with everyday.

 

We will keep you updated.

 

Nathalie and Aaron