For literally miles the trail is bordered my wild huckleberry bushes. Many a hiker has stopped to pick some and munch them down.

[Ed. This deals with cleanliness and sanitation so you might want to skip it if stuff like that offends or upsets you.]

It’s hard to keep clean on the trail.

My hands and feet are always dirty. I think sometimes that I’ll never get them clean even after the trail. That is, the dirt is baked in. I’m a bit remiss on washing my hands and need to do it more often. I have probably washed my face and hair about once a month. I’ve gotten used to being dirty, and smelly. At times I’ve bought a shower at a resupply town. Other times I’ve washed in a lake, or stream. I’ve even walked through a dew laden forest and gotten so soaked it almost amounted to a shower.

There are a few things that I do each day faithfully. I take my medicine each night. I floss and brush my teeth each night too. Somehow having a clean mouth makes me feel good especially after all the food I’ve consumed throughout the day. However I only floss and brush once a day at night time.

I’m a regular guy and poop at least once a day in the morning. I’ve not found it hard to poop in the forest. This surprised me. I typically dig my cat hole the night before. I also set out my trowel, toilet paper and wet ones by my head. Then in the morning I can barely get out of my sleeping bag and get my shoes on before I have to go. I use a log or stump for back/butt support. I sparingly use toilet paper. When done I cover everything up with soil I had dug up. It seems to work for me.

After being on trail these past months I’ve become accustom to doing these things.

I asked a passerby to take my picture. The forest had been misty and the trees were dripping dew so I got on my rain gear. Now looking at the pictures I look so silly with my crooked umbrella, and dirty baggy pants. Oh well most of the other hikers are just as bedraggled with this fog and rain as I am.

It seems as though I only take scenic pictures of mountains so here is a lake instead. It is Dewey Lake near mile 2349.

I thought I had already seen all the obstacles such as blowdowns, river crossings and snowfields, but add this new one – washouts. It’s where the entire trail is washed away and all you have is a gully that you have to cross. One I encountered was over six feet across and just as deep. I had to climb up several yards until it was narrower and less deep. Then very carefully descend back to the trail. All of which was on the steep side of a mountain.

I don’t know which picture I prefer. What do you think?

Hiked around a corner and I’m stopped dead in my tracks by the majesty and closeness of Mt. Rainier. I think I actually said out loud, “Wow”.

With all the wonderful views I almost forgot to note that I passed the 2300 mile mark.