Day 1-6 (June 18 – June 23)

Miles hiked: 82.2

Total mileage: 82.2

After the stressful day of snow and weird messages, I camp out at Trout Lake Creek campsite. Only 5 more miles to the road from where I can hitch to Trout Lake. I decide to sleep until I wake up, which is around 9.30am. Good morning! I have breakfast with a Snicker bar and I’m setting out to do the last 5 miles. Lots of mosquitos are bugging me.

I’m walking slow but who cares?

I hope I can get a ride into town but these roads are quiet, if you’re lucky you see one car every hour. Then I see a hiker, walking in my direction. It’s strange because this man doesn’t carry a backpack. He is wearing a hat and I can’t see his face. It takes a while before I recognize him. It’s Shadowfax, the Englishman I met one day before I start the 82 mile stretch. He was the guy that was one day ahead of me and turned around, because of the snow. I give him a big hug. “What are you doing here?” I ask him. “Looking and waiting for you”, he said. So cool!

Every  night I was sending out an “I’m OK” message with my SPOT device and it turned out that Shadowfax could receive the messages through Facebook.

Aaaah, don’t you just love technology when it works!

When we get down the road, I see a car, which he borrowed from his friend, and he brought cold drinks and salty snacks for me! This is such an awesome moment and I feel grateful! In Trout Lake, over a burger and another cold soda, I learn that the hiking who was behind me, also gave up. And turned around.

One local congratulates me with breaking the trail. “You’re tougher than most guys!”

Over dinner in Portland, Shadowfax tells me: ” I have a new trail name for you. After all you went through up there, in the snow, by yourself, I think your trail name should be Arctic Fox.”

My eyes light up and I smile.