A single day on the Wonderland Trail turned into a real test

Last August, my buddy Mark and I hit the Spray Park section heading to Mowich Lake. We planned a 12-mile day, but a washed-out bridge near Cataract Creek added 4 extra miles of rough detour in pouring rain. That detour felt endless, but the next morning we woke up to clear skies and a perfect view of Rainier from Ipsut Creek. Has anyone else had a day on a long trail that went from awful to amazing so fast?

2 comments

2 Comments

victor_adams955d ago

Yeah, that "part of the story" thing is key. The worst days make the good ones feel earned, not just given.

stella3075d ago

Honestly, used to believe a bad day on trail just ruined the whole trip. A brutal stretch like that would have colored my whole memory. But something similar happened to me on the PCT last year, a totally miserable 15 mile water carry in crazy heat. Woke up the next day feeling strong and the landscape was just stunning. It completely flipped my view. Now I see those awful pushes as just part of the story, and the payoff feels even sweeter.