Half an overnighter

Only half? What happened, come back at midnight? Great photos Doug :-)

Looks like a great day outside, Doug. Do you live on the West Coast now?

Enjoyed the pics. Why only half?

Thanks guys. Why only half? I got pretty terribly out of shape, and have been working on getting back in shape. So I figured a 16-mile loop, with a multi-mile steep climb to a ridge, combined with a late start, would make for a good overnighter. 10 miles day one, 6 miles back in on day two. Unfortunately, I hit the 10-mile mark around 3, and I'm the type that likes to hike all day, so I kept going. Got back to the car just about the time I would have been setting up my shelter. Need to find a longer loop. :-)

And your trailhead was….?

very nice. Getting out like that is my lifeblood.

"And your trailhead was….?" Little Wenatchee Ford Trailhead at the end of FR65. From the trailhead, Little Wenatchee River Trail to PCT to Cady Ridge Trail to Cady Creek Trail to trailhead. Green Trails map #144. Edit to add: According to the Earthmate site, which I just used to measure the hike, it was only 13.3 miles. Explains a lot!

This is such beautiful country…lucky you! Hard to tell what the fall colors were like; maybe over already. My relatives are all from Chelan and I used to hike around Stehekin etc, a lot. Glacier Peak wilderness is fantastic. Was that Glacier Peak in the distance? Great area for dayhikes and overnighters and more for sure! so no fire damage either? Earlier in the season a big fire almost swept into Wenatchee. I feared for the forest around Leavenworth.

But hey, at least your photos are right-side-up!

"Hard to tell what the fall colors were like; maybe over already. My relatives are all from Chelan and I used to hike around Stehekin etc, a lot. Glacier Peak wilderness is fantastic. Was that Glacier Peak in the distance? … so no fire damage either? Earlier in the season a big fire almost swept into Wenatchee. I feared for the forest around Leavenworth." Most of the colors were gone or pretty muted, but there was still some color to the leaves, mostly yellows, and a few spots of nice red in some bushes. That was Glacier Peak in the distance – the phone makes it look further away than it really was. It was a great view of it. The only fire damage i saw was that one tree in the last pic, and I assume that was a lightning strike. I'll definitely be returning to this area, it is quite beautiful. Long drive to the trailhead though!

"I'll definitely be returning…." I can see why. Very nice photos, Doug. It's a beautiful area alright, much different from the West Side. Yes, a long drive to TH. If you want to spend more time on the trail in that area and less time driving, consider hiking the PCT north from Stevens Pass.

east side is nice because it doesn't rain so much as the frickin west side nice to have a bunch of places in your itenerary especially if you go at least 10 or 20 miles from the crest. And if you can go down in altitude a ways. Like the Deschutes River. I'm not so familiar with Washington east side. Weneha would be good. except I'm a bit leery, it might make you think like Michael L

"except I'm a bit leery, it might make you think like Michael L" The Idester???? ROTFLMAO.

Micael L lives east of the cascades somewhere

and Ian – I have this feeling he's a secret conservative but not as bad as Michael

Nice post Doug. I've done half an overnighter just like this before. Go do the goat rocks when you get the chance. You have numerous chances to do great hikes on the PCT in WA. Jerry, I moved to Colorado in August! I'm now eating granola and yogurt. ;)

"I am, obviously, not a landscape photographer!" They look as nice as most :)