It must be like Christmas when PCT hikers receive their pre-packed boxes at designated mail drops along the 2,650-mile trail. Such was the excitement when six hikers gathered around a picnic table in the Mazama Store courtyard on Saturday (Aug. 19). Hailing from New York, Oregon, California, Washington and Minnesota, the group, most who met each other on the trek, picked through their goods. Only one problem — fire!
Fires have affected so many in a multitude of places. Of course, Lahaina and now Medical Lake here in Washington, come to mind for the loss of life and home. Fires rage across British Columbia, our neighbor to the north, with an order issued by the province banning non-essential travel to fire-affected communities in their Okanogan country. With 35,000 people displaced, looky-loos are not needed.
Six PCT hikers from five different states sorted through supplies at the Mazama Store courtyard.
Smoke has descended across the state, closing highways — even Interstate 90 — and disrupting plans. With the North Cascades Highway closed, quiet envelops our valley as reservations are canceled and restaurants and stores experience a loss of revenue without the usual summer tourist traffic. Hopefully, residents will step up to the plate and patronize the businesses — shop and eat local. Your neighbors will appreciate the support.
Seeing the sun burning red through the smoke is an indicator that the air quality is not healthy. Purple Air website provides area specific air quality readings. The Mazama Trailhead sensor recorded air pollutants at 365 on Sunday (Aug. 20) — 301 and higher are considered hazardous. Our little air purifier that was given out by a generous corporate donor during the Cedar Creek/Cub Creek fire year frowns red (I call her Cruella), as it struggles to clean the inside air.
Back to the PCT hikers and fire. Their packages came with the intent that there would be one more week of hiking before finishing their arduous endeavor. Because of the Sourdough Fire, portions of the trail were closed, leaving the hikers with only three days left to complete their journey. Why pack a week’s worth of food when you only need three days, they were wondering. “Would you like some snacks?” they offered me.
Mazamans showed up for Methow Fresh’s launch party at their new Rolling Huts location on Friday (Aug. 18). The space will serve them well to continue to offer their current specials as well as pizza and salads.
For the occasion, Jeff Palmberg, who identifies as the Grand Poobah and Doodle Master at JP’s Custom Caricature (aka pastor at Community Covenant Church in Twisp), offered to sketch caricatures of the patrons, a side gig he has been doing for 40 years. It’s a trip to see what you might look like if you were a cartoon character! Thanks, Jeff.
Finally, before the air quality numbers shot up, a horse ride on Founder’s Trail to the Tawlks-Foster Suspension Bridge encountered a few walkers and bicyclists. It was encouraging to see that the Lower Goat Creek Bridge work is in progress by Methow Trails.
