cathieandrandy

“We Knew You Would Show Up”

September 27th, 2007 by Cathie

Our last hiking day started this morning under a full moon, hanging just over the mountains, close at hand on our left.

We climbed to a high ridge. At daybreak, we switched-backed down into a valley then right up again to 7100 feet. We were on another ridge walk as the sun peaked over the mountains to our right. After we cleared the nearest peaks to the west, the rugged snow draped Cascades of Washington and Canada came into view.

The early morning sunlight made the panorama stunningly beautiful. I had to stop and stare at frequent intervals. What a view on our last morning! By 9 am we started down, leaving the crest, headed to a creek valley and the border. By 10, I realized Nutz and I stood a chance of catching the Portland Trio.

At 10:45, Nutz, Glacier and I left a note on the trail for Ghost and Samwise - telling them we were going to push on ahead and would wait for them at the PCT terminus and the border monument. At 11:20 we caught the Trio. Though we told them earlier we would finish on Friday, Jeannie turned and simply said:

“Oh there you are. We knew you would show up.”

Soon we saw the 30 foot wide tree-shorn swath, cut through the forested mountain slope, which is the US-Canadian border. As we continued our descent we caught a glimpse of the two monuments from a switch back. We were almost there.

Jeannie’s parents hiked in the 8 miles from Manning Park and they called up to her. The Trio were also expecting Joe’s mom, sister, and Joe’s girlfriend Han-Mei, hopefully by noon. They weren’t there yet.

So there it was. We made it! On September 27, at high noon, Nutz and I completed our trek from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail - 2655 miles. Five months plus one week and it is done! (Well, except for 8 more miles to civilization).

Then came the big moment for Joe, when his mom and sister arrived with Han-Mei. His sister slipped him the ring, and he got down on one knee and proposed. We are happy to report that the surprised Han-Mei said yes.

Glacier arrived, later followed by Ghost and Samwise. For all of us it was a joyous moment, that we were successful and safe, but at the same time, sobering that this wondrous time is over.

We are incredibly blessed to have been able to complete this journey.

We are filled with gratitude for the family and friends at home, our trail friends, trail angels, trail-builders and maintainers who have supported us.

We are grateful that Mother Nature and Father Time have been so very kind. Nutz and I agree that our long planned PCT thru-hike lived up to our expectations. We have not been disappointed.

In the words of our granddaughter, Maia: “All done, all done!”

We are coming home.

12 Responses to ““We Knew You Would Show Up””

on 29 Sep 2007 at 6:57 pm1 Dennis Fenton

Congratulations!

We have never met, I learned about your trek on the PATC website. Sitting here in Winchester, VA, wishing I was in your shoes. Fantastic!
on 01 Oct 2007 at 10:00 am2 Dale Perzanowski

Fruitcake - Congratulations to you and Nutz! We met on top of Mad River last year and I’m the guy who loaned you my car. I just came upon your journal and can’t wait to read the whole thing! I’m planning my AT thru-hike for 2010, the year both of my girls are out of college. Don’t be surprised if you hear from me asking for advice.
on 01 Oct 2007 at 12:30 pm3 Carolyn and Rich

And of course you’d be early! Congratulations and see you soon, I hope!
on 01 Oct 2007 at 3:27 pm4 Tom Scardina

Congratulations, Nutcake and Fruity! It’s been fun tracking you two on here. Maybe I’ll see you soon on top of Old Rag, or something. Get some rest.
on 03 Oct 2007 at 9:30 am5 Alton Willoughby

Congratulations! Thanks for access to your great journal.
on 04 Oct 2007 at 3:16 pm6 OPa

Congratulations on a great trip! After meeting you on the Tuscarora Trail this Spring I decided to follow your exploits on the website. Sounds like a great time and I plan to follow in your footsteps next year. A hiking buddy wrote this summer inviting me to join him and everything has fallen into place for my very own PCT adventure. I’m very excited. Take care.
on 06 Oct 2007 at 7:19 am7 Hal

Congratulations. I’m still pretty much in awe… Hope to talk with you soon.
on 08 Oct 2007 at 10:27 am8 Wing It

You made it! Congratulations! (And just in time to avoid the snow, too.)
on 09 Oct 2007 at 7:56 pm9 Kate Merrill

Hey guys! So glad to see you finished well. Thanks again for all your help with my dilemma. I was grateful you saved my butt from who knows what dismal fate. You’re the best!
on 15 Oct 2007 at 7:30 am10 Jeff Murphy

Congratulations, Randy and Cathie. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed living vicariously through your interesting words. Thank you so much for sharing them. Perhaps I will see you with Tom doing some trail maintenance in the spring.
on 16 Oct 2007 at 8:27 pm11 Laura Clayton

Congratulations Fruitcake and Nutz! You are amazing. A little crazy, driven and obsessed, but truly amazing. I wish I could live through even a little of what you have experienced, but I could only keep up with you if I got to bring the horse.
on 21 Oct 2007 at 4:23 am12 John Hedrick

Congratuations to you both. A great accomplishment! Now you can get back to doing PATC trail work on Old Rag. Let me know if you need anything trail wise.

Our 2007 Thru Hike on the Pacific Crest Trail

“We Knew You Would Show Up”

12 Responses to ““We Knew You Would Show Up””

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