Day 62, North Fork Campsite to Tentsite at Mile 2557.6

I left camp just before 6:30 a.m. As soon as I returned to the PCT, I crossed the bridge where I collected water yesterday evening and met the couple trying to get to Stehekin.

This was the last of the bridges that crossed Bridge Creek, though the trail followed the path of the creek for the next 2.6 miles.

For a time, the trail stayed high above the creek on a ledge. I couldn’t tell for sure, but it seemed to be cut for a logging road, as it was wider than the trail needed to be.

As was the case yesterday, there were times when the trail was badly overgrown.

I was glad that poison ivy is not common here.

When I got close to where the trail joined and followed Stehekin Valley Road for a short distance, I saw a mule deer. It just stood and watched as I walked by.

Mule deer are similar to white-tailed deer, except for a couple distinguishing features. The most obvious of these is large, mule-like ears. The other is a smaller, black tail instead of a white tail.

The trail was flat through this section and wasn’t as overgrown as before. A broad view opened to show distant mountains, which still had snow on them.

Another view opened as I passed Howard Lake. The sky was cloudy and remained that way all day.

Not far beyond the lake, I saw a large, cinnamon-colored animal cross the trail and go into the thick woods. My first thought was it was a bear. To be honest, though, I only caught a glimpse of its backside as it crossed about 50 yards in front of me. I only had the impression it was a bear because of the shape of its back and because its fur appeared to be shaggier than a deer.

If it were a bear, I know it wasn’t a grizzly or brown bear. They once roamed the North Cascades, but none have been sighted in this area in many years. Black bears are sometimes cinnamon in color, however, and are known to be in this area.

I decided what I saw was probably just another mule deer, but I still wanted it to be a bear. I couldn’t shake my first impression that the animal’s backside looked more rounded than a deer’s back would be.

I wished I had gotten a better view of it or had been able to snap a photo.

As I got closer to High Bridge Ranger Station, the trail made a series of descending switchbacks. I was met by two groups of horse riders, so I stepped off the trail to get out of their way.

The second group seemed to be made of people who had never been on a horse before. Their guide had to coach them as the horses went down the switchbacks.

I needed to slow my pace as I followed them to High Bridge.

A short distance farther, the trail crossed Agnes Creek, which fed into the river and was also flowing well with glacial water. The trail followed the creek up the ridge of a mountain, but would not cross it again until 4.4 miles farther.

From the bridge, the trail began a slow and steady climb and entered Glacier Peak Wilderness Area. The wilderness area covers 566,057 acres and the PCT will remain in its boundaries for the next 60 miles.

The last time a grizzly was seen in the North Cascades, it was located in this wilderness area.

I stopped for lunch and filtered water where a log bridge crossed Swamp Creek, which fed into Agnes Creek.

While I was here, I talked to a hiker from Colorado named Josh. He hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2008.

Right after Josh left, I thought another hiker was passing by until I realized it was a mule deer. It didn’t appreciate me being so close to the water and circled the area for several minutes before finding a spot to get a drink.

In the middle of the burn area was a wide stream called Glacier Creek. According to the Guthooks trail guide, a bridge used to cross the creek here, but not long ago it was washed away.

There was no way to rock-hop across the creek, so I had no choice but to wade across. The water came up above my knee and was very cold.

On the other side of the creek, the trail continued to climb through the burn area but now more steeply and with more blowdowns.