Day 60 7/14 17mi.

We woke up earlier than usual to make sure we had time to hitch down to a resort for a short resupply,  the road was 16.5 miles away from our campsite. 

The trail climbed up high above tree line, and we stayed up high for about a 10 mile stretch,  walking along a ridge top. That hike was one of the coolest we've done so far in my opinion.

When we got down to the road we found 4 other thru-hikers we hadn't really met yet sitting around drinking beer. Apparently someone had left a box of beer for one of the hikers in the group. So we introduced ourselves and while we were chatting with them some nice folks came up and started asking about our trip. Chatterbox and I were the only two hikers headed the direction they were, so they let us catch a ride in their van down to a resort where we could resupply for the next couple of days. A couple of the folks who gave us a ride down had done some long backpacking trips over seas, it was nice to chat with them on the ride down.

At the resort we went straight for the restaurant to grab some lunch, then showered up and resupplied before heading back to the restaurant for dinner.

I made sure to make my phone call for Ernie and Tim from a couple days ago, but the woman whose number they gave me didn't answer so I had to leave a message, so hopefully they meet up ok.

After dinner there weren't many people headed back up the mountain. So after talking to the campground host he graciously gave the two of us a ride 10 miles back up to the trail head since the campground was full. After another half mile of hiking we found a flat spot to call home for the night.

The people that gave us a ride down to the resort also gave us their sons phone number who lives in Seattle, so that we might call him when we get up that way. How awesome is that! What great people.

In one of the photos you may be able to see hikers on the switchbacks above us.