It has been called an
"extraordinary" Pacific storm. Because of it, Seattle shattered
rainfall records with historic rainfall last Saturday and Sunday. As this
mega-Pacific front stalled over the Cascades, a fierce winter storm engulfed
the mountains with hurricane force winds, sleet, and snow.
Our three Pacific Crest Trail
hikers were caught in the middle of whiteout conditions near Mt. Rainier.
Winds blew so strongly while hiking a precarious ridge trail, our niece
Kate was knocked off her feet. Soon, the trail became life-threatening as
the snow continued to drift. It became impossible to follow. Kate
was showing signs of hypothermia, not able to feel her hands and feet. The
storm forced our three hikers to backtrack down the mountain.
Further down the trail, they stumbled on two other PCT hikers. The
five began hiking back to the last road they had crossed.
We learned all of this Sunday.
David's sister called in the early afternoon to tell us that she had
received four successive distress signals from Kate's SpotTracker. As Roberta
and George began to contact Washington State Police, the Pacific Crest Trail
overseers, and forest officials, we prayed for safety for the group. We
felt particularly helpless… in David’s and my attempt to outrun the rain, we
were now just outside Kalispell, Montana... not close enough to offer immediate
help.
God took complete control,
however, and answered our prayers. Within two hours, Roberta called to say that
hunters found the hikers, led them to their camp, fed them hot dogs and hot
chocolate, and took the hikers to a hotel in Packwood, Washington. Kate called from there to say that she was
safe.
Stories from this rare
September storm are just emerging from the trail. Most of the hikers
were ill prepared for such a vicious storm so early in the year. One of
Kate's fellow hikers lost his footing and fell 40 foot before managing to
stop. The depth of snow and harrowing experience has caused one young man
to leave just 160 miles short of the Canadian border.
While most PCT hikers determined
that they must abandon their quest to complete the trail, some purchased heavy
winter gear and continued. One young
lady who left the day after Kate and friends were rescued has still not been
found. Five hikers south of Kate’s
location were in hip-deep snow and had to be rescued by chopper… as did their
rescuers who had set out after them on foot.
The Pacific Crest Trail Association has warned hikers not to continue
unless they are equipped with heavy winter gear, including snowshoes. A snow slide has taken out Highway 12 near Packwood.
Our Kate determined to
continue with her goal so close in sight.
She found a group wanting also to complete the trail. They hiked onward while she equipped herself
with extra winter gear. After one day,
however, the group determined that they could not make it. They were hiking in and sleeping on hip-deep
snow and were barely making ten miles per day.
With over 400 miles to the Canadian border, their odds of making their
goal were diminishing with every step.
Kate has hiked over 2,200
miles of the 2,650 Pacific Crest Trail. She was hiking for a purpose.
Leaving the trail must be one of the biggest challenges of her young
life. She has come so far and endured so much over the past five months.
Now, because of this freak winter storm and more snow forecasted, she has
had to abandon her quest.
David and I have been in
similar situations while backpacking and know too well the dangers that they
have faced. We, too, have turned back down a mountain. I can’t, however, imagine how it must be to
turn from such a tremendous goal of hiking the entire Pacific Crest Trail,
particularly when Kate was so very close to the end. What emotions and disappointment must be
swirling around her and her friends?
Of course, we feel that they
have chosen wisely... the Pacific Crest will be there another day. Their
lives are much more important than a quest.
We commend you, Kate, for your courage, determination, and your
cause. This time an early winter
won. Others have gone before you. It
took Perry three times to reach the north pole. Adventure into the unknown is
always a risk… having the courage to face it, endure it, and know when to draw
the line are the hallmarks of a true explorer.
We want you to know, Kate,
that we love you dearly and will be anxiously awaiting your completion of the
trail during your next adventure. May
God bless you, your fellow PCT hikers, and, of course, the hunters who found
you.
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