Slept so well last night. Noticed my room started getting pretty stuffy and stinky so I opened the window. I caught up on blogs and walked over to the deli to get breakfast. I was pretty hungry since I only ate Pringles for dinner. I got a yummy breakfast sandwich. They are so friendly there and made great sammies to go! It was pretty windy and a lot cooler this morning. Maybe there was hope. Still smokey though. Walked back to the room and slooooowly started packing. It takes me forever and finished by the time it was check out time. I walked downstairs and debated whether or not to get real breakfast since it was four hrs since my first meal and the po wasn't opened yet. I ended up seeing the South African couple there so that was nice. I like them.

Then we all walked down to the po. I was a bit conflicted bc I was waiting for my "loaner" sleep pad from thermarest but it was getting shipped to Stevens but I had to be in skykomish to mail my current pad out. So I took a risk and shipped mine out, hoping it'd get delivered by end of day. I then loitered over by the deli and ordered a wrap to pack out. I had it last time we were here for Jackie's Bach and it was soooo yummy. Cucumbers and all! I sat on the porch watching the others hitch. Some were waiting for almost an hour. The deli has a nice sign we can use which helps I think. Then it was my turn. I ended up hitching for like 60 secs w two others and this guy asked if we wanted a ride who was at the deli. He only could fit two so me and this other guy went. We shared the back seat w this cute dog who didn't want to look at me. The couple was so nice and she has hiked the stevens section before. They live in chelan.

As they dropped us off back at Stevens, I saw ying w a bunch of others who were all freaking out that mazama was being evacuated and worried about the northern terminus closing. They were all hitching ahead and soboing or something. I had anxiety and was so confused. I needed to do the research myself so I sat down in the lodge and googled stuff and asked others up north what the deal was. But yes, it's true that mazama has a level one evacuation and the fire is spreading but there is possible percip coming in that may help. Hopefully w no lightning. I told myself I am not flipping nor skipping just to get to the border. I'm here to walk the trail in one direction and if I don't make it to the end, so let it be. At least I can make it to stehekin. I've come all this way and have not skipped anything that wasn't a fire closure, I'm so close. But I've accepted the fact that I may not make it to the northern terminus.

I loitered and charged in the lodge and waited for my pkg. It finally came in and I immediately was worried when I saw how big the box was. I opened it and it was a huge heavy pad made for someone six foot tall. I was so sad. I called the po to see if he could hold my pkg but they were closing in thirty min and there would be no way I could hitch back that quick. I ended up talking to the sa couple and they helped me accept the fact this thing was huge and heavy and I'd have to carry it all the way to Canada. But I guess it won't deflate on me. I regret all of it but this is life. I ended up hiking out w them. The air was finally not super smokey and could actually see a few things in the distance. It felt so good. I could also see clouds coming in.

My pack was insanely heavy though and I was feeling it. I don't know how I'm gonna be able to do big days w this weight. I've just gotta eat more food since this damn pad weighs like two lbs. We ended up waking almost six miles in to a creek and tent site after the lake Valhalla inlet. A few hikers were there. I blew up my huge pad and it literally barely fits inside my tent. It touches the top and bottom. So far it feels comfy. I've never used a pad that goes further past my knees so that feels kinda luxurious. I don't know what the r value is but hopefully it's warm enough. I miss neoair though. It's so light. I ate my yummy wrap for dinner and chips. It's already getting so dark by seven. It's a bit chilly and we think it may rain tonight. I looked ahead for tom and it's def ups and downs. I want to be able to do 24 tom but not sure if I can bc off pack weight. We shall see.