N Cascades Hike Day 2: Bridge Creek - Stehekin Pastry Co. - Stehekin Landing - Cottonwood Camp

We  woke up on the second day of our epic hike with increased optimism... and hunger! Our  breakfast consisted of a few cliff bars, because we could practically smell the cinnamon rolls waiting for us in Stehekin. We only had 5 miles of easy walking ahead of us, then a bus ride from High Bridge. We tucked our unneeded food into the bear box, zipped up our tent, and went on our way.

Day 2! Blisters taped, pack lightened, Cinnamon rolls within reach... let's do this!

The campsite was still mostly dead as we rolled out in the half-light of a mountain valley morning. We watched the sunlight move down the mountain across the river as we walked south along the Old Wagon Road, part of the Pacific Crest Trail.

 After Saturday's slog, the 5-ish mile walk to High Bridge was a breeze. We covered it nearly 45 minutes faster than I had estimated, which gave us time to make coffee (M discovered the wonders of Starbucks Via + Swiss Miss) and take silly pictures above the Stehekin gorge.

 The Big Red Bus was packed on the 12 mile trip to Stehekin Landing, and became even more packed as we picked up hikers at Harlequin Bridge. Our driver paused at the Stehekin Pastry Co, giving us 20 minutes to buy our pastries, use a (flush!) toilet, and sprawl in the grass. What a way to spend a Sunday morning!

Stehekin Pastry Co. photo.
My cinnamon roll dissappeared before we could get a snapshot!

At Stehekin landing, we had an hour or so to burn before the bus turned around. We watched a group of Corvette owners from Canada hobble off the Lady of the Lake and go for lunch at the restaurant. We soaked our feet in the lake, but decided against swimming... it was only 10:30 AM, and the air was still brisk. Lake Chelan is frigid even on the hottest summer days!

After our break in Stehekin, we loaded onto a less-packed bus and rode back up to high bridge. We were back at our campsite shortly after 1, and enjoyed a leisurely lunch while breaking camp. The rest of the day was spent hiking the ~7.5 miles back to Cottonwood camp. The slight uphill grade was much easier on my knees, and we pitched our tent and pumped water just as the sun was setting on the mountains. We also learned that as soon as you moved away from the stream, the bugs descended on you... we munched our dinner in the tent that night!