Day 20: Finishing Snoqualmie Valley Trail: Snoqualmie Falls to Rattlesnake Lake

Highlights:

Today was pivotal for me for a variety of reasons:  1) I broke 300 miles (like a fever), 2) I finished the 30-mile Snoqualmie Valley Trail; 3) It was a “round number day” – 20, and 4) I ended up walking farther (22.6 miles) than I have on any single day to date (and paid the price).

On the real Camino, I would have walked 13.4 miles from Leon to Villar de Mazarife where I would have visited the legendary church of Virgen del Camino, abandoned pavement for urban paths, and explored mud brick churches.

On my faux Camino, I declared this leg of the Snoqualmie Valley Trail my favorite of all my wanderings to date!  I started slightly off the path at the famous Snoqualmie Falls, 270 feet of pounding water descending on rocks below.  Not only were the falls magnificent, but I had forgotten how primal the forest felt on the 1.6-mile trail that I included in my pilgrimage today. 

Despite the inspiration that the falls and trees provided, I found myself deeply tired.  This was the first time that I had gone six days in a row.  My original plan had been to park for the day at the Falls, walk the approximate 1.5 mile via urban roads to the Snoqualmie Valley trail head nearby, and then head out to finish that trail.  I sat on a rock and considered my choices – one of which was to get in my car, head home, and crawl back into bed.  Instead, I gave myself permission to drive to the trail head and see what happened.

What I hadn’t planned on was that the distance from the trail head at the base of an old railway bridge to the end of the trail at Rattlesnake Lake was 8 miles (estimated 2 and ¾ hours of walking) one way.  I set out giving myself the option (again) to turn around and come back another time to finish if I got overwhelmed.

However, before I knew it, all thoughts of quitting were replaced with wide-eyed wonder at the sights that kept unfolding around every corner – mostly summits, summits and more summits of the western edge of the Cascade Mountain Range – Big Si (aka Mount Si), Little Si, Mailbox Peak and more.  The mountain views were framed by forest, farmlands, a spectacular golf course (Mount Si Golf Club), and the Snoqualmie River.  I was slowed by the number of photos I took and with each one kept telling myself: "this picture doesn’t do it justice".

At one point, I couldn’t resist taking a picture of a lone porta potty in front of another spectacular mountain peak. I texted my husband that this picture portrayed everything I could want on my Camino.

At the end of the trail (before I was to turn back), I was treated to one of the most beautiful glacial green lakes I have ever seen – Rattlesnake Lake, again with an impossibly large backdrop of mountains. I will be back to kayak and swim before it gets too cold.

As I turned around to head back, I was suddenly overwhelmed by what another 8 miles would take; I had already gone almost 15.  Fortunately, I had packed a Rock Star Zero in with my camel back – perhaps knowing that today would require special tools.  For all my healthy vegan friends out there – I know – it’s like drinking tasty cool poison.  But frankly, the caffeine shot made it possible for me to make the journey home.  I plugged in my headset, listened to 2 podcasts and a YouTube show, and had the pleasure of running into what I call “Camino Kittie” who rubbed my ankles affectionately, vying for my power bar.

The last .5 mile was the toughest as my feet truly started to give out – yes, today I had earned more blisters.  However, all was forgiven as I unlocked my car.  Before I got in, I was alarmed to notice that my id and credit cards were no longer in my zippered pocket that had held my keys. I walked back in the parking lot to where I had pulled out my keys and (Yay!) there they were, dusty and waiting for me on the ground.  Incredibly grateful, I got back to the car and started the journey home.

The last photo you will see at the bottom of this post is what I think they call “the money shot”.  Even driving, this is the kind of view I was treated to for about 15 minutes on back roads before I got on the highway.  I was compelled to stop the car to take this picture. As I was pulling out, someone else pulled in behind me to do the same.  Oh, what a ¡Buen Camino! this is.

I am taking two days off to literally get my legs back. Next week, I am grateful that some friends will join me for different parts of my walks. I look forward to their perspectives and their company.