The last hike - Mt. Pilchuck

 If you remember I was writing hike reviews for North End Metro. My last submission was a hike up Mt. Pilchuck. Not sure if they published it. I got busy with inspections and they quit asking for more reviews. I think as they grew to be a trendy magazine the trail review didn't fit in.

Mt. Pilchuck honestly did me in. The hike to the fire lookout is a mere three miles. Less than 3 miles actually. The elevation gain is 2,200 feet. Aaron and Tonea turned around mid-way. Cecilia and I kept going up the trail that never seemed to end. When the fire lookout finally came into view, we came upon the last obstacle - an almost vertical climb over large strewn granite boulders. I helped a Muslim girl over a treacherous area. Cecilia hung back. Finally I reached the bottom of the lookout. To get to the platform is a wooden ladder. The only reason I went up the thing is because I saw others do it first. Also, writing the story was foremost on my mind. Cecilia refused to climb the ladder, then she did it. When we got to the top there was a complete white out from the fog. Everyone up there was in a jolly mood, including youngsters. It took everything for me not to ask, "do you think that was a tough climb?"