Day 162 - 9th Sept - Crocker Cirque Campsite to Stratton - 7.3 miles

An early start to get to town as soon as we can. We always go like the wind, when civilisation is around the corner - more food to eat, a hot shower and a soft bed - nothing like these things to make the legs go faster. We practically run down the mountain to the road.

During the last half hour of the hike, the rain sets in, and we start to get quite saturated. By the time we reach the highway we are bedraggled and sopping. We stand like ducklings in the pouring rain trying to hitch a ride for half an hour. No car stops - can you blame them. On the Loose arrives and agrees to 'hide in the bushes' until we get a hitch out.

Then one of those magical moments of our whole hike occurs. A little old lady in her 70s in a huge pick up truck stops for us: "I don't normally pick up hikers but I felt sorry for you in the rain." She agrees to take On the Loose as well. While we are loading our packs, Sourdough emerges onto the road, sees us with the truck and sprints the 300 metres down the road in the pouring rain towards us. Our good samaritan agrees to take Sourdough as well. It is 15 miles into Stratton, and she drops us at the Stratton Motel, owned by Sue, who has a big poodle.

The motel has three carved bear hikers - life size out the front of the motel. We have lunch and dinner at the pub over the road.

Wizard, On the Loose, Tripper and Sourdough