*content warning: I will be quoting words that were yelled at me, including the expletives*

“Fuck is that- it is! Oh fuck no! McGuyver, you little bitch! Spreading fucking lies dragging my name through the mud. I never did shit to you!”

All this was yelled at me by someone who I’m already completely terrified of, as he walked menacingly towards me. I had been on my way to my car, which was in between the two of us, but now he was too close, I couldn’t escape that way.

Fight or flight took over. I turned and sprinted back to the brewery across the street where my friends were hanging out. Once I got there I had the energy only to pant out that Rebel was here, and yes, he had seen me alright. I didn’t know if he was following, but I had a hunch he was. Luckily he had an armload of packages so he couldn’t run after me quite so quickly.

My friend Cricket agreed to walk with me back to my car, even as I took what seemed to be a completely irrational roundabout way to avoid the douchebro. Despite my obvious terror upon seeing this man, he insisted on detouring from his route to come shout at me. Would he have done more? I can’t say for certain, so I’m profoundly grateful to Cricket for standing on the other side of a tin shed and slowing him down just a little bit with her pleas for him to just leave me the heck alone.

He didn’t listen to her, but he was distracted just long enough for me to sprint away again and get back in my car. As I drove away I stopped briefly to thank Cricket. I saw douchebro off in the distance running towards me, but I have a car and he doesn’t, so I successfully escaped. No harm came to me aside from a small amount of terror as he chased me around Snoqualmie Pass.

My worst day on trail was because of the douchebro, and now I’m glad to be off trail because it means he can never reach me again. As I drove down I-90 back into Seattle I knew I’d never see him again, so despite the terror of this little incident, I felt calmer than I ever did before after seeing this guy on trail.

Trail Magic is the gift that just keeps on giving. 

“Shoutout to you for having a car McGuyver!”

So said my friend Trail Quail yesterday afternoon. She got super lucky because I’d just driven our friend LOL from Leavenworth back up to Steven’s Pass and happened to be at the trailhead right when she rolled off trail. She had a package to pickup down in Skykomish (as did I), so we drove down there, and after looking around the town briefly she realized that really she’d rather be in Leavenworth, so off we rolled on an impromptu road trip.

Above: Trail Quail and McGuyver (me) at some live music at the Yodelin in Leavenworth, Washington

I didn’t expect to sleep in Leavenworth last night, (or the night before) but I have to admit I’ve enjoyed sharing hotel rooms with my friends. Last night with Quail felt just like a good ole fashioned sleepover, complete with laying in bed talking far too late into the night.

Keep the Magic Flowing

Here’s where I give a shoutout to all my patrons! Right now my car Trail Magic is the roof over my head and my way of paying forward all the amazing acts of kindness that kept me on the trail as long as I was. I consider my $80/month insurance payment to be my rent for now, and it’s thanks to everyone supporting me at Patreon.com/Gracetopher that I know for sure that is paid.

Thank you so much to every single person who’s helped me make it this far.

On to Canada

I’m not getting to Manning Park, British Columbia in the same way that I pictured, but I’m getting there nonetheless. And that is only thanks to Trail Magic, the kindness and generosity of many, and a good deal of luck. I’m so grateful to everyone and everything that’s helped me make it here.