Mile 2580-2600 High Point camp to Winthrop via Rainy Pass HW 20

It felt great to wake up in our manger and pack up our dry things, and have breakfast while it the rain gently spit outside. The trail today followed a creek all the way to Rainy Pass 20 miles away. It rained all day. My foot bagging experiment failed. I had a sock then baggie on my right foot, and a baggie on foot, sock, baggie on top combo on the other. After a couple of hours both feet were drenched. I'd made holes in the bags with my firm yet girlish stride. Tracy hasn't put any holes in hers yet her feet were soaked too. It was freezing. The first day I've ever felt comfortable wearing   3 layers on top. Not much to look at because of the grey,mist and rain. And then it got very pretty indeed, it began to snow. Large sticky snowflakes that landed on christmas trees and whitened everything around us. 

When we got to the pass an emergency back up plan, if we were desperate and needed dry shelter, would have been to camp in the toilets. They were shut as part of the government closure, with a note about being closed for safety reasons. We had already decided that it made no sense to camp and get wet when we could hitch to Mazama or Winthrop and continue the trail tomorrow. We stood out on the snowy highway and got a ride within a couple of minutes from a lovely couple, Ben and Judy from Linden, Washington. They were going to a family cabin past Winthrop so offered to drop us off there. They took us right to the hostel there. 

Drama! We met a lot of hikers who had hiked north of Rainy Pass but had to turn back because of post holing through waist high snow. It was taking several hours to get through a mile of trail. Some of those hikers then tried to get to Canada via an alternative trail at lower altitude via Ross Lake. But they were turned back at the trail head by Rangers. The trail is on park property and is therefore officially closed. Apparently the rangers are trying to get everyone out. These hikers were given warnings. Everyone here is now off the trail. Many have been crying. Most are leaving for home but a few people are driving up to Canada to walk south to the border and monument to symbolically complete the journey. 

Our plan earlier this evening was to take the lower alternative route, but as T has pointed out I'm here on a tourist visa and I shouldn't jeopardize this by breaking federal law. 

Lets see what tomorrow brings. Im hoping for Sunshine and and an up and running federal government.