After a night hike to the peak of Steven’s Pass, I began to simultaneously set up my tent, cook dinner and phoned a guy named Piper who my buddy Dancer had suggested would give me a ride to Leavenworth, WA in the morning. Who says males can’t multi-task?
It was late, but Piper picked up the phone and confirmed he would meet me at the bottom of the hill at 9AM the next morning. We didn’t talk long, but I felt sure that it would be fun talking to him the next day.
I wasn’t disappointed. Piper turned out to be a man of many interests and talents. He told me about his career training pilots from all over the world to fly Boeing jets. I was briefed on his adventures as a wilderness guide in British Columbia, and he described the many beautiful lakes that I had rushed past in the last two days.
But it was his job as a PCT Trail Angel that had really captured his interest the last couple of years. I say “job” because Piper was working full-time helping out PCT hikers. He’s the main man shuttling hikers to and from Stevens Pass to Leavenworth and other places along this stretch of the trail. North and south of the pass, just about every PCT hiker has been helped by Piper or knows someone who has. And what we most remember about him is the gift he gives to each and every hiker: A song played on his flute.
Next year, Piper will reverse roles. He plans to hike the PCT himself starting from Campo early in March and heading north. God speed, brother.