2025 US Navy Search and Rescue (SAR) on the Pacific Crest Trail at Milk Creek.

I had completed hiking the entire Pacific Crest Trail in 2008, and this was another revisit of one of my favorite sections with circumnavigating Glacier Peak as the highlight and on to Canada.

Unfortunately, I broke my left ankle near the Milk Creek Crossing after 6 days and 60 miles.

 

While bushwhacking through the overgrown bushes where I could not see the trail nor my feet, it was about Noon when I broke my left ankle after slipping on some vines with my right leg and body weight landing on my left ankle and snapped it. 

Here are the three US Navy SAR rescue crew members--Michael, Becca, and Kenny--who airlifted me just 7 hours after my injury.

Also big thanks to T-Mobile's new satellite service that allowed me to send the Emergency SOS and communicate with them and my family throughout this "No Service" area along the PCT. 

In addition to this rescue I enjoyed six days of hiking through some spectacular scenery that went around the west side of Glacier Peak.

After two days of hiking, the clouds came in and obscured my anticipated views of Glacier Peak close up. The video link below shows that journey.

I was pleased with how my new REI Flash Air 2 person tent performed in the rain and wind, and kept the mosquitoes and other critters out.

REI Flash Air 2 person tent at Pear Lake

This video below includes my six-day journey from Stevens Pass, my US Navy helicopter rescue, flight to Harborview Hospital, Seattle, and the great care I received from the staff at Harborview. 

This marmot never warned me about the dangers below Fire Creek Pass of the overgrown Pacific Crest Trail as it left the alpine zone and descended 3,000 feet past the sub alpine zone, to the forested fir zone where the trail was hidden by service, salmon and huckleberry bushes.  

With my 5 day stay at Harborview Hospital, they repaired my broken left ankle which included giving me a metal plate and several screws to hold my ankle together.

On August 26th, the Orthopedic folks plan to remove the current cast, staples and stitches, replace the cast and check out my range of motion as a set up for additional physical therapy.  I was earlier told that I would have a cast on for about 6 weeks with a complete recovery time of 13 weeks.

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