July 17 – Wednesday
We started hiking again!
Five positives of the day:
1. Sons who help out.
2. Back on trail! We made it!
3. Good trail – so far.
4. Good weather, no snow.
5. Each other.
Mt. Thielsen tomorrow!
PCT Mile: 1852.64 – 1854.02 =
1.38 miles
Lat/Long: 43.10768, -122.08066
UTM: 10T 574803 4773183N
Elevation: 5,987 feet
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| Busy company on the trail |
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| Thielsen Creek with Mt. Thielsen in the background |
July 18 – Thursday
Okay another PCT quote – “There
is no ALL up or ALL down!” But there can be “mostly.” Today-this morning
anyway-it was mostly up. A nice gradual climb, but not much down involved. We
slept in but were on the trail by 7. By noon we’d come 9 miles so we were
content. Our first real day back and VERY sore and tired. Kicked our bums for
sure, but since we know we don’t have far to go, we could relax a little. Met
one south bound section hiker. Nice guy. Warned us about mosquitoes as we head
north. They are bad enough here! Didn’t bother TBG much but really liked my
left bicep and legs.
We went past Mount Thielsen and tickled his toes going
around and then went up and over the OR/WA high point without even knowing it!
Woowhoo! TBG got a nasty blister on his foot that popped. Hope it’s not a
problem in the days to come. Probably quit a little early – 4:30/5-ish, but
were tired-so we did! I’ve had a hard time with lower back pain today – took
lots of pain meds and a Benadryl for some relief from the mosquito bites –
ought to sleep good! Been struggling all day with “do I REALLY want do WA?”
attitude. I’m not sure I do. I don’t like being tired and sore all day –
especially for a month. We’ll see how we feel when we’re done with OR. It was
pretty warm today. Radio said low 80’s in Albany. Pretty sure it’s about that
here. TBG said forecast is same for tomorrow. Didn’t see much wildlife. TBG saw
a rabbit and we saw two frogs and birds. Very little snow. Had to walk about 5
steps in a couple patches, but that’s it! Guess we’ll leave micro spikes with
Steve. Good water sources, just long distances apart, so we had to carry extra
– do I need to say “ugh?” Thielsen Creek was very pretty – got some pictures.
Next water is off trail and hard to get to. One of us will go get it while the
other stays with the gear. Draw straws? May go to Maidu Lake instead, but it’s
first thing in the AM and not good timing. We’ll see.
Five positive things of the day:
1. Thielsen Creek.
2. Good trails.
3. Ability to finish early.
4. Frogs.
5. Things not as bad as anticipated.
PCT mile: 1854.02 – 1868.68
Lat/Long: 43.22996, -122.01307
UTM: 10T 580143 4786825N
Elevation: 6,784 feet
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| Snow patches weren't too bothersome...phew! |
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| The wildlife was not too vicious or frightening! |
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| Love the mountain flowers! |
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| It was fun to see the distinctiveness of the cones. |
July 19 – Friday
Well, a full 12 hours of sleep
helps everyone! Slept like a log. Pain meds and Benadryl sure make a
difference! Neither of us wanted to get up so didn’t hit the trail until after
8. Oops. Oh well. TBG is a good leader and we had 9 miles by 12:30. Of course,
I think he got 7 miles in the last hour and about killed me! He CAN hike fast!!
We met a southbound section hiker today. Nice older lady. Also ran into Ironman
- PCT thru hiker. He caught us at Six Horse Spring. He does about 40 miles a
day and decided not to do the ½ mile off trail here for water. TBG did while I
sat with the gear. He was fast! 45 minutes later, he was back.
Trail has been
pretty good with up and level and a little down. We got to Windigo Pass earlier
than expected so Steve’s getting us tonight instead of in the morning. That way
he gets home earlier and we get a jump on the next section-and theoretically
done a day earlier too. We miss out on a nero day though. Still discussing WA.
I am not wanting to. I want to see the sights, but not looking forward to
hiking every day and the pain, etc. that goes with it. It really hinges on
TBG’s weight after this trip. Cell service has been good on trail – go figure.
Steve’s bringing pizza and delivering us to Shelter Cove. Sure hungry!
Five positives of the day:
1. Pizza delivery.
2. Steve
3. Pain meds (drugs).
4. Cell phone reception.
5. Bug spray.
Postscript: No animals sighted
today. The pickup went well. Pizza was good. After trying to find a way over
the railroad tracks, Steve ended up leaving us at the tracks and we had to hike
½ mile to campground in the “dark”. (It was 9-ish.) We found trailhead and made
camp by moonlight. Ahhh, the adventure!
PCT mile: 1868.68 – 1884.0 =
15.32 miles
Lat/Long: 43.36766, -122.03358
UTM: 10T 578300 4802098N
Elevation: 5,640 feet
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| The locals were very "hoppy" to come visit. |
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| Inviting trail was very nice in most places. |
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| Just ambling along and here was this beautiful lily. Only two and they smelled so good. I wonder if someone planted them. I don't think they are native. |
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| If you stay on it long enough, the trail changes you in many ways. |
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| The changes are similar, but different! |
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| I loved seeing hearts in things other than rocks! TBG spotted this one. |
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| Odell Lake, complete with a zillion boats. |
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| One of the Rosary Lakes |
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| View of several lakes. |
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| Our new friends, Water Boy and Early Girl. |
July 20 – Saturday
Shelter Cove. A new beginning
since we are now starting our last remaining leg (of Oregon). Besides getting to bed late,
we didn’t sleep well so we slept in and didn’t get on trail until 8. Late
start, even for us! It was hot, mid 80’s but the trail was great. There were a
lot of exposed “ups” which drained me. Overall, it was…well…boring. No real
views or animals or anything to break up the monotony. The mosquitoes were off
and on and in surprising areas. We met several day hikers and joggers. We also
had the pleasure of meeting Early Girl and Water Boy. It was fun. Here was this
couple sitting on the trail, enjoying a break and as the discussion evolved TBG
recognized them from their blog! It was great
to meet someone we’d been following. We also met Turtle, another thru
hiker. The three of them camped at Bobby Lake where we got water so we had
another opportunity to visit. I was jealous of them at the lake as they were
enjoying the perfect water temperature by going for a swim. It looked so
inviting.
Nothing exceptional again today
other than good lighting this morning so I took a lot of photos. My feet and
ankles are sore but no blisters! TBG is still dealing with his, which seems to
be getting bigger but not more painful. He’s such a macho man, no complaints! We have 32 miles to go to Elk Lake which
amounts to 16 mile days to finish.
We enjoyed lunch with a table and
chairs at the Maiden Lake shelter, an emergency shelter open for all who need
it. It was very nice with a wood stove, lots of windows and a loft that could
easily sleep 15.
My water filter quit working
today. Must be plugged but we can’t seem to get it clean so I’m very grateful
for our chlorine pills!
We are still struggling with what
we could eat differently that would be light enough to carry, taste good to TBG
and provide the nutritional and caloric value we need. A gallon of olive oil?
Sigh…Early Girl and Water Boy shared that they only ate about 1000 calories a
day on trail. Wow. We do more than that! I am still having problems with my
attitude. I am not wanting to hike anymore. I’m tired. Will we do WA? It
remains to be seen…
5 positives:
1. Lakes, perfect for swimming.
2. Good health
3. New friends
4. Government that provides emergency shelter (Maiden Lake Shelter)
5. Husband who’s willing to call it a day early.
PCT mile: 1912.70 – 1926.23= 13.5
miles
Lat/Long: 43.68806, -121.99499
UTM: 10T 580997 4837718N
Elevation: 5,995 feet
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| Maiden Lake Shelter |
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| Interior of the shelter, looking down from the loft. |
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| Reflections at a small lake. |
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| Trail through the trees. |
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| I believe this is owl poop judging by the bones and size. It was beneath a tree. |
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| Patriotism lives! |
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| Life in a burned area. |
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| Under our lunch time shade tree. |
July 21 – Sunday
A good day today! Nearly 17
miles! We passed more lakes/ponds than you can count. Most were stagnant or
very low so it was pretty buggy but we didn’t quite have to resort to bug nets.
At least not until we got to Stormy Lake where, naturally, we had to get water.
That was by far the worst they have been. We had stopped at Brahma Lake, just
prior and it was so pleasant and nice, we sat and soaked our feet for a little
while—no bugs. I probably would have
done some swimming but I was paranoid someone would come along. Vanity. Today
was rare in that we didn’t speak to another person all day. We did see a few
hikers, but from a distance so no visiting. We are getting great cell reception
so were able to read Early Girl and Water Boy’s blog that they camped at Brahma
Lake so somehow we got ahead of them. Hopefully we’ll see them again tomorrow
but we are a few miles ahead now so it’s not likely.
While at Brahma Lake, we saw some
new “wildlife.” We think it was a fresh water eel. It looked like an acorn or
something in the water, a little round ball, then just about the time I was
about to touch it, it stretched out and looked like a slug and was very active,
burrowing in the sediment. Then, it stretched out and flattened and swam off.
I’m so glad I didn’t touch it, I probably would have screamed!
We spent a lot of time hiking through a burned area that we understand burned in 1996. Very open with little shade offerings. The positive side was that we could get good glimpses of the three Sisters, Three Fingered Jack and Mt. Bachelor. We sat in the limited and moving shade of an old burned snag for lunch. It worked well except we had to keep moving with the sun to stay shaded.
Quitting time found us traversing
a side hill so campsites were tough to find. TBG managed to scout out a really
nice secluded one about 100 feet off trail at the top of a bluff. No passers-by
can see us. It’s great.
Other than feeling a bit like
mosquito bait, we are feeling pretty good tonight. The bites are odd in that
they seem to only remain irritating for a day or two, not the usual (for me)
week or two. The bites I got two days ago are nearly gone. TBG’s blister is
still sore, but he’s doing pretty well with it. I’m so ready to get to Elk Lake
and be done with Oregon and take a shower, wear clean clothes and have some hot
food. Our food supply seems to be holding out well. I’m glad we sent home our
extra day with Steve, we didn’t need it and certainly didn’t need to carry it.
6 Positives:
1. Massages
2. Becky’s oils (DoTerra)
3. Foot soaks
4. Great shade “tree” during lunch break
5. Head nets
6. Almost to Elk Lake and finishing Oregon!
PCT mile: 1926.23 – 1943.14= 16.9
miles
Lat/Long: 43.86509, -121.95409
UTM: 10T 584045 4857420N
Elevation: 5,896 feet
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| An old PCT emblem marks the way. |
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| Kidding around at Brahm Lake where the bugs didn't eat us alive. |
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| Brahm Lake. |
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| Our ultra secluded campsite |
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| Spider webs exist on the trail too. |
July 22 – Monday
We are now done with Oregon! We have to cross the CA/OR border, but
we’re considering that part of CA! It was a good day but a long one. We must
have been anxious to get there because we did it in record time for us! A
little disappointed in Elk Lake. The staff was nice but the prices were high
and the ONE shower didn’t work and the campsite was ok, but not as nice and
quiet as what we are used to! The food was good at the restaurant though. I
ended up taking a sponge bath in the bathroom which wasn’t perfect but it felt
better than using the handy wipes!
The trail today was good. Pretty level so that’s probably why we were
able to make such good time. Turtle passed us this morning never to be seen
again (are we the hare?). He reported that Early Girl and Water Boy were close
behind but we never saw them. We also met one SOBO hiker out for her first
time. Oh to be so excited again. It might help to be 20+ years younger too!
Wildlife? A little brown frog. TBG probably wouldn’t have seen it
(before he stepped on it) had it not moved. We also saw two garter snakes. Just
not a bustle of wildlife around here I guess.
We are both sore but happy. We are done! We have pretty well agreed to
not do WA. It’s time to call it quits.
A real treat—we were just ordering our dinner when a cute young couple
came to us and asked if we were hikers (I think it was obvious by the stink and
dirty clothes) since they appeared in the same condition, we correctly guessed
that they were too so they joined us for dinner. Alex and Renee are SOBOs who
just started a couple of weeks ago at Cascade Locks. In their early 20s they
are on their way to Mexico on a wing and a prayer. They hadn’t done any
pre-hike checks so they are wrestling with ill fitting gear and shoes, etc.,
but having a ball regardless. We had a very enjoyable visit with them and
agreed to try to meet for breakfast. Maybe all this hiking stuff is more about
the people than we thought.
I figured out a matrix for mosquitoes:
If it’s:
brown=mosquitoes
green=mosquitoes
wet=mosquitoes
dry=mosquitoes
high=mosquitoes
low=mosquitoes
tent with open door=mosquitoes
shirt sleeve without bug treatment=mosquitoes
TBG’s right foot and ankle are very swollen tonight. We don’t know why
unless it’s the repetitive stress trauma flaring up again. I think we are done
hiking for this year.
4 positives:
1. Renee and Alex
2. Clean clothes
3. Finished with Oregon!
4. iPods
PCT mile: 1943.14 – 1959.08 + 1
to the junction= 16.94 miles
Elevation:
5,251 feet |
| One of the many lakes |
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| Island Meadow |
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| Our new friends Renee and Alex |
WE love hiking!
KOKO & The Bald Guy
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