Mile 1673 to 1693
In the pre-dawn hours a couple arrives in our camp and not in a polite and quiet manner. Based on their volume if Verizon had service I would probably call to report a domestic dispute. First one screeches about something and then the other screeches back. It is hard to judge just what is ruffling their feathers, because they are both high overhead in the trees. As if changing angles and volume will improve their argument’s position, they change physical positions repeatedly, flying from one tree to another. Screech owls have replaced roosters as our feathered alarm clocks.
This morning Kevin discovers his IPod full of computer course lectures is non-functional. The front screen has so much water it looks as though tropical fish should be swimming around inside. We have no idea where the liquid came from, but we will need to find a solution to the unexpected solution.
Oregon / California Border
After breakfast and packing up we target our 8 mile reliable water source. In my PCT Guthook’s application, reliable water sources appear as a full blue drop and seasonal sources appear as a half blue half white drop. Today Kevin learns that these differentiations do not take into account the quantity or quality of the water. We pass a few not so great seasonal sources to get to a worse by far reliable source. Apparently you can always count on this disgusting mud hole having water, but you should have taken the so-so water from the earlier unreliable seasonal source.
At last we reach the small Oregon/California sign nailed to a tree indicating the state border. We are about to make our first legal border crossing. According to the sign I have traveled 1,708 miles to get here. According to Halfmile’s application I have only traveled 1,689. Guthook’s application lists it as 1,698. Apparently the only thing they agree on is that I have made it, and that’s good enough for me.
Border Log Book
We continue on another 5 miles towards Sheep Camp Spring. As we summit a pass we are again haunted by amazing vistas of Mount Shasta. How is this even possible?
As we hike and consume our daily snacks, Kevin concludes he does not really like Oreo cookies. He trades them with me for other items, jerky, nuts, bars, anything but Oreos. At our first road crossing in Oregon Kevin encounters his first trail magic: a few jugs of water and, you guessed it, a case of single serve Oreo cookies. He chugs some water to participate in the magic, but does not leave quite as satisfied as I do with black Oreo chunks in my teeth.
We finally reach Sheep Camp Spring, an awesome flowing pipe next to a flat spot at the end of a road. Having completed another 20 miler we call it a day, well positioned for tomorrow’s approach on the outskirts of Ashland. To our pleasant surprise, Loran arrives and sets up camp next to us.
View from Camp