Mile 2109 to 2125
Eagle Creek Alternate 4.6 miles

In the middle of the night two giggling girls wearing headlamps weave through our camp, waking me. Their parallel lights and erratic behavior simulate the common courtesy typical of a drunken driver. At about 3am a torch-less north bounder pounds by on the trail. The vortex pull of Cascade Locks and the Oregon border appears strong, even in total darkness.

During a Break

When we wake for good Kevin scrambles and is packed to go a full minute ahead of me. Later he tells me he did not want to hear about a blog entry that starts: “Lacking the pull of a breakfast buffet, Kevin lounges lazily until…”

Today our goal is to reach the PCT alternate trail known as Eagle Creek. Like the Rim trail at Crater Lake, almost every thru-hiker chooses this beautiful parallel option, if only to walk the cliff ledge that leads behind the famous Tunnel Falls.

Ridge before Eagle Creek

The elevations today are mostly easy, following a high ridge line. We pass Lolo Pass and go around Sentinel Peak, Preachers Peak, Buck Peak and Indian Mountain. The alternate trail branches off at Indian Springs and is notoriously steep with really no switchbacks. I am pretty sure my dot watching father will notice we are off the official PCT and conclude something has gone majorly wrong. On our way down we are very glad we are not going up. About 4.6 miles down the alternate we find water and camp. I eat the last of the hiker box mystery meals. This one is something or other with couscous.

Tomorrow we plan to enjoy the Eagle Creek waterfalls and make it to Cascade Locks in time to pick up my new shoes at the Post Office.

Mile 2092 to 2109

We wake and thank the wind god for drying our tents and gear overnight. We are less than 3 miles from the buffet and Kevin has never packed up his gear more quickly. We are on the trail by 6:00 am. Our love for the wind god quickly blows away as we enter a torrential sand storm, which polishes everything we have, including our corneas. Although there is hardly any daylight I put on my cheap sun glasses and stagger in the even darker. I hike with a finger in my ear to keep the sands of time from counting down the hours in my mind. On the plus side our normally filthy skin is being exfoliated as we walk.

According to a notice in the Olallie Lake hiker box, the Timberline breakfast buffet is $14.95 and goes from 7:00am to 10:00am. We are right on time, except that the start time is actually 7:30am. The curse of Olallie Lake continues. To kill time I stand in the men’s room mesmerized by the hot water faucet and soap dispenser.

Timberline Buffet

At 7:30 we abandon any pretense of civility and plow down the row of plenty. It is time for our first episode of “Buffet the hunger killer.”  My first plate is piled with eggs, sausage patties, sausage links, ham, salami, potatoes and frittatas. I wash it down with several cups of coffee and berry smoothies. My next plate has a huge Belgian waffle divided into fruity territories – raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries, plus one traditional section with massive globs of butter. I create a Mount Hood sized mound of mash-potato-thick whipping cream and smother the entire concoction with maple syrup. After more cups of coffee and smoothies,  I am ready for a plate of fruit and pastries.

There is a scene in a Monty Python movie where an obese man is gorging himself at a restaurant. The waiter asks how he is doing, to which the man says “Better”.” Too quickly the waiter relies “Oh, good.” The man clarifies by saying, “No. Better get a bucket. I’m going to be sick!” The scene ends when the waiter offers the man an after dinner mint, then runs for cover. The mint of course is the straw that breaks the camel’s stomach and he literally explodes sending his entrails and undigested food throughout the restaurant. As Kevin and I finally push away from the buffet table, we feel we are just one mint shy of a similar ending.

Timberline Lodge

Once our phones are charged and water bottles filled, we waddle away from the beautiful and historic FDR works project/boondoggle known as Timberline Lodge. About 150 feet from the lodge we stand in front of a sign scratching our heads, partly to remove the sand and partly to remove the confusion. The sign reads 550 miles to Canada. On our way into the lodge Kevin pointed out a sign that read 498 miles to Canada. I am not completely clear on how plate tectonics work but apparently while we were filling our plates at the buffet, Canada migrated 52 miles north, probably irritated by something the U.S. said.

We hike to the torrential and dirty Sandy River, which we eventually figure how to cross on a precarious log and driftwood natural semi-bridge. We walk by several other muddy waters including the aptly named Muddy Fork.

The last 2.7 miles to our camp is straight up. Although I had rinsed out my shirt in one of the clean streams, it is all for naught, as we sweat like pigs on the home stretch. We pitch our tents, make quick meals and fall fast asleep.

Leaving Timberline Resort

Mile 2073 to 2092

Not Singing In The Rain

We wake surprised that our wet tents have dried in the night, thanks to a warm gentle breeze. We down granola and powdered milk and re-enter the green tunnel, which is getting a bit old. We are passing the huge Timothy Lake yet we can never really see it. I guess you can’t see the lakes for the trees either.

We filter water at a very cold and clear stream. Our planned campsite has a seasonal spring but we are not sure what season, so we load up with too much. We pass a trail split to Little Crater Lake but decide to pass, fearing we may re-encounter first-ever-PCT man and I am just too tired to shake his hand repeatedly.

As we hike we begin hearing the strangest, loudest and most persistent screeching I have ever heard. I pride myself on being able to identify a wide variety of forest birds and animals, but frankly I got nothing. Kevin declares it Sasquatch mating calls and we move on. Sure science may have benefited if we stayed and solved the mystery, but there is a buffet north of us and priorities are priorities.

My Watery Soda

We climb up and down Wapinitia Pass, ending up at Highway 26 where we find trail magic. The sodas are on ice, so refreshingly cold. I feel great about my selection until I realize mine has 160 calories and Kevin’s has 190. Suddenly mine feels as weak as water.

We press up and over Barlow Pass and the magic-less Highway 35. Our goal is to be within striking distance of the Timberline buffet. As we are on the final climb to camp it begins to rain, and does so off and on the rest of the way. We set up camp in the rain. We cook and eat in the rain. We climb into bed and sleep in the rain. But rain or shine, tomorrow we will be gorging at the buffet and life will be good.

Mile 2052 to 2073

Heading to Timothy Lake

I wake in total darkness to the gentle sounds of rain. I scramble out of my tent, wake Kevin and help him put on his rain fly. I doubt it will rain hard or long, but everything is getting wet. I toss his pack into my tent and dive back in.

When we wake later we have a quick breakfast of bagels and pack up our wet gear. We re-enter the green tunnel and remain there for most of the day. The shade is nice but not helpful for drying our wet things. We stop frequently, not because of Kevin’s blisters but because of my aching back. I pop some of Kevin’s hiker skittles, or Ibuprofen as some like to call them. At each break we snack on one or another of our various candy bars. My mouth is hurting from too much candy and we have 3 more days of sweetness.

Candy Break

At one of our breaks a group of 3 women and a dog catch us. The women are excited we are PCT hikers and proceed to tell us what, when riding on their horses, they normally offer to hikers: nectarines, apples, cookies and candy. But since today they are walking they have absolutely nothing. It is like the old Let’s Make A Deal show when Monty Hall asks Jay to tell the contestants what they would have won if they had just selected the correct curtain. I lie and tell them that their smiles and words of encouragement are enough to feed our souls. In reality, our souls and our bodies are starving.

We filter water at a creek and hike on to a dry camp by Timothy Lake. We make our meal by combining things we took from the hiker box, including a Bearcreek chicken soup and a bag of what seems like veggie pasta mix. While eating our meal an extended family of Mexicans, numbering around veintiuno, climb way up from the shore of Timothy Lake carrying all manner of gear and toys: rafts, paddles, life vests, popup tents, ice chests, barbecue grills, lawn chairs and bags of who knows what. It takes the hombres about five trips each to get it all. They look at our tiny pile of gear and laugh.

As we finish our meal our dry camp becomes a wet one as it starts to rain. At least I get to put Kevin’s rain fly on in the fading daylight rather than total darkness.

Mile 2036 to 2052

Olallie Lake

We sleep in knowing Olallie Lake is just 6 miles away. In addition to resupplying we hope to catch a burger or two for lunch. Starting late also gives us more time for Kevin’s blisters. I retrieve and filter water from the surprisingly scummy lake. The filter will take out the dead bug wings, tiny moss chunks and little swimming larva, but it clogs up my filter and slows the whole process. I heat filtered water in a pot and we soak Kevin’s foot. After clean-ish and dry, we use a fair number of the second skin bandages from REI.

The hike to Olallie Lake is not bad but the resupply is. We need 5 days of food for 2 people. What they lack in selection they make up for in ridiculous prices. There is also no kitchen and therefore no burgers. Not even microwave frozen pizza like Shelter Cove. I hope not to meet again the guy who told us we could get burgers, if only to avoid a possible murder rap.

Olallie Lake Resupply

They do have a hiker box where other people dump stuff they no longer want. I snake everything that looks like food. There is a plastic ziplock bag with freeze dried peas and white squares of what I have no idea. There is a bag of something that might be vegetables mixed with instant rice. There is a powder that is probably milk, though could just as easily be plaster-of-Paris.

We do an inventory of what we had left and what we just got and make a list of the things we have to purchase: 30 snack bars, 4 dinners, bagels, granola, and stuff to eat and drink right now. Since calories are king and selection poor, we skip the $2.50/Cliff Bars and focus on candy bars. A Baby Ruth at $1.50 has 280 calories, more than the Cliff Bar. We fill our sacks with Baby Ruth, Snickers, Pay Day, Peanut M&Ms and Twix. I feel like a kid at Halloween and fear I will feel just as sick afterwards. In case you are wondering, a root beer, Kern’s mango nectar and 10 servings of Fritos is a very poor substitute for a hamburger and shake.

Septic Like Spring

With no reason to hang around we push for strategic miles. Strategic miles are ones that time our arrival in a few days at Timberline Lodge, made famous for its role as the exteriors in the movie The Shining. For PCT hikers it is even more famous for its killer breakfast and lunch buffets. For fans of the movie, I have no idea if they serve red rum. For non-fans, that is murder spelled backwards.

We hike about 10 miles to a spring with water qualities more reminiscent of a septic pond. We camp close enough that we can hear the cries of disappointment as each arriving empty-bottled thru-hiker faces reality. For dinner I have pea something or other and Kevin has a Knorr Side. We fall asleep trying to forget Olallie Lake and praying the Timberline Lodge buffet is more than a fantasy.

Mile 2016 to 2036

I wake to the loud nostril snorts and branch breaking rampage of a ticked off buck. Apparently he owns this ridge and is making clear we are not at all welcome. When he eventually discovers our peace offerings of salt, in the form of human urine near a tree, he calms down. At least we had the decency to bring house warming gifts.

More Green Tunnel

After checking out of our rooms with a view, we hike into the green tunnel. It is a living incarnation of the expression “can’t see the forest for the trees.” We spend the next 9 miles dropping 2,000 feet in elevation. We reach milky white Mill Creek, which is running wild and a safe crossing location is as unclear as the water. A thru-hiker and a couple of section hikers with a dog are scouring the shore. I join them climbing very high upstream in search of safe passage. Kevin eventually tires of our efforts and plows across the rushing water. I climb back down stream and follow his lead. Oh to be young and so confident. Now we just have to climb back up the lost 2,000 feet in the next 9 miles.

As we cross Jefferson Park we catch up to a Forest Service Ranger. Kevin experiences his first can-I-see-your-PCT-permit drill. We are lectured about a variety of things, including not stepping on greenery near shore when getting water because we might injure the insects which are “the life blood of the forest.” I wanted to ask what lecture he was giving the insects that were sucking the life blood out of me, but instead I just smiled and nodded. In the 4 million or so steps it has taken me to get here, I am pretty sure a squashed insect or two requires major medical. I keep looking at the ranger’s feet and wondering how he hovered here.

Mount Jefferson

As we climb the steepest stretch up to the summit and across the border to Mount Hood Wilderness, we are treated to more spectacular views of Mount Jefferson and its icy glaciers. At the summit looking north, we can now see Mount Hood creating its own weather of swirling clouds.

After a break we push on towards Breitenbush Lake Campground. There are a surprising number of couples, families, dogs and horses coming our way. Looking at my watch I realize it is Friday evening. This is the get-a-jump-on-the-weekend crowd. On the way down the steep slope of loose stones, Kevin slips and falls backwards, miraculously flipping into the air a fist size rock with his lunging pole. It seems like it soars 15 feet in the air, but in reality is probably only 14 feet 11 inches. Kevin is completely unaware as it thuds just behind his head. Had it thudded directly on his head, he would be permanently unaware.

At our campsite we are rewarded with a tilted picnic table, a pit toilet, and a couple of goofy deer trying to get to lake for water. We try to get a backpacker’s night sleep, while the rest of the camp is just getting started with their campfires and red neck noises.

Kevin During a Blister Break

Mile 1992 to 2016

Burn Area

The trail is an excellent teacher but we are not particularly good students. We camp on the shore of a beautiful cove and are again surprised when we wake with soaking tents and sleeping bags. Where is this moisture coming from?

We pack up and leave before the camp breakfast, which I am sure is as awesome as these people have been to us. We target Rockpile Lake, which is 19 miles ahead, as our water and dinner spot. We hope to push on another 4 miles beyond that to a dry camp on a ridge, but to get there we have to endure 16 miles of completely burned out forest.

Along the way we catch up to Ixnay who left the cove before we did. We join forces to push each other along past Three Fingered Jack, Minto Pass and on to Rockpile Mountain and Lake. On the way Ixnay tells us colorful stories of his life, which fascinate us. Besides, we don’t have cable TV.

Rockpile Lake

Ixnay grabs some water and pushes on. We stay to relax, filter water and cook an early dinner. Dinner now means we do not have to carry water to the dry camp for cooking and cleaning. While eating our dinner we are joined by a couple of graceful deer, who come to the lake to drink. Later they are joined by their two very naughty fawns. We know they are naughty because we watch them walk into the lake, drink water, then defecate directly into the water we have been filtering and cooking with. Our cries of “Oh come on!” have no impact on them. We are pretty sure they were laughing as they left the lake.

We gather up our things, including our suddenly not quite as refreshing lake water and push on. We reach the dry camp on the ridge which has an excellent view of Mount Jefferson, but no view of Ixnay. He must not have been impressed with the fairly wind exposed site, but it seems good enough for us. We pitch our tents and retire, pleased there are no mosquitoes and strangely no ants. We fall asleep hoping they do not know something we don’t.

Dry Camp Overlooking Mount Jefferson

Mile 1977 to 1992

Morning Foot Care

We wake late, but dry which is a very nice change. I filter water from the way too warm to seem normal lake while Kevin tends to his feet. As we hike out I again notice footprints we have been following since early yesterday. There is a deer, a dog and a barefoot small person. I have no idea if they are related but I expect to turn the corner and see someone in rolled up blue jeans, a straw hat and a corncob pipe. At the lava fields the prints disappear. I fear the small person will perish in this rugged moonscape. I feel better when I think perhaps it is actually a juvenile Sasquatch from the known colony, in which case he is probably fine, but the deer and dog he’s hunting are done for.

Lava Walk

To plan a massive trail like the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail requires a great deal of coordination and compromise. I imagine in the meeting someone said “Oregon has some really neat lava fields, we should route the trail near it so people can see it.” Then someone else said “In order to really appreciate the rugged beauty and texture we should route the trail through a small portion.” Then someone else said “Or we could twist and turn the trail through miles and miles and miles of lava until their shoes are completely destroyed, their feet bloodied, and they cry like little babies for mercy.” So why did that guy’s argument prevail?

Along the trail we meet a 78 year old section hiker who is really struggling. I ask if he is all right. When he describes his back pain I ask if he has Ibuprofen. He says “No but that could really help.” I call out to Kevin, who has a stash for his feet. I pour about 6 into the man’s hand, thinking it will last until he can get some more, and before I can turn around he pops all 6 into his mouth and swallows. I said “Did you just eat all 6 of those?” He smiled. I said “I really don’t want to be responsible for your kidney failure.” He just smiled again.

Lava Everywhere

Because we are running a little under in planned daily mileage, we need a little boost in the food department. Every southbounder we meet raves about the Big Lake Youth Camp. It is a Seventh Day Adventists church camp that is very friendly to PCT hikers. They offer WiFi, power, showers, laundry and the same vegetarian meals they serve the youth campers. It is all offered for free though donations are appreciated. Tonight we are served a bean burrito bar with everything you can imagine including cheese, rice, fresh avocado, tomatoes, olives, sour cream, lettuce and salsa. Kevin and I are ready to join the church and move in.

I call Daniel and he tells me he and Cindy have just crossed into Washington, to start their new life. I tell him he needs to get out there and put out those Washington fires so we can make it to Canada.

After dinner we pitch our tents on the shore of Big Lake next to Ixnay. Tomorrow, if Kevin’s feet will allow, we hope to get in some bigger miles.

Stuck in Lava Field

Mile 1956 to 1977

Drying Yard Sale

Camped on grass, with fog pouring off Sisters Mirror Lake, we wake completely soaking wet from dew. If you dipped our tents in the lake, the lake would probably get wetter. This will be another stop to dry gear day.

Kevin puts on his beanie cap and gloves, and we walk toward South Sister. She is the first of three volcanic mountains with patches of snow or glacier ice still showing on her rounded top. Peaking over her shoulder we can just see Middle Sister, whose top appears more to the point.

At a lunch time break we spread out our yard sale of gear to dry. It is frustrating to pack and unpack multiple times in a day, but we will definitely appreciate waterless gear tonight.

Obsidian Falls

We hike on and enter the permit controlled obsidian area with sharp shiny rocks all around us. We imagine Native Americans chipping off pieces for their arrowheads, which they undoubtably used to puncture and drain their painful blisters from this high friction foot destroying God forsaken place. Obsidian Falls is a beautiful and unexpected treat, followed by an even better cold water spring.

Heading by North Sister we get into some really nasty lava beds. The rocks are loose, rough and varied in shape. The trail is hot, dry and steep. It feels impossible for our feet to get purchase. It is however absolutely perfect if your goal is a sprained ankle or a strained calf.

We finally reach tiny South Matthieu Lake, which oddly has very strict camping rules. All the good sites are posted “Restoration – No Camping” or “Day Use Only.” Camping is only allowed within 15 feet of three wooden posts. The posts, perhaps as a joke, are placed in the three least desirable locations. We select the most of the least and pitch our tents. It is very windy, which is great for blowing away mosquitoes and dew, but cold and noisy for sleeping.

Lava Bed

South Matthieu Lake

Mile 1936 to 1956

I wake before Kevin and struggle in the dark to make coffee from one of those single serve speciality cup injecting trash creating makers. I have read somewhere that coffee sales are significantly declining because of these machines. I am unclear if this is a result of the single serve rather than whole pot phenomena, or if people are just giving up completely because it is too darn confusing. Label me a coffee pot belly.

Eventually I am noisy enough that Kevin wakes and we head to breakfast. We stuff ourselves with omelettes, potatoes, cereal, juices, breads, fruits and frankly whatever is not hidden behind a locked door.

Those Darn Socks at REI

At 10am we walk to REI to purchase more blister supplies and to exchange our lifetime guaranteed Darn Tough brand hiking socks, which now have several more holes than are actually necessary to insert our feet. There is confusion about whether this is a normal REI product return with proof of purchase required, or a manufacturer guarantee return. At first I think the guy is simply going to kill me to complete the lifetime guarantee, but eventually he agrees to take the 4 pairs of socks. Apparently these socks are Darn Tough Negotiators because when I try to pay for the $10 Second Skin blister kit, the clerk says I don’t owe anything. In fact he gives me a couple of dollars in change, saying something about a buy 3 get one free deal on the socks. Kevin and I give him our best “are you sure this is right?” looks. I come in with 4 pairs of holey socks and leave with 4 new pairs of socks, a blister kit, and change!? I am pretty sure if I included a handful of beads I would be leaving with Manhattan and the Louisiana Territory as well.

Jimmy John’s Sandwiches

We pick up some sandwiches and walk across town to the Cascade Lakes Highway which is really more like a two lane road through a business park. Kevin suggests we head down past the round-about so people will understand which way we want to go. He holds up a “PCT Elks” sign as we walk and like magic a truck pulls over. A couple of former forest service employees with their two dogs are headed out for a hike. They drive several miles past their intended destination to take us to our trailhead.

After downing our sandwiches and pawning our trash on some other good Samaritans we hike back up to the PCT. Our next water opportunity is in 6 miles at Sisters Mirror Lake. Since we got such a late start and we are testing various blister strategies, we call it a night. The lake is a very popular water spot, so it is crowded with a nice mix of day, section and thru-hikers.

Camping at Sisters Mirror Lake

Mile 1936 to 1950

We spend extra time tending to Kevin’s blisters but we are running low on bandage and Ibuprofen. Our goal is to get to Elk Resort for a nice meal and beg, borrow or steal first aid supplies. We load up on water and head out.

The trail is mostly downhill as we hike past Desane Lake, South Lake and Horseshoe Lake. We are still making okay time as we head up towards Dumbell Lake.

We have been hearing and seeing a water tanker plane and a smaller plane making multiple passes around us yesterday and today. It seems like there must be a fire south of us, but we are not seeing smoke. On the trail we encounter a very confused man in bright yellow heavy clothes, carrying a pick, and smelling like a campfire. He asks what trailhead I started from, which is always confusing to answer. Do you mean on April 3rd at the Mexican border? He mumbled something about trying to figure how far he has to go to get out. I don’t understand why he doesn’t just go out the way he came in. Later we heard there were several smoke jumpers for the fire, which may answer my earlier question.

Along the way we run into John, a section hiker we have seen several times the last few days. He recommends that rather than go to Sisters in a couple of days, we should hitch to Bend from Elk Resort today. Our options for first aid store selection will be much better, including an REI. In fact, since he is local and we seem to be hiking at the same pace, he offers us a ride. Or rather he offers that his wife who is picking him up at Elk Resort will give us a ride.

Downtown Bend

She agrees and they give us a quick tour of Bend and drops us off at the Hilton Garden, right next to the REI. We do not look nor smell like the rest of Hilton’s clients, but apparently my credit card has the power of forgiveness. Kevin does the laundry while I hike in my girls short shorts to RiteAid for blister supplies. Drivers, including the ones at the hotel front desk, always underestimate walking mileage. Either that or it now takes me over 15 minutes to go a quarter mile. I return with critical supplies, including a pile of two-for-one Snickers bars. After a mud slide of a shower we have a meal at the local service impaired grill and shakes from Ben and Jerry’s.

Tomorrow we will tackle REI. Tonight we tackle the TV remote control and end up watching The Maze Runner, with Kevin mumbling after every scene, “That’s not how it happened in the book.”

Mile 1912 to 1936

Our sleep by the shelter is less than satisfying. The trail crew talks loud and late into the night. When they finally retire an owl keeps the conversation going, but we’re not sure with who, who, who. In the early hours some insanely loud insects start their shift. We pack up quickly and hit the trail while the trail crew sleeps, probably exhausted from all that keeping us awake stuff.

Bobby Lake

From the shelter we hike to Bobby Lake for water. We probably could have made it to Charlton Lake, but it was not listed on Guthook’s elevation profile. Bobby Lake is beautiful. Kevin’s feet not so much. I filter and Kevin again tends to his blisters, though things are not going well in that department.

We hike through a long stretch of burn area. There is nothing like miles and miles of shadeless dead trees to make you appreciate the live ones. It is eerie crossing this standing and downed telephone pole farm. The wild flowers at the base of some of the poles reach out to cheer us up, but are mostly unsuccessful. It is just too hot.

Burn Area

We break for an early dinner at Brahma Lake. I take a quick swim while Kevin fights with his blisters. Just as the dehydrated beans are rehydrated and ready for tortillas, we experience a hydration bonus in the form of a thundershower. I scurry to set up my tent and toss in our gear. It comes down pretty hard, but not very long. In fact, it is just long enough to get everything wet and move on.

After dinner and drying we repack and push on to what is described as a scenic pond. Kevin arrives at camp and declares he cannot go on much longer like this. We need a solution to his blisters, but are kind of at a loss. We may stop at Elk Resort tomorrow and beg for more first aid supplies. We also may have to hitch out to Sisters in 60 miles for more serious help.

Scenic Pond Camp

Mile 1904 to 1912

We wake to golden mantled squirrels and chipmunks climbing all over our cowboy camp. They are interested in both our food and the surrounding huckleberries. Knowing how and where thru-hikers urinate at night, Kevin and I are less interested in these berries than the rodents are, who complete amazing acrobatic leaps to pluck the higher fatter juicy ones.

After a lazy breakfast we pack up and move to the tables by the general store where we have access to power outlets, WiFi and ice cream. Kevin and I pre-rinse ourselves and our dirtiest clothes by swimming in the lake. Socks in particular have to be pre-rinsed before laundering. This typically involves dipping and squeezing about 30-40 times, watching the the residue transition from espresso, to dark French roast, to mild Columbian, to very weak Sanka. It never approaches anything resembling clear water.

We put on our laundry time outfits, often taken from the hiker box. I wear a pair of girls short shorts while Kevin opts for his leotard looking base layer. After laundry we head for the showers. There is a rumor that one of the showers gives 3 minutes for $1.50, but the other one gives 5 minutes. Unfortunately no one seems to know which is which. Kevin takes the one on the right. I take the left. On the count of three we start the showers. After 3 minutes, Kevin screams “No!” I, however, enjoy another 2 minutes of heavenly bliss.

Diner at Rosary Lake

After eating trail food that won’t fit in our packs and ice cream that always fits in our bellies, we pack up to go. We hike back up to the trail and head north. Any miles today just knock down the daily average required to reach our next resupply in 6 days. We pass several beautiful lakes and then stop to eat dinner and filter water by the northern Rosary Lake. We press on a few more miles to Maiden Peak Shelter. The shelter has been taken over by a large group of PCT volunteer trail workers. We thank them for their service and pitch our tents nearby.

Maiden Peak Shelter

Mile 1888 to 1904

Summit Lake Foot Care

We wake knowing we face 6 miles of up towards Diamond Peak. Kevin soaks his feet in Summit Lake and tends to blisters. He is convinced my suggestions of draining and taping have been a complete and utter failure. I am tempted to deploy the economic and political trick of relative comparison to a mythical event. His problems clearly are the result of earlier bad decisions and if I had not arrived it would now be much much worse. So, what appears on the surface as total failure is actually my greatest achievement. Quick, shake my hand so you can thank me.

As we hike our way over the ridge we become a couple of Huckleberry Hounds. They are everywhere and make forward progress impossible. We drop packs and start picking. Our tongues become corpse-like purple from their delicious juicy goodness. A bear somewhere is ticked we have raided his patch. Stomachs aching from gluttony, we waddle on.

Huckleberries

We eventually reach the side road leading to Shelter Cove. Following our GPS, we nervously walk along then cross the active railroad tracks. Kevin is sure we are re-enacting a scene from Stand By Me, and I am pretty sure I will end up as the dead body hit by a train.

At the Shelter Cove store they quickly find the new external battery package but unfortunately not the package with six days of food. I am told to come back in a half hour when they will have more staff and can spend more time looking. In the mean time I buy a six pack of root beer to down while we watch the show of weary thru-hikers interacting with hordes of RV driving campers and fishermen.

I return to the store to begin again the quest for my food box. After a frantic round of looking the woman declares the box is not here, as if that statement would somehow satisfy. When I point to her open book and ask how my name got in it, she says in a tone that clearly questions my educational upbringing that of course they log the packages when they arrive. Bingo! Other staff members, clearly more experienced at playing hide and seek eventually find our package.

Cowboy Camping Selfie

We take over a picnic table and sort the pile of food, unclear how we will fit it all in our packs. I get change for laundry and showers, which we will probably not do until tomorrow. Camping is $8 per tent. That means a one man ultra-light tent costs the same as a 12 person gypsy circus tent. Since we are cowboy camping, I am not sure how much to pay. The mosquitoes make us regret not setting up tents. We hide under our way too hot sleeping bags.

Tomorrow we plan a lazy day of washing, lake swimming and ice cream consuming. We will hike out in the afternoon for a short relaxing day.

Shelter Cove General Store

Mile 1867 to 1888

We wake, eat quickly and try not to wake the southbounder who has joined our camp. As we hike the 2 miles to the spring trail split, we are glad we camped where we did. The terrain only gets steeper and impossible to camp on.

Spring Trickle

At the spring trail split, Kevin tends to his blisters. I empty my pack and carry a water filter and 5 empty bottles down 4/10 of a mile. There are disgusting muck ponds, but further down I find a trickle of a flow and manage to fill the 5 liters.

Meanwhile Kevin talks to a thru-hiker up on the ridge who earlier met a group of gun carrying Sasquatch believers. They claim the local rangers are well aware of the colony, and there have been many confirmed sightings. I’m pretty sure they are mistaking the hairy, stinky, fast moving, herd of thru-hikers as the colony.

Lake View

We are seeing a lot of southbound thru-hikers. They usually start mid-July to mid-August, and they are hitting us now. They tell us that contrary to the guidebooks, Shelter Cove has no restaurant. They do have a microwave for frozen pizza and hot dogs. At least our expectations have been properly set.

We pass yet another water cache at a service road. We don’t need water, but stop to make tortilla wraps with peanut butter and beef jerky, which is surprisingly tasty. We hike mostly downhill to the beautiful but mosquito-y Summit Lake. We are spoiled by the pit toilet and picnic table. Kids are riding their bikes through our camp, but we don’t mind. It is good to see kids free from electronics and off the couch. We try to sleep with blinding moonlight shining on our tents.

Luxury Camp at Summit Lake

Mile 1845 to 1867

Un-used Cache

We wake in our mosquito pit and start hiking towards Mount Thielsen and more importantly Thielsen Creek, our glacial water source.  We come upon a water cache at the fire service road. We do not take any, proud that we have carried and managed to ration our own.

The creek water has awesome flow and is extremely cold. The views of the mountain make hurrying off impossible. We take our time, filter water, soak our feet and tend to Kevin’s growing blisters. For lunch we treat ourselves to tortilla wraps with tuna, cheese and an entire bag of Frito’s, which gives it needed crunch.

Thielsen Creek

Today we reach the highest point on the PCT in Oregon, which at a measly 7,560 feet is not particularly impressive. We are however high enough to check in with Terri and hear that a battery pack is on its way. We can now begin using our GPS and map applications more regularly.

We face a long waterless and campsiteless stretch. The side slope is extremely steep. We find a reasonable spot to cook dinner on the trail. After a short break, we push on towards a small saddle, hoping it will have a flat spot for our tents. We are in luck. Except for the trash from previous residents, we find a completely acceptable patch of dirt to call our home for the night.

Mile 1818 to 1845

PCT vs Rim Trail

We wake again to wet bags and tents, with dew and condensation being the primary suspects. We will need to dry our gear later, assuming we can remember.

We road walk back to the PCT then hike up the old PCT route to the rim. Why it has been rerouted away from one of the most beautiful lakes on the planet is beyond my comprehension. We hike the old route guilt free, as it still has the PCT emblems embedded in trees along the way. At the rim we are treated to awesome views of the Ty-D-Bol blue lake. It is so blue it simply does not look real.

With cell service on the rim, we call Terri and beg for an external battery rescue. She agrees to purchase something and ship it to Shelter Cove, our next resupply.

Crater Lake

At the Rim Village store we treat Kevin’s blisters which are becoming a significant problem. We also load up on water which will be our last for over 27 miles. We must look particularly pathetic outside the store, because a stranger offers us nectarines and plums, then runs out to his car to get them. We are appreciative and they are awesome.

Walking the rim of Crater Lake requires a lot of stopping to ogle or take pictures. At one stop a couple appears and the guy asks if we are thru-hikers. I admit I am. He then declares he has hiked the PCT. I fall for the trap and ask what year. He says “1970”. I comment that his pack must have been heavier than ours. He then proclaims he was the first person ever to hike the PCT. Now he may or may not have been, I really don’t know nor care, but I can’t help asking how he knows he was the first. He looks dejected and says “You don’t believe me.” I say “Even if you were the first how would you know?” She then jumps in as if to clear up the confusion and says “You know those medals you get for completing the PCT?” He jumps back in and says “You can thank me for that” and sticks out his arm to receive my appreciative handshake. My hand however is already clinched into a fist, so I offer the classic PCT fist bump instead.

Kevin on Rim

As we continue along the rim, laughing and unclear what just happened, we enjoy more awesome views of the lake and Wizard Island. The golden-mantled ground squirrels, cheeks bulging with food, are begging for more, exactly as I remember from my childhood.

Later down the trail a clearly thru-hiking couple catches up to us. The woman says “Hey, you were so engaged in your conversation that you walked right by us. We were having a snack.” We have no idea who these people are, did not notice passing them and if we did we would not stop to chat as if they were long lost best friends. When she asks our trail names we tell her Rick and Kevin. She is so confused and dejected by our unwillingness to participate in this fantasy that she wanders off mumbling that she loves trail names but ironically fails to tell us theirs.

Thru-hiker egos seem to be a lot like golden-mantled cheeks. No matter how much attention and love you stuff in there, they are always begging for more. Kevin and I are clearly not good at this game.

We stop at 4:30 to dry gear and cook an early Indian curry dinner. We hike the rest of way to camp being eaten by mosquitoes, punishment for not having trail names. Where are the frogs when you need them?

Kevin and Rick at Crater Lake

Mile 1806 to 1818

We wake pretty much alive, feeling confident the tree did not crush us. Today is a fairly easy 12 miles to highway 62, our exit to Mazama Village, where we have two packages waiting. One contains 4 days of food. The other a computer course loaded iPod Nano. According to Guthook’s app the restaurant has a hiker friendly all-you-can-eat buffet. We hike imagining what type of food it is. We road walk the last mile to the restaurant. They have a very serviceable all you can expel restroom, but no all-you-can-eat buffet. We will be back later for the a la carte options.

Crater Lake Here We Come!

At the general store we participate in a bizarre community theater production of “Are you kidding me?” It opens with me standing in line for my boxes, which I am required to sign for even though the person who gives them out is not around and I need to come back to this line later. I ask about backpacker camping and get sent to the lodging desk line. Eventually I am told I have been sent to the wrong line and need to stand in the campground kiosk line. After standing in the kiosk line I am told they do not take credit cards. I say no problem, and provide a $20 bill, which apparently is far too large for a $10 charge. I am sent back inside to stand in the store line for change. At this point I am tempted to shove my $20 in the change machine and drop $10 of quarters on his desk, but with Kevin here I am the better man and stand in the long line for proper change in $5 bills. I then go back to the kiosk to stand in that line again, followed by a new line at the store to inquire about the boxes I signed for ages ago, but still have not received. I don’t want to spoil the ending, but will say it involves a mantra and a lot of deep breathing.

After showers and laundry we sort food then search for outlets to recharge our devices. My external lithium battery appears to be failing. In Ashland I was not able to increase the charge, even when it was plugged in overnight. We are experiencing the same problem here. This is a serious problem. We are on a long stretch without stores and outlets. Blogging may be put on hold, since the phone is also our only maps and GPS.

For dinner we return to the formerly-a-buffet restaurant where there is a huge line of people waiting. Unless this place is actually serving ghosts, there appears to be a plethora of empty chairs and tables. The staff seem to see no connection between the standing people and the empty chairs. We eventually are seated and order salad and pizza. After being cooked, the pizza sits on the counter for ages. I am pretty sure this place is stuck in some Hotel California trap where you can’t serve yourself and the staff can’t serve you either.

We return to our campsite, fall asleep in our tents and dream of hiker friendly places.

Mile 1782 to 1806

I wake in the night to the sounds of a deer breaking branches on his way to the spring. There is splashing and frantic panting. It seems he has fallen in and is struggling to get out. Oh deer.

When I reawaken at my normal time I notice condensation in and on my tent and sleeping bag. We will need to find some drying time later, but not now. It is time to get going.

Rocky Trail

On a Fitpacking trip in Shenandoah a client described a rough portion of the trail as truck loads of loose bricks dumped on the ground and tilted at an incline. That pretty much describes huge sections of today’s trail. The good news is that the rocks are above treeline and the vistas quite spectacular. The bad news is we are being eaten alive by mosquitoes. We are hiking with netting over our heads.

As we crest the summit by Devil’s Peak, a local tells us the mosquitoes are much better on this side. He credits a bunch of frogs for the miracle. I tell him if I didn’t smell so bad, I would hug him. Sure enough, on this side there are few mosquitoes. As we approach each little creek, there are thousands of tiny frogs everywhere. Our first reaction is to catch some and take them with us. They can ride on our shoulders, head, or where ever they want, as long as they eat the attacking mozzies.

I have wondered what a plague of frogs is really like. I mean frogs, really? They are so cute and harmless, what is the problem? Today we figured it out. The frogs do not harm directly. They let you maim and kill yourself by twisting, turning and contorting so as not to step on the little devils. And Devils they are, jumping onto and into everything we put on the ground. There really can be too much of a good thing.

Rock Climbing

We stop at a small campsight and cook dinner. It gives us a break and the energy to push on. In 3.5 more miles we stop for the day. Our 24 miler is a new record for Kevin. This camp is covered with super light lava rocks, the kind that float if you put them in water. It feels like we are on some fake movie set and it is impossible to use these large rocks to keep your tarp from flying away or to pound in stakes.

A huge tree nearby is making the same sound our neighbor’s pine tree made right before it came crashing down through a fence and into the street. There are so many downed trees all around, we are pretty sure we know what this one is planning. We un-stake and move Kevin’s tent to what we assume is a safer location.

As I set up I realize I did not stop to dry out my tent and sleeping bag. What an idiot. I sleep in the damp as punishment.

Resting at Devils Peak

Mile 1761 to 1782

Between my waking a little late and Kevin needing to tend to his blistery feet, we get a slower than usual start. Even the college students and their high school teacher break camp before we do.

Lava

I remember a time in my life, mostly before college, when I liked to play Hot Lava. It is a simple game where all the floors are presumed to be molten rocks that if touched cause instant death and even longer lasting humiliation from the other players. The game typically involves strategically arranging furniture and pillows. With as few as two such items you can move about the house. Standing on one, you place the other in the desired direction of travel. Climb on the newly placed item and pick up the other one. Repeat until you arrive, or your mother yells at you for walking on the furniture.

Hot Lava?

Today I feel we are playing the opposite of Hot Lava. We are traveling through vast black volcanic rock bolder fields. The trail is a meandering vein of small red lava rocks and dust, through the otherwise black barren landscape. The effect is one of eerily walking down a thin river of hot lava. Given the endless green tunnels we have been hiking, the effect is interesting and quite pleasing. Mile after mile however the novelty wears as thin as the soles of my shoe on this high friction surface. Another issue becomes apparent when nature calls and you realize the difficulty of digging a cat hole in this environment, let alone the inability to establish any reasonable sense of privacy.

After 10 miles of this, we arrive at a creek crossing. This is our only water for the day, other than the seasonal spring we hope to find at tonight’s camp in 11 more miles. We filter several litres. Kevin washes his aching feet and socks, which may or may not also be aching.

We had earlier asked Terri via email to process a banking transaction for Kevin. We later received a reply email saying “Mission accomplished.” The email also said I should call when I get a chance. I have checked many times and have had no service. We have been playing a game called “Why Does Terri Want Me To Call?” We have ruled out “I miss you and just want to hear your voice” as it appears out of character and has never been spoken before. We are thinking it is more likely “I need to buy a car. Do you care or can I just pick one?” I am hoping it is nothing more serious.

We arrive at the spring and find a stealth campsite behind some bushes. We make dinner wearing our mosquito head nets, but unfortunately eating requires us to remove them. We filter water with several other hikers. This is the last water for a while so everyone is loading up.

We retire early. No signs of Mount Shasta, and Franco is still dead.

Washing