Day 10 2015

Three Fingered Jack

New growth in burn area

Trail from morning

Burn area

More burn area

Morning view

Friday, Aug 28. Ended the day at 1998.4, for 21.6 miles today.

I pushed hard to get all the way to the Santiam Pass trailhead given the rain forecast, and made it about 5:20pm. I met a lady I saw on the trail (a triple crowner - AT, PCT, and CDT). Her husband was following her with as support, and they offered me a ride into Sisters OR where I got a motel. The motel owner offered me a ride back to the trail Monday morning, so I am all set!

Today was overcast which was great considering how exposed the trail was. I hiked most of the day through a burn area...hours. the fire was from 2003. The trail was fairly easy. Still, back to back 20+ mile days beat me up.

I've completed 146 miles so far. Still not very hungry. Legs and feet are holding up and I am beginning to feel stronger. Glad for the rest this weekend.

Day 9, 2015

Finished at 2021.0 for 23.1 miles today. Pretty long, especially if you were to count the 2-3 miles I wandered around off trail. Made camp late, under headlamp, so no pic of campsite.

Today I heard there is a significant rain event for Washington and northern Oregon  for Fri-Sun time frame.

Today I have 22 to 23 miles to get to Santium Pass (hyway 20) where I will hitch into either Sisters or Bend. We'll see if I get there tomorrow or the next day.

The day started with haze, but it really wasn't to bad. Some nice overlooks. More exposed to sun though.

Today's trail

Morning haze

Where I was

Got my feet wet crossing this stream

Mt Jefferson

Snow melt run-off

Day 8 2015

A river of boulders

View from my deck

My room

Ended at 2043.1, for only 9.0 miles. Stopped at Olalie Lake resort. They have a small store and primitive cabins (no electric, no inside water). The owner gave me a rate on a cabin, and what the heck, I took it.

The plan: I have 44 miles to Santium Pass, where I will head to town for a zero. So, 20 miles tomorrow,  20 miles the next, that only leaves me 4 miles on Sat to get to the highway and town.

Today was hazy again. Fine in the woods, but not for longer views. I will be traveling into the Mt Jefferson area the next couple of days.

Day 7 2015

Ended at 2052.1 for 22.1 miles today. More than I wanted, but had to get to water source.

It was more clear today,  but still walking through woods almost all day. Weather was fine, a little warm in the afternoon.

Lake near my camp last night

Typical view of trail for today

View, 1 of just a couple

View of burn area

My campsite

Day 6 2015

Ended at 2075.3 for 19.2 miles. It was an easy treadway, started at about 6,000', ended around 3,300'.

The weather was perfect. Caught the 6:13am bus back to Timberline, then off on the trail! Well, the wrong trail for a while but I made it back to the PCT eventually.

When there were views, they were cloaked in smoke or haze. Walking through the woods was fine.

Listened to the entire season of the "Serial" podcast.

Last look back at Timberline, ski area

Typical trail

More trail

Campsite

Day 4 2015

Campsite for 2 nights

Here's another pic of tunnel falls

The area I have been in

The "other" bridge I meant to show in previous post

Very short day today since I was ahead of schedule.  Ended at Timberline Lodge mile 2094.5 for just 1.7 miles.

This morning I could smell smoke for the first time, and it got real smokey, real fast. Hope it is from a distant fire, and the wind changes direction. Currently the trail is closed at the N Crater Lake entrance, hope this resolves by the time I get there.

So, I had the famous Timberland breakfast buffet,  it was only ok. I have not developed a hiker hunger yet. After breakfast I caught a local bus into Govt Camp, where I have reservations for Sat and Sun nights. Then catch the bus back to Timberline and off for the second segment. This time for 5 days.

Laundry done, shower, and resupply box received.

Watched pirates win with walk off homer. Excellent game!

Day 3 2025

Lots of switchbacks

Bridge

same bridge, my fault

Ramona falls. Very nice!

View

Campsite

Started at 2111.7 finished at 2096.2 for 15.5 miles today. Today was a lot of switchbacks, mostly going up. I'm at 5540 elevation, and started at just 220ft, so you know I've been going up.

I'm a little ahead of schedule, holding up fine so far. I have a blister on my right heel, but not too bad.

I've seen a mix of thru hikers and dayhikers    going north.

Gets cold around dawn. Rest of today was perfect.

Day 2 2015

Morning view

Afternoon view

Mt Hood - I think

Campsite

Started around 6:30 from mile 2125.1, finished the day at 2111.7 for 13.4 miles. I stopped early so I wouldn't push too hard.

Day started in the clouds. Everything was wet, at times a little rain. Then 11:00am came and the sun popped out for the rest of the day.  Nice breeze.



 

Day 1 2015

I woke up early, dropped off my rental car and took a taxi to the trailhead. Got started about 6:45. Today was hot hot (there was a heat advisory). Fortunately the path was relatively easy and well shaded. So it just felt hot.

Started at 2144.2, ended at 2125.1 for 19.1 miles today. Took the eagle creek alternative that took me passed tunnel falls. That was impressive. Using my new bivey for cowboy camping (also in my tarp).

Got lost for a while, awesome scenery, pleasant trail. My knee held up pretty good. Over-all, a very pleasant first day!

First steps on the trail

Punch bowl falls

Tunnel falls

Sharp drop off. See the iron rope hand rail?

Mt Hood...I think

Campsite for night 1