Oregon: Done in 16 days. (D-90: 1952.6 - 1982.6, D-91: 1982.6 - 2012.6, D-92: 2012.6 - 2046.6, D-93: 2046.6 -2079.7, D-94: 2079.7 - 2110, D-95: 2110 - 2140, D-96: 2140 - 2148)
A lava field (lava field video link) that I hiked through on Day 90 - miles of seemingly other-worldly area consisting of hard & sharp rocks on the trail. Shoe-destroying stuff!
Also went through a part of the Obsidian Rocks area. Here is one such rock:
Coming to more prosaic (but more important for me) stuff, it was resupply boxes and a potential for getting breakfast at Big Lake Youth Camp on Day 91. BLYC lies along the PCT and I had sent one resupply box there. In addition, had got a new tube of Ultrathon mosquito repellent shipped there as well as my old hiking boots (thanks to Shalini). After months of wearing trail running shoes (Altra Lone Peak Hiker), I decided to try boots and why not the ones that I had lying at home, I thought. My 2nd pair of Altras were thoroughly destroyed by now (see pic below) with big holes in each shoe and the sole pretty much devoid of traction. I used it from mile 900 to almost mile 2000, so perhaps not too bad.
After a quick 17 mile hike, reached BLYC around 9:45 am and signed in. Luckily they still had breakfast items out for the staff and they invited me to have it.
Cinnamon rolls, veggie patties, oatmeal, peaches in syrup along with coconut milk. All vegan and oh so delicious! It is unlimited and hikers are welcome to the meal free of cost. They also have a nice PCT hiker cabin with laundry machines, clean showers & bathrooms, coffee, charging outlets, hiker box etc. All this for free! Donations are appreciated but not needed. What a wonderful facility! Took full advantage of the shower and laundry too.
The lady on the left was one of the volunteer staff members at the Camp and she & her husband had been to Hyderabad three times on charitable missions. What a coincidence!
Three hours after first arriving, left BLYC and crossed this mile marker:
But, within a few hundred meters, disaster stuck! The front half of the soles of both my hiking boots delaminated and tore off 😳. Guess this happens after shoes are stored for a long time 😏. Luckily this happened less than a mile from a major highway crossing which led to the cities of Sisters and then Bend. And on the whole PCT, the only REI which is close to the trail is in Bend. So, I quickly decided to hitch a ride to Bend, buy new shoes at REI and then get back on the trail later in the evening. I told my hiking companion to go ahead and I would meet up within the next 3-4 days.
Getting a hitch took a long time, but ultimately got one to Sisters, which had a hiking gear store and had shoes in my size. Bought a new pair and then hitched back to the trail (with a young man whose sister was adopted from Bangalore)! Started back on the trail by 5 pm and hiked till almost 9 pm when the Sun set, but I was back at the agreed upon campsite for the night 🙂.
Went through some pretty places the next couple of days, with relatively fewer mosquitoes and fewer sections of snow to slow us down.
Day 94 was the one where we would cross the famed Timberline Lodge - a fancy ski resort but also a National Historic building and part of the movie Shining. However, as far as PCT hikers were concerned, the $25 breakfast and lunch buffet was the key. It is always food 😀. Made it well in time for the lunch buffet after a 12-mile hike. Met a bunch of other thru-hikers at the Lodge who either had the breakfast buffet or were going to have the lunch buffet. It was interesting to see a bunch of backpacks lying around the waiting area in front of the dining room in this upscale hotel, with not-so-clean hikers lounging around in sharp contrast to the hotel guests 🙂.
Yesterday was to the last full day of hiking in Oregon. Took an alternate route which runs along Eagle Creek - a more scenic and more popular option to the official PCT route for the last 15 miles in Oregon.
And, finally this morning, crossed the famous (due to the book & movie "Wild" where the author ends her PCT adventure here) Bridge of the Gods at the Oregon/Washington border.
Taking a Nero day today at Cascade Locks for arranging resupply for the Washington leg and tomorrow will be a Zero day to hopefully completely rest & recharge.
Data:
D-90:
D-91:
D-92:
D-93:
D-94:
D-95:
D-96:
Comments