Day 125: Dash and I had 10 miles to get to Elk Lake. There we plan to get a ride into Bend and spend a day or two, hoping the fire closure will open. I think it might slightly be bull shit and they’re just closing off parts of the trail due to the high amount of people coming out for the eclipse. So I’m hoping it will open. The 10 miles went by pretty fast. I waited at the top of the hill for Dash that looked at Elk Lake. Jamming to some Nahko bear when we came we booked it down. Ready to be to town and get some food. We arrived at 10:15 and legit the funniest thing ever happened. As we got near the camp we saw some kids riding on bikes and right when we got next to them one of them looked at us and said, “are you Dash and Express?” We gave each other a funny look and replied yes while giggling. All they said after was “follow us.” Dash and I were cracking up as we followed these random kids through the woods. We were like this is some children of the corn shit right here. But they led us to Tim and Freckles and their trail angels, Karen and Carrie. After saying hi we went to the restaurant to eat and hang out with some other hikers. We ended up being able to catch a ride from L-Trains friend to Bend and she dropped us off at Auntie Sunshine’s House, a trail angel in Bend. Squarepants, Tarzan, Birdie, and Coma were already there. This legit ended up being my favorite stay on the trail. I was surrounded by an abundant amount of happiness and love the entire time. That night we had a big bbq filled with so much delicious food, even veggie burgers for me!!! We drank, sang to oldies, danced, and had a good time. And listening to all of us sing horribly to songs like Bohemian Rhapsody was simply amazing. I had a beautiful conversation with Coma. About life and spirituality. Immediately it was just deep and real. We talked about his life, almost failed marriage, his change in views about love and life is what brought him to the trail. We talked about me, my non-stop brain, and the power within. Conversations like this don’t just normally happen with someone you just met, so it was truly special. We ended the night with a large snuggle puddle in the back yard. 8 dirty dirty hikers laying side by side in just our sleeping bags curled up ready to sleep under the familiar stars. And what I didn’t know is that the rest of my time here, would just get even better.

Day 124: Last night at the cabin was nice. It was kind of strange saying good bye to Frank this morning. He was the young SOBO hiker who was in the cabin with me last night. When he was leaving I looked down from the loft and he looked up to me and we just waved good bye. I barely knew him, but for some reason I felt like I was saying goodbye to someone close come. Nobody from my trail family showed up, I’m sure they just stayed and camped at the lake. I enjoyed breakfast with Fire Dick. Making some coffee and eating my last donut from my care package before heading out. It was a great start to the day! On the walk I passed by a SOBO hiker who commented on my smile, which made my day even better. I hiked 30 miles today, listened to music and podcasts for awhile. Again, it was another day of forest walking and passing a ton of lakes and ponds. A majority of the day though I felt….off? Like numb, spiritually not physically. I had no energy, not happy, not sad, just here. It felt like everything around me was at a standstill and I was just moving through it. Wandering aimlessly. I heard very few birds, saw almost no animals. It was like everything around me was almost fake, I feel like I was in a video game. This all started to make me feel more alone and lonelier than I have the entire trail. I just want someone to hold me, to feel something I guess. I got to camp at the lake pretty early. I met a cool guy who is doing a section hike and gave me a couple bags of his trail mix which I was stoked for since I was out of snacks. And all I ever really want to eat is snacks, not even meals. While at the lake I also met Double D and Doc, who had just began but planned to hike from here to Canada. Super cool funny guys. If they wouldn’t have just planted their asses down next to me I would have gladly kept to myself, but In the end I’m so glad they did. It kind of pulled me out of my rut. After chatting for a bit Dash arrived, and we decided to hike just about another mile to be able to have a short walk tomorrow into Elk Lake. So we ended up camping at Horseshoe Lake. During dinner I told Dash about my weird mindset today, and he said it’s because of all the blueberries and huckleberries I’ve been eating. That gave me a good laugh. We made a bet on what time Tim and Freckles would be by. I forget but I think we heard them pass around 9:45-10pm. They had been determined to make it to Elk Lake campground tonight as the trail angels who took care of them in Truckee came up to visit. They ended up making it there crazy late and gave them about a 39 mile day I think.

Day 123: Welp today is August 16…..my 4 month anniversary on the trail. It’s going so fast, I swear I just entered Oregon and it’s already almost done. Every time I have one of these anniversaries I really think about how blessed I am to be on the trail. And all that I’ve experienced so far, and how I don’t want it to ever end. In the morning I walked a couple of miles along the shore of Summit Lake. It was beautiful and legit probably 10 times I almost stopped to swim. But it was morning and I always have a hard time justifying a break before I get any miles in. And it was kind of cool so it made it less appealing. Throughout the rest of day the trail continued to pass numerous ponds. All of which were much larger than any ponds I’ve ever seen. The easily resembled small lakes. The trail was really nice today. At times I was on open peaks looking out as far as I could, and some of the time under the trees listening to birds and seeing the sun reflect of water. On one of the peaks of the day I passed Happy Feet. We passed each other often and a few times through out today. She never says much of anything to me, just keeps to herself, but apparently she was trekking through the Sierras alone and went to ford a creek. There was a log that used to be above the water but was now submerged a little, and decided to get on the downstream side of the log to create an eddy for herself. At some point she was pushed under water. Holding onto the log for her life she kept trying to pull up but couldn’t. She had to just let go, and luckily she did because she was stopped by some stuff in the water further down where she was able to pull herself out of the water. She got super banged up and had to leave the trail for a bit, but she ended up going back to the trail where she left off and has hiked since then. (Sry if I already wrote this story) but today we passed again with just quick hellos as one of us walked past the other. Just after lunch I passed the Road to Shelter Cover and seriously thought about walking to it, as I was pretty far ahead of everyone, but they didn’t have milkshakes from what I heard so I deemed it was pointless and kept on the trail. My day ended shortly after Rosary Lakes. I love all these lakes we get to experience that are surrounded by trees you can clearly see in the water reflection. Along the shore I met a large group of people who were out doing a practice backpacking trip, some of them to practice for the PCT. They were all so kind and so interested in hearing about my experience. After I left them I went on to find a spot where nobody could see me since I’d be taking my clothes off, and once I did. I stripped down and jumped right into the water. It was colder than I expected, but that didn’t stop me from staying in for quite a while. Plus it takes a long time to try and scrub off all the dirt from my feet/legs. When I get out I decided to do some laundry also, then eat dinner as my clothes dried. Part of me wanted to stay here, but I knew just 2 miles ahead there was a ski shelter I could sleep in. Then I’d be super warm and cozy all night. A good anniversary gift! I left the lake wondering if everyone else would just stay and camp here or meet at the shelter like we talked about. (They end up camping at the lake). The shelter is awesome! I am sleeping upstairs in a loft area, only worried about if there’s mice around here. There’s a SOBO hiker here, and Fire Dick comes later at night. Oh, and my big toe nail is barely hanging on right now. I should just probably tear it off, but I just can’t. And want to wait until I’m in town when I could clean it. Nobody wants an open wound on their foot out here. That would not turn out good.

Day 122: Booked it today and did 30 miles by 4pm. At the beginning of the day I passed by the Oregon high point which sits at 7,573 feet. I also passed by Em, Lou, and L-Train eating breakfast at Thielsen Creek. Which is funny because after the Sierras 7,000 feet seems like absolutely nothing. Today was pretty boring just a ton of forest. That gets so boring because there’s nothing to stare at, but you can keep a solid pace. Hikers always talk about how Oregon is so easy. And it is. After the Sierras I can easily hold 3-4mph consistently throughout a 30 mile day. The flat lands help a lot! That is the one perk of Oregon. I wish I would have done a max mile day here just to see what I could hit. Another part of Oregon that isn’t too fun is that a lot of our water sources are coming from stagnant ponds/lakes rather than fresh cold water flowing streams. Luckily, I knew at camp there was a large water cache someone had left for us hikers! So nice to not have to filter. I arrived at camp at 4 walking towards Drum Solo, Dorian, and Pacer. They were staying here but planning to hike some more miles, either further down the trail or on the road towards Shelter Cove. We hung out for quite awhile. They are hysterical I always have so much fun hanging out with them. Drum Solo and Dorian were practicing their fancy juggling skills. Sassofrass showed up a little later, and her and some other hikers were planning to head to Shelter Cove to hang out. A big topic on trail right now is where everyone wants to be for the Eclipse, and fires ahead of us. That have closed even more of the trail. At the water cache there was also first aid, solar chargers/portable chargers for use, and eclipse glasses! Many hikers came and went while I was there. Soon L-Train, Em and Lou, Tim and Freckles, and Dash all showed up. L-Train, Em, and Lou were just hanging to eat before continuing on. I felt super good and honestly wanted to keep hiking when I arrived to camp since it was so early, but there was no point. The biggest bummer about this night is that the campsite was loaded with hikers. I enjoy people and chatting, but smaller groups are more my style, plus it’s more quiet.

Day 121: Left the campsite at a good time and headed to Crater Lake. The hike started out with a pretty decent uphill that we totally crushed. I went off ahead as the others stopped to get coffee I think. The hike was beautiful. I was not actually on the PCT at this point. A high majority of hikers hike the West Rim Trail instead. Which is so beautiful!!! You’d be walking within trees then all of the sudden walk to an open spot to see the bright blue water looking back at you. Lots of small up and downs, endless winding, walking on roads being constructed, it was different. Finally I was hiking behind a small hill which would in the end wrap around at a main spot to look at the lake. In the short distance I could see a lot of smoke from the fire still happening. Side note: afterwards speaking to people who left yesterday afternoon, the smoke was so bad the lake was grey and barely visible. So we were very lucky to have good views of it. I ran into Simon, he had wanted to get some sun rise views, but said it was too cold this morning so he got out a little later than he had wanted. I get to the main spot and WOW!! It’s insanely beautiful here. So many tourists though so I go off to one end and sit and hang out. After awhile Simon, Tim, Freckles, and Dash show up. We all enjoy lunch together before heading on. It was super fun to hike with everyone. We continued walking past a lot of tourists before heading out into the trail which was a big flat open area. We knew we had a few miles to walk before there was a water cache left for us to refill. When we got there I had service, and received a message from my good friend Brit. She got engaged!!!! I was so excited!!! It made me instantly so happy and gave me much more energy to keep hiking on for the day. We passed Mt. Thielsen and Thielsen Creek before setting up camp. It’s a quite a beautiful day. Time to get back to normal Oregon hiking tomorrow.

Day 120: with the short 6 miles into the parking lot, I started early and headed out. I hiked with a bunch of hikers, a lot I had yet to meet. Walked with Fire Dick, Monk, side note. Monk is legit he was straight up hiking in Birkenstocks. I forget the names of other hikers but it was fun to have different conversations with different people, and sometimes to just walk behind and listen to the things they talked about. After a couple short hours we saw the sign. Trail Closed ahead, detour on Seven Mile Trail. So there we went off onto the detour route. When I arrived at the parking lot there were at least 10 other hikers there eating. I stayed just a short minute, then all at once everyone decided to start hiking. There was a cool pic going around if 3 of us with the same packs walking next to each other. It was seriously so cool to meet a group of new people. After a bit of walking a car pulled up behind us and picked up a group of hikers. Then another. And some of us were still walking. I didn’t want to walk 20+ miles on the road, so when Scott came up in his mini van I hopped in. Scott is the same trail angel who picked L-Train and I up to head into Ridgecrest. He apparently just pays attention to things happening on the trail and then drives to where he is needed the most. We passed Gentlemen while driving, bolting down the road in his short shorts and long legs. Super cool guy, who I have chatted with multiple times so far and will later on as well. Shortly we entered into Mazama Village. Which is the park for Crater Lake. I immediately went to the store to see if my package from Lisa, Toni, and Yago was there. AND IT WAS!!! I ripped it right open and got out a glorious @johnnydoughnuts and it was my favorite kind. The old fashioned chocolate caramel sea salt. I took it into the restaurant, sat at the table with all the guys, ordered a coffee. And enjoyed every single bite of that donut. After breakfast I basically just hung out at the picnic tables by the store waiting for my trail fam, and looking at all the amazing goodies in my care package. Many hikers came and went, some stayed, some were Sobos. Which was nice as we could discuss trail conditions to help each other out. Later everyone got there, Em and Lou, Tim and Freckles, L-Train, Dash, Dorian, Drum Solo, Pacer. Me, Freckles, Dash, Pacer, Dorian, and Drum Solo all went to dinner together. We enjoyed some wine and good food and chatted. Dorian told us about his experience on the Camino and now we all really want to go! *and now I am in 2018!* After dinner we had to walk a little bit to find the campgrounds, then even once we were there we had to find Tim. We finally get to the campground and we are searching for Tim and Freckles tent. But we’re trying to be quiet because everyone’s asleep. We think we found their tent, but Freckles is right by the door saying Tim’s name. And nothing is happening. So is it the right tent? We are hysterically laughing thinking she is at the wrong tent. She even opens the door a little, recognizes things. But we’re still a little shaded about it. Then Tim finally walks up, it is their tent. He just went to the bathroom. It was quite funny. Plus the wine made it obviously more funny. Today was great. It was a very light day filled with a lot of good connections. Tomorrow I get to see the marvelous Crater Lake

Day 119: Hiked 33 miles again today. Although those miles felt harder, slower, and more boring than yesterday, I held the same pace. I had a beautiful moment today where I truly felt like I am doing exactly what I should be doing, that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. While I was bored I did my best to think good and happy thoughts which totally helped out. Today was interesting we passed a ton of side trails to multiple different lakes, like probably 10 of them. We passed through the forest and some beautiful open areas where you could just look out and see waves on mountains. And sometimes Mt. McLoughlin. I camped at one of the Snow Lakes, which were definitely not lakes. Oregon likes to call a lot of things lakes and they’re actually just ponds. But it was nice enough. I got to clean my clothes and shower, although it made me quite cold. Then laid my clothes out to dry, unfortunately not quickly as the sun went down fast. Since I was kind of down in a mountain the hills blocked the sun quite early. I hung out and stretched and walked around to see what else I could find. I read my book for a good long while. And then started hoping I’d see everyone else tonight. I always just take off then sit, curious if anyone will be camping with me. After a bit Simon makes it down! He is going to camp with me, and Later we see Lou who came down to get water, and him Em, and L-Train, are camping higher right off the PCT. We found out today again, just how the trail provides. That’s a saying for us hikers, almost as important as the “hike your own hike.” Whenever shit is happening, if you need a boost, you’ve lost something, etc somehow whatever you need always comes. So we always say the trail provides. And today it did so by Crater Lake opening!!! I have been so bummed because it’s been closed due to a fire and it’s a spot I’ve been extremely excited about. But now it’s opened, we have to take a detour to get there as part of the PCT is closed up to it. But the park itself is actually open so I’m extremely excited! Tomorrow we will hike the few miles to the junction for the detour, then we can either hitch or hike like 20 road miles to Crate Lake. I’m gonna wing it!!

Day 118: I was ready to hike a good day today. Started off at a decent time in the morning and soon caught up to everyone. I’m not too sure I remember why I was behind, but I caught up because there was a pit toilet. Which generally means, mandatory bathroom break. The day consisted of a lot of forest time and crossing of dirt roads. Which kind of seems to be a theme some days. I ended up hiking 33 miles in 10.5 hours. I stopped only for a quick 30 minute lunch break. My energy has been so good and positive today. I saw such beauty and peace in many things. I just felt really free. On the walk I listened to Homecoming, a podcast Dash has gotten us all into. I got into camp at the South Brown Mountain Shelter pretty early. It was a cool spot. Just a shelter, you could sleep in, a picnic table, then lots of camping around it. I saw on Guthooks that there was a water cache and trail magic 200m up trail and headed there to fill my water. I was there when Dawn, the trail angel, was dropping off more goodies. She was amazing. She had sodas for us. And water. And then gave me a bunch of fresh fruit. I took some stuff back to camp. Then I just laid and stretched and practiced some handstands. Just to move and do something other than walk. I always have loved getting upside down. After a bit people started creeping in, including Em and Lou, Tim and Freckles, Dash, Megan, and Simon…I think. But am pretty sure! It was a good time chatting with everyone and catching up even more after we had all been apart for quite a bit after Yosemite.

Day 117- Megan and her friend Jane came and picked me up from the hotel around 9am. She dropped us off at the trail junction by the highway and we headed on. We had planned to only do 13 miles so that Dash could catch up to us. The 13 miles literally flew by. Meg and I just chatted the whole time, and we both hike fast so before we knew it we were done. We got to the lunch/camp site and it was a shaded spot under trees. And if you walk just under 100ft down there is some fresh flowing water. To our surprise, Freckles and Tim were there. They’d had a slow morning and had stopped for a break and planned to leave. But we’re easily persuaded to stay with us and wait for Dash. 12:30 and I was done for the day. I saw Pacer today, Em and Lou came by the campsite. Then Sante too. It was like a big reunion! It was awesome. I also met SquarePants and Dusty Road, aka Fire Dick. Both were from Minnesota. Fire Dick got his name because well he unfortunately got bit by a fire ant on his dick. So there’s that story. I thought it was because he was a red head but I was wrong. Anyways super super cool guys. It was so fun to just kick it for the afternoon and everyone catch up. I did some yoga and push ups just to do stuff. And because being in Ashland I have realized how weak I have gotten. This has been one of my favorite days yet. We head a little down from where we ate lunch to where Freckles had been reading. Which was a much nicer spot as it was nice and open instead of under trees. We set up our tents kind of early because of the thunderstorm coming. It starts raining/hailing. Dash isn’t here yet, and we all just stay in the safety of our tents. Not long later Dash arrives. We spend the rest of the night all just talking while sitting on rocks and looking out into the beautiful sunset 🌅. Little did I know that until the Northern Terminus we would all be together.

 

Day 112-116 the last few days have been nothing short of amazing. It has been so unreal and nice to just relax and walk around. Although it has been very hot. Glen took us white water rafting which was a great time. We had a big bbq at his house one night. We are a lot of Reece’s and butterfinger blizzards. So good! Got new town clothes from the thrift store. Went to the Shakespeare festival, which was short lived as it started raining on us. We slept outside, with a friendly skunk nearby. Tim and I had some all you can eat Indian food, which was BOMB! We drank and messed around. Tim and I went to the jewelry store after Indian food! He is looking for a ring for Freckles as he plans to propose at the northern terminus! It makes me so excited! Ashland is such a cute amazing town, and when it came time to leave I just wasn’t ready to go. I knew that both Dash and L-Train would be coming to town today and I wanted to see them. So Freckles and Tim, since they had already gotten a trail angel to come get them, left for the trail. And I stayed behind. I guess right when they got back to the trail they saw Dash, for the first time since he left shortly after Kennedy Meadows. They decided to go slow to make it easy to catch up. That day I saw L-Train and met her friend who was super kind and offered to come get me to ride back to the trail tomorrow. I spent my last afternoon hanging and eating with Sushi, Simon, and Dash. I didn’t expect to see Simon so that was exciting. We went to Ruby’s for lunch. Which I think I had eaten at 3 times. It’s amazing and you should go if you’re ever in Ashland. Then at night we went to the brewery and just hung in the hotel after. Usually I feel a big urge to get back on trail, but not here. I just want to keep staying.