August 31, 2017

Day 119: Mile 2094.4 to Mile 2116.2

Miles: 21.8

Steps: 55,697

Elevation Gain: 3800 feet

Elevation Loss: 5730 feet

As I previously mentioned in my last blog, I didn’t sleep as well as I had hoped the night prior. Initially, I heard the the people talking next door until midnight and then I could hear them snoring all night. I finally was able to fall asleep with the help of my thunderstorm sound app, until around 3 am. I’m not sure what came first, the throbbing pain in my wrist, or the mouse munching on my Cheetos. After rescuing my Cheetos, the wrist pain kept me awake the majority of what was left in the night.

After getting the breakfast buffet I had been thinking about for days, I got back on the trail. This park of the trail, overlapped with the Timberline Trail.

The Timberline Trail, similar to the Wonderland Trail, is a circumferential trail, around the base of Mr. Hood. It sure did remind me of the Wonderland Trail.

I would be walking through the forest and then BAM! Mt. Rainier would show her beautiful face! Same thing with Mt. Hood in this section! Fun fact: Mt. Hood is the only ski resort open year round in the continental United States!

I walked past mile 2100 and missed the mile marker, so I back tracked and still couldn’t find it. My guess was, mile 2100 is on a bit of a slope and whatever was created, most likely rolled down the mountain. So, I created my own. It was the little things in life.

I took a quick detour to Ramona Falls. The return trail was what I though all of Oregon would look like. A brown, pine needle covered trail, standing out from the green mossy forest surrounding it with a beautiful creek, fed by Ramona Falls, in which ran along the northeast side of the trail. It was so surreal.

Several hundred miles ago, I would have to walk on my tip toes to get up most hills. Now, I only have to walk on my tip toes if it’s super steep. This was how I rated how steep an incline trek was. If I had to walk on my tip toes, it was steep.

The ascent out of Ramona Falls was tip toe worthy. It was a butt kicker! 1,570 feet in 2.5 miles.

Once I was above the tree line again, there she was. Beautiful as ever.

I made it to camp, shortly after the sun set.

Around 11 pm, these 2-3 guys came to the camping location that myself and at least 3 other thru-hikers had chosen to sleep. They were the loudest, most rude hikers I’ve ever been around. They had to have passed by my tent to set up, less than 20 feet from me. They were continuously talking and laughing. I tried to keep my patience, and was able to for a good 20 minutes. As one kid continued to shine his light toward my tent and their voices remained above normal, I couldn’t take it anymore. I asked them if the could please whisper because they weren’t the only ones there. I mean come on! Who raised you?!? I really hope these weren’t other PCT hikers. To make it worse, one of the kids’ snoring, sounded like a flippin’ elephant. That was my night.

September 1, 2017

Day 120: Mile 2116.2 to Mile 2144.1

Miles: 27.9

Elevation Gain: 3800 feet

Elevation Loss: 7650 feet

The majority of the day was in the forest, with a few areas which revealed beautiful view of Mt. Hood.

There was one open area, which you could see Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams and Mt. Saint Helen, so that was pretty awesome.

I got to Cascade Locks around 4 pm and went to the post office to pick up my package and then the Ale House. A very wonderful woman who has followed my journey, sent me a wonderful care package to the Ale House, filled with coconut chips, chocolate, trail mix, and energy bars. Thank you Majorie!!

My friend, who I used to work with in Portland, met me for dinner and then drove to me the REI in Clackamas. REI was nice enough to let me exchange my tent and pack, which were both falling apart. When I returned my pack, I forgot to get my sleeping pad, which was folded up in the back pocket of the pack. When she dropped me off, I realized what I did, but REI was already closed. You know, if I didn’t do things like this, I would probably have more time than I would know what to do with and would definitely have more money! Oh geez! After having breakfast with another wonderful friend and her two daughters from Portland, she brought me back to REI but I told her I would handle the ride back. I reached out to the instagram community and a wonderful follower offered to take me from REI back to the trail. You all are so wonderful. The trail does provide!