August 10 day 103 stayed in Ashland hostel for a second night zero miles today.
This was a great zero day. Went shopping for breakfast with Lalabi and we made a huge breakfast together. Later I met several thru hikers and the trail angel Aloha at the all you can eat Indian place in town. Later in the evening I saw the Shakespeare play Cymbeline.
August 11 day 104 camped mile 1736.3 hiked 9.8 miles today.
It was sad to be leaving Ashland, the hostel and all the groovy people there. I got up early to catch up on writing and to eat. I was the first in the kitchen and made myself fried eggs, sausage, toasted English muffins, coffee and kefir. I said my goodbyes, then posted a package and bought fresh food for the next day and a half at the fantastic co-op. Had the opportunity to be a trail angel to Chris who I had last seen in Tehachapi I think. He didn’t stop in Ashland so was appreciative of the avocado. Later that day I walked by Pilot Rock which has a Peregrine Falcon nesting site. That evening I listened to and saw a number of raptors it was fantastic. That evening I had an amazing view of a meteor shower from my camping spot on in an open meadow.
August 12 day 105 camped mile 1749 hiked 16.7 miles today.
It was another special day for me. I picked up several raptor feathers on my way to a spring. I spend a while in the area and hear a pair of ravens and look that way and then see a peregrine falcon. I positively identified the falcon by the calls thanks to an audio clip I had downloaded. I camped in an unremarkable spot with a good sky view.
August 13 day 106 camped mile 1758.4 hiked 10.3 miles today.
I got out to the Campers Cove store well before I was to meet my buddy Doug. The hiker box was excellent as someone had called into the store and said that they were not going to make it there and asked the store to dump their resupply box into the hiker box. There was lots of good stuff. After Doug got there we divide up food for the next week and parked the car at the BLM campground and headed north. Went for a swim in Howard Prairie Lake and camped not too far beyond. We had great dinners as Doug had done an excellent job picking out food. A little heavy but good.
August 14 day 107 camped mile 1774.2 hiked 15.8 miles today.
It was my first full day with Doug. Later on this very warm day we stopped by the South Brown Mountain Shelter a small cabin open to hikers. We met Mary Poppins another thruhiker who cooked his lunch over a wood fire all the while holding his black umbrella. Impressive. The campsites are pretty few and far between in the area we decide to camp. I chose a nice leafy spot unfortunately I didn’t realize that it was so popular with the ants. It will be my last night cowboy camping for a while.
August 15 day 108 camped mile 1789.1 Summit Lake hiked 14.9 miles today.
Today was a great day. We continued hiking thru the volcanic debris fields which were thankfully well graded on trail. We got some good photos to prove it. Eventually we cross highway 140 where we have the odd experience of meeting a guy with a revolver in a belt holster slung over his shoulder. We had been talking to his wife and son before he showed up. We climbed up to a poorly marked trail junction and go to Freye lake for lunch, a wash up and a nap. It was a perfect stop. Back on the trail we eventually catch the odor and later sight of huckleberries. The understory is in places entirely huckleberried. We pick eat and walk. We camp at Summit lake whose surrounding shores abound in berries and mosquitoes. Doug DEET’s up and I cover up under the barrage.
August 16 day 109 camped mile 1803.8 Upper Snow Lake hiked 14.7 miles today.
It was another great day. We stop for some good water at Christi’s spring. While we are there another thruhiker Moonshadow shows up. I had last seen her in Etna. We all end up hiking together for the rest of the day. It is a particularly excellent day as we have great views. It is surprising that there is a lake so close to the ridge. We have an excellent campsite on the shore of Upper Snow Lake. We have a few other thruhikers passing thru our camp to get water.
August 17 day 110 camped mile 1823.3 hiked 21.5 miles today.
Doug and I had an adventure today. Moonshadow takes off early in the morning as she is a little behind schedule. We say goodbye to her (we think for good). The trail continues along a ridge with good views. A little later we cross a number of small creeks and springs. We see an amazing number of small frogs in several sections is trail. We get some water at the last “reliable” water source. Jack Rabbit Spring turns out to be totally dry. We hoped to pick up water here and camp nearby. Doug’s feet look like hell and we have pictures to prove it. We end up hiking much more than we wanted to today as we had run so low on water. We walk into late twilight and camp.
August 18 day 111 camped mile 1834.8 Crater Lake hiked 11.5 miles today.
It is a short hike to Mazama Village. We are surprised and delighted to see Moonshadow along with a bunch of other thruhikers. I attempt an enormous chicken fried steak breakfast. We have fun chit-chatting with the other hikers and both take showers. Moonshadow decides to hike with us. We have a fantastic afternoon on the rim of Crater Lake. We lounge on the deck of the Lodge enjoying cold beers and spectacular views of the lake on a perfect day. We pick up sandwiches for dinner at the cafe. We find a campsite between the trail and the rim. The sunset is gorgeous. That evening we see a huge mountain lion stalking around our camp. We pitch our tents close together.
August 19 day 112 stayed at Shelley’s place in Portland off trail at 1840.6 hiked 5.8 miles today.
My last day on the trail for a long while. It is an incredibly beautiful morning. Although we only need to travel a few miles to meet Keri at noon by mid morning we realize that we need to hurry up in order to meet her on time. We are stopping for pictures every few minutes. The trail angel Aloha is at our meeting point before Keri which means that we get to enjoy the last trail angel for a while. The rest of the day is spent driving to Doug’s car and then on to Ashland before heading up to Portland where we spend the night at a friend’s place.