Days 105-115

August 24 — day 115
Camped mile 2229.4 hiked 25.5 miles today.
I packed up my damp stuff and headed out earlier than usual. I’m hoping to get to Trout Lake today. Around lunchtime I come upon another trail angel Farmer preparing tacos. I have three and would have had more but I had just recently eaten. I made it to the road to Trout Lake and got a ride within a minute. The General Store is a hiker hangout and there are about a dozen here.

August 23 — day 114
Camped mile 2203.9 hiked 26.7 miles today.
Another long dry day. I climbed Big Huckleberry Mountain for the cell reception and views of Mt Hood. Later in the day I got trail magic from Cowboy who was feeding hikers hot dogs, beans, and doughnuts. I hiked late and cowboy camped which was a mistake as I got soaked from dew.

August 22 — day 113
Camped mile 2177.2 hiked 26.7 miles today.
It was a rainy evening but dry in the morning. Lots of chanterelles along the trail today. I hiked until almost dark.

August 21 — day 112
Camped mile 2150.5 hiked ~3.0 miles today.
I shopped at Trader Joe’s for my resupply and got way too much food. I took a local bus to get to the bus taking me out to Cascade Locks. There I see loads of thruhikers. I picked up my box at the Cascade Locks Ale House and had lunch. The prediction was for heavy rain for the evening so I camped early to avoid getting soaked on the trail. The trail was reminiscent of 2013 as it was lightly raining and misty.

August 20 — day 111
Stayed at the NW hostel in Portland, Oregon.
I’m up early for the 4:55 train to Portland. I’m tired for the train ride from waking up so early. After checking into the hostel I bus over to Toro Bravo a fantastic Spanish restaurant. I sit at the bar and proceed to stuff myself. Bread, olives, patatas bravas, fried anchovies with shaved fennel washed down with a bottle of Vichy Catalan mineral water was all I could do. I was really hoping to have the squid ink pasta but that will have to be another time.

August 19 — day 110
Continued staying off trail at Crossroads hostel mile 1501.2 hiked zero miles today.
I spent the day putting resupply packages together for Washington for the flip up to Cascade Locks. (Flip = PCT slang for changing sections/directions on the trail.) I rode the 2.5 miles on one of the share bicycles into town to shop at the Dollar General and local small grocery store as well as picking up boxes at the Post Office. I rode back fully loaded. I packed 4 boxes for WA. I got a local guy pick me up at the hostel, wait while I posted the parcels and took me back to the hostel.

August 18 — day 109
Continued staying off-trail at Crossroads hostel mile 1501.2 hiked zero miles today.
Crossroads has a Burning Man camp feel to it which is not surprising as the proprietress Kelly Fish is a long-time Burner. Eventually Sam and Andrew get up and we go into town for breakfast at the Wheel House. Sadly they have run out of sausage gravy for Chicken Fried Steak so I get the wonderful corned beef hash and eggs. We walk around this cute little town for a while and then go to the Brewery for some beer and root beer. It’s been such a treat to have my old buddies to hang out with. Eventually they have to head back home.

August 17 — day 108
Stayed off-trail at Crossroads hostel mile 1501.2 hiked 16.2 miles today.
I got a text in the morning letting me know that my friends Sam and Andrew were willing to drive up from the Bay Area to meet me in Dunsmuir. The trail afforded fantastic views of Shasta before dropping down to the Sacramento River. I hitched to the Brewery in Dunsmuir. Eventually all but the French girls showed up there. They of course had a wide selection of beer but also made their own root beer. Eventually we went to La Perla de Nayarit for dinner with margaritas. Met Andrew and Sam after the tramily have eaten and Sam drives them to Castle Crags. It’s bittersweet saying goodbye to the tramily at the same time hello to old friends. Round two at La Perla I ordered the chili verde which was surprisingly mediocre. After dinner we head over to Crossroads hostel. We catch up till about midnight when I have to go to sleep. My night owl buddies stayed up several more hours.

August 16 — day 107
Camped mile 1485 hiked 26.7 miles today.

August 15 — day 106
Camped mile 1458.1 hiked 25.4 miles today.

August 14 — day 105
Camped mile 1432.7 hiked 13.6 miles today.
Had a great breakfast with the tramily. We got a ride to the trail arranged by the lady at the church coordinating thruhikers. It was a hot day and I have too much food so I was struggling.