pct days 89-95 - 08/02-08/08/13

i left sisters and ended up meeting up with marie at highway 242. we only got in another 3 miles as it was all socked in and pretty darn cold.

the next day i decided to hike with marie to highway 20, where she hitched in to sisters to do her resupply. i hiked on, embarking on my epic 4 days to cascade locks. given my late start, i am guessing i will have a few miles left on the morning of the 6th.

here are pics of three fingered jack and mt. jefferson as i approached her from the south. the last pic is from my campsite for the evening . . . priceless . . .












i made it 35 miles and slept very well with such an awesome view of mt. jefferson.

i took off a little late the next morning, but ended up hiking all the way around mt. jefferson, 37 miles for the day and about 10 miles north of ollalie lake. this day of hiking was incredible: not only fun, but deeply calming and meditative, as i received my much needed hermit time. here are some great times from the day . . .

it is still, after all my miles, incredible to me that i can cover such a distance in one day by foot. simply mind boggling . . . this mt. jeffereson from ollalie lake on the north side from where i camped last night.

i left early from my spot at levitti meadow because i had a goal in mind of making it to the timberline lodge on mt. hood for dinner on the evening of the 4th and then breakfast on the 5th.

man did i hike! i ended up going 44 miles in just under 12 hours. and a lot of it was climbing. it feels so great to be in a place totally beyond the physical body. here is mt. hood as i approached . . .






i made my goal and sat down for a meal at 19:30 and then, yes, ate a ginormous breakfast the next morning. i also met some awesome hikers!

i left at 09:30 from the lodge and made it 30 miles to indian spring and the start of the optional eagle creek trail. i will have just 15 miles left for tomorrow and some spectacular hiking.

the eagle creek trail proved to be spectacular! here is the highlight . . .

i had a great hike and easy 15 miles in to cascade locks. i then got a ride in to portland, where i got to visit with my friend anne and enjoy a little r and r. anne is so very generous to let me stay at her place for two nights. we shared great conversation and she totally kicked my butt in scrabble, not once, but twice . . . maybe my lexicon needs a little bit of a workout.

i write this as i am on a bus back to cascade locks, feeling very peaceful and rested.

i am feeling so very thankful and blessed for the opportunity to have this experience and to have such amazing people in my life . . .

2,155 miles total.

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