Day 39, Oregon

1st day hiking in Oregon and rejoined with Ghetto Blaster after misadventures with Waffles and Suntan in Cascade Locks.

I didn't think I would see any more northbounders when I ran into Waffles and Suntan. I had just arrived in town after dark after crossing into Oregon across the Columbia River on the Bridge of the Gods. It was the longest I had hiked in one day - 26 miles - and I was pumped about eating dinner in town. Yet, at 9:02 all of the eating establishments in Cascade Locks had stopped serving food and even the pub had stopped serving beer. I was very bummed but at least a grocery store was open for chips, salsa, beer and ice cream. That's when Waffles generously invited me to split a motel room with the two of them. The next day Ghetto Blaster showed up in town and Waffles had been cut off from ordering more drinks from both bars in town by 3 PM...9-29 - got drunk and when we were crossing railroad tracks to get to a nearby park and island to camp out and drink more beers we lost Waffles. The last time I saw him he was collapsing towards the pavement in a gas station parking lot. Waffles ended up on a train and fell asleep. He slept out in the rain under a highway underpass later learning he had traveled nearly 160 miles away - missing one shoe and wearing a trash bag as rain gear with only sweat pants and a sweat shirt - he had to hitchhike back in his condition.

Eagle Creek detour, Tunnel Falls...

ghetto blaster swimmin in the rain

Days 41-42

ramona falls

mt. hood

When we arrived in the dark at the infamous Timberline Lodge, a giant historical ski lodge, there was snow on the ground and ice covering the sidewalks. Various food fantasizing and hunger ravaged northbounders had been telling us about the incredible Timberline Lodge all you can eat buffet breakfast for the last 500 miles. That night, we didn't hesitate in indulging in an overpriced delicious dinner with drinks. I ate so much that I thought I might throw up. I couldn't even finish my carafe of wine. After satisfying our appetites, we couldn't stand the idea of stringing up our thin hammocks in the chilly, freezing air above 6,000 feet when we were in an enormous and heated wooden structure full of empty conference rooms. After we found out that we could rent a bunk bed in a shared room for like $140 each...we went into survival mode. We found the sauna, stashed our backpacks and stripped down to shower and soak up the dry heat. I used some of the hotel's towels for a pillow and blankets and we slept that freezing cold night on the hard, wooden benches of the sauna. At the time I didn't realize that it would be my last hot shower for over a month. The night passed without incident and the breakfast buffet was truly epic.

mt. jefferson

Days 44-46, the end

maples in mt. jefferson wilderness

mt. jefferson shrouded in clouds

Ghetto Blaster's failed bow became a spoon, slowly chiseled with his hatchet

3-fingered jack

traces of big fire from the 90's, saw smoke from new fires; our last evening on the PCT

first morning waking up on the oregon coast after hitchiking from the mountains near Sisters, OR

walking on the PCT

Oh, I would walk 500 miles and I would walk 500 hundred more...on the Pacific Crest Trail from Manning Park, British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to California maybe. Or Marcelo and I will see how it goes. So I won't be posting any photos anytime soon. But there's plenty to look at from the last year and there will be more. Thanks for being here.

Truchas Lakes in Pecos Wilderness

mmm, high alpine lakes

Richard is an Earthling

light is everything

sunset at the mountain house outside taos

Burns & Richard

Summiting Wheeler Peak

Noah, Richard and I set out for an overnight backpacking trip from the Taos Ski Valley to the highest point in New Mexico: the summit of Wheeler Peak at 13,161 feet. Despite suffering intense throbbing headaches from altitude sickness and me vomiting before passing out, the adventure was tons of fun and gorgeous.

Noah, calculating our path with his compass and hand-drawn map.

There was snow in the valley where we camped and a hailstorm in the afternoon. My feet were pretty cold that night sleeping in the hammock at 11,500 feet.

Richard

ah wildlife! We saw lots of marmots...

and several big horn sheep

Hurray!! We made it to the top!

We wrote in the register at the summit.

descending back to camp before the altitude sickness really kicked in and kicked our butts