Days 105 – 118: 1912 – 2150 / End of Oregon

Day 105: Bingham Lakes (18.9 Miles)

We started hiking at 9.30am. We were tired. Haven’t done a zero since Ashland.

We took alternate route to cut 10 miles and some elevation to Shelter Cove. We will reach it tomorrow, 15 miles instead of 25.

I am very tired and will go to bed now (8:44pm)

Stats

Distance: 18.9 miles

Steps: 39.799

Ascent: 2124 ft

Descent: 2621 ft

Day 106: Shelter Cove & Lower Rosary Lake mile 1912.2 (21.94)

Breakfast at 7.30am by a beautiful lake. It’s completely quiet except for birds and the noises we make.

Granola and trail mix and coffee. 15 miles to Shelter Cove Resort where we can shower and eat a burger.

We haven’t had a day off in a while so we’re both feeling tired. Won’t have a bed for another 5 days till we reach the city of Bend.

We hiked through forest all day and it rained a little bit for the first time in a long time.

We made it by 2.30pm and had a burger – the burger was really good.

We took a shower and bought two dinners for trail and some snacks.

We ran into Fruit Loop and she told us Roadrash skipped to Washington. She also said Kate is ahead of us. We must catch her haha we thought she’s behind us!

We hiked out until it was almost dark and camped at Lower Rosary lake.

Miles hiked: 21.94

Steps: 49.985

Ascent: 2247 ft

Descent: 2020 ft

Day 107: 1912.2 Lower Rosary Lake to Jezebel Lake 1935.8 (longest day yet: 24.06 miles)

We left at 8.15am and hiked 7 miles to water. We continued hiking through beautiful forests.

We saw carpenter ants eating through a dead tree and throwing out sawdust (took a video) in a very efficient way. Nature is showing us fascinating things every single day!

Had lunch on some rocks – after finishing our “climb” for today. We have to ration lunch food a bit because we have a lot of snacks but only 6 tortillas and 5 chicken packets for 3 days – we would need 12 tortillas and 12 chicken packets. We have trail mix, and beef jerky to supplement with so it ll be fine.

Just as we were talking about rationing food, these beautiful colorful signs started showing up every 10 m. We thought we were hallucinating but it was real! trail Magic!!

Stats:

Miles hiked: 24.06

Ascent: 2929 ft

Descent: 2834 ft

Day 108: 1955.5 Elk Lake Resort (22.28 miles)

Alarm went off at 6am, we hiked out at 7.11am. I actually left without iceman for the first time because I was ready to go and the moskitos were so bad. We met at the next water.

It was hard today and we both felt sluggish. Time and miles weren’t passing. We talked a lot and eventually it started raining really hard and we got totally wet. But it was so much fun!! We jumped in the puddles and walked right through them, with water up to our ankles as the trail turned into a river. A kid again at last! We became a trail maintenance crew and wherever pine needles and other debris clogged up the flow of water we’d use both of our poles, dug them into the ground forcefully and destroyed the dams to build little canals for the water to flow off trail.

We did this as many times as necessary; until the water gained momentum and carried the remaining debris off trail. Sometimes raging rivers would form as the huge and deep puddles on trail were finally liberated to flow off trail down the hill. This activity slowed us down immensely but we didn’t care, it took a few hours, we were having the best time. Iceman was in front of me and kept looking back, shaking his head and laughing but eventually he joined in and we broke down dams together.

We got to Elk lake Resort around 5pm and everything hurt. We haven’t had a zero since Ashland- 10 days or so? We’re looking forward to reaching Bend in 1.5 days – 29 miles.

We had a good pizza there and some drinks and got back on trail – 1.8 miles back to the PCT.

We found camp just when the sun was setting at 7.57pm. Right next to the trail. But for free (not 20$/person like at Elk Lake Resort) and not 1.8 miles from trail but on trail! Yay!

21:15pm – exhausted but happy

Miles hiked: 22.25 miles

Steps: 46.523

Ascent: 2063 ft

Descent: 2683 ft

Day 109: Minnie Scott Spring 1977.7 (22.4 miles)

Left at 9.15am – took it slow. We hiked through beautiful forests and met “Grey Salamandar” – a section hiker – a few times who shared his snacks with us.

We had late lunch at 13.30 and after that hiked along the Three Sisters the rest of the day. It was rough on the feet – lots of volcanic rocks but really beautiful. We hiked into the evening and had the most amazing sunset.

Miles hiked: 22.4

Steps: 47.496

Ascent: 4014 ft

Descent: 2786 ft

Day 110: 1985.3 Bend! (7.5 miles)

Got up at 6am, left at 7am. It was really smoky. We hiked 7.5 miles through beautiful volcanic rocks and got to McKenzie Pass/Dee Wright Observatory at 11.00am.

A nice lady called Katie gave us a ride to Sisters and en route offered to bring us all the way to Bend.

We got to the hotel at 1pm. Iceman’s parents had booked a really nice hotel for us so we were in for a treat: right in downtown with a hot tub and pool

We took a shower and went to the post office and wallmart, to resupply for Washington, we bought 4 weeks of food so filled both our empty backpacks with food.

Day 111: Zero in Bend!

We sent our packages and then met Kate for lunch! it was so good catching up with her. We hadn’t seen her since Kennedy Meadows South as well, over 1200 miles ago but we kept in touch and almost saw each other almost, like in Ashland when she hitched a ride to the hotel with the lady that dropped us of at trail 5 min before.

Day 112: 2012.5 27 Miles out of Bend & 2000 miles marker (longest day yet)

We got up at 7am, packed and had breakfast at the hotel. We arranged a ride to McKenzie pass with trail angels Angelique and Adrian at 10.15 from Thump coffee downtown Bend. Kate met us there. We dropped her at Sisters where she planned to hitch a ride to Santiam pass, 17 miles up trail.

We got to the trailhead around 11.00 and there was trail Magic by Tracy and Caroline. We had a soda and a quick chat and hiked off, 11.30ish.

We hiked through burn areas and beautiful scenery and felt strong. Our goal was to hike 30 miles but with such a late start that meant hiking until 11.00pm. We had a warm lunch at the Big Lake Youth Camp, which has a great PCT building with an electric cattle, and I made 4 tortillas with cheese and pepperoni for dinner.

Shortly after leaving BLYC, we passed the 2000 mile marker. Wohoooo

We hiked till it was dark and some more. We ate the tortillas while hiking around 9.00pm and stopped hiking at a lake around 10.30pm at mile 2012.5.

Stats

Miles hiked: 27.01

Steps: 57.945 phew

Ascent: 3812 ft (lots of elevation for such a long day)

Descent: 3667 ft

Day 113: Mile 2031.7 (19.38)

We left at 8.15am and hiked through beautiful sceneries.

Got to Shae Lake at 14.45 with Great views of Mt Jefferson. It’s a beautiful pointy mountain, listening to Player of Games, a sci fi book.

We got to camp at 6.30pm, a bit early, as all campsites the next 10 miles are in dead fall zones, so we decided to camp here. Because we were also tired from the previous 27-mile day.

Stats

Miles hiked: 19.38

Steps: 40.333

Ascent: 2785 ft

Descent: 3369 ft

Day 114: 2061.4 First 30 mile day (29.81)

We hiked through Mt Jefferson Wilderness area which is really beautiful – I love it. Since it was a long weekend, there were many day hikers and even hunters here

Camped on top of hill, got there when it was dark.

Miles hiked: 29.81

Steps: 60.864

Ascent: 4468 ft

Descent: 4363 ft

Day 115: 2089.7 Frog Lake (29.65 miles)

Left at 6.42am. We hiked 15 miles before 1pm. Good to get half the days miles out of the way before lunch.

A lovely lady at the horse camp gave us 2 apples and three bananas – fresh fruit on trail is always a highlight since we’re eating only dehydrated or processed foods.

Second day doing 30 miles. Saw Mount Hood for the first time. Beautiful! Since we needed water, we had to camp at a campground. We got there in the dark. Price is 26$ per site. Wowsy! Some section hikers offered us to stay at their site for free which was really nice but we prefer to camp away from other hikers to get a good night of sleep. We didn’t pay.

Had dinner with “Meat Brick”, a nice guy from Olympia, WA we’ve been running into the last few days.

My feet really hurt today.

Excited for the iconic Timberline Lodge tomorrow.

29.65 Miles hiked

61.375 steps

Ascent 2845 ft

Day 116: 2117.3 Lolo pass (29 miles)

Left at 6.30am today. Got to Timberline Lodge at 10.45, just to learn the famous Buffett is closed from 11-12. We waited an hour to get the lunch buffet and it was well worth the wait.

Got to camp at 21.00, very tired. It was dark.

Did 28.97 miles

65242 steps

Ascent 5673 ft

Descent 6138 ft

Loooong steeeeeeep day. not sure how long I can keep this mileage up! But we have to get to Canada!! Ahh!!

Day 117: Tunnel Falls / Cascade Locks / End of Oregon 2150 (27.3 miles)

Alarm at 5, woke up very tired, didn’t sleep well. Since we dry camped, we packed up and left at 6.30am without breakfast. Hiked 0.4 miles to the next water, filtered 4l and had breakfast there.

Took Eagle Creek alternate route to see Tunnel Falls. It was extremely steep at the top but it was worth it – we hiked behind a waterfall. Next to the trail a steep cliff – if you slip and fall it would surely be the end.

Made it to Cascade Locks around 6.30 and went straight to Whiskey Flats Tavern pub to get dinner, even though we usually like to shower and change first due to how filthy we are after 6h on trail. Kate had made it to Cascade Earlier that day and met us for dinner. Yay!!

Miles hiked: 26.44

Steps: 55001

Ascent: 2420 ft

Descent: 5716 ft (yup, we felt this)

Cascade Locks is the lowest point on the PCT with 120 ft of elevation. This also means we gotta climb back up after crossing the infamous Bridge of the Gods and crossing into Washington state.

Day 118: Zero in Cascade Locks

We slept in, which is 7am nowadays and met Kate for breakfast at the wonderful Bridgeside cafe, overlooking the iconic Bridge of the Gods, the border to Washington State. We were planning to hike it today but decided to take a zero as we felt so beat. Our bodies needed a rest after 5 dates of 30 miles a day.

After breakfast, we went to the room to relax and fix some gear. We got a burger and milk shake for lunch across the street at Eastwind Drive in

Thanks for stopping by and happy trails,

Disco

• Days 105 – 118: 1912 – 2150 / End of Oregon
• Days 103 & 104 (1849.3 – 1867.3)
• Day 102: Crater Lake 1824.6 then Rim Trail
• Day 101: Mile 1812.4 (21.66 miles)
• Day 100: Deer Lake mile 1791.9 (18 miles)