The West Highland Way, Scotland

The West Highland Way, Scotland 

Arriving to Glasgow by plan it was impossible to bring a gas canister with me, outdoors shop close earlier in Sunday so I had to go to a Tescos and buy a can of red bull and nail polishing to have a hot dinner. Even in train station doesn't sell disinfection alcohol because is flammable.

The starter was already raining, great ,  just start walking in the rain, leaving this Milngavie town.  Quickly I started to see some red deer here and there, pass a few lakes and had my few encounter in the midges, midges are like mosquitos, and are terrible in Scotland , never stop.

I just walk a few miles and camped in a nice place in the side of the trail , here more midges but with a great view. I thought it would get dark around 10.30 but it never get dark in Scotland. It just get into dusk around

11.30 until 3.30 . Not really need a headlamp. it is like a super full moon.

Next day some side road walk and get into this Iconic Hill where you have a great view of all the Lomon Lake with all its Island. Luckily is sunny, I realize that the resupply in this trail is pub to pub, I don't need more than 1 day of food and half liter of water, water all over.  This first part of the lake has camping restriction so I have to puss to leave this area and be able to camp.  I saw a car nearly falling from a cliff  not sure how driver put car over there , rescue team is on the way.

  

People carry super heavy bags.......not much sense of ultralight etc.........I had to camp just after the  camp restriction in the side of the trail.  This area could be quite cool to hike around and camp on the beach of the leak, very nice.  There is a water bus boat  running around the lake.

difficult terrain by lake Lomon

Second day started flat, there is quite a lot of dirty road walking , not much trail, dirty walk is easy because you do big mileage but really..... It got into a difficult area, up and downs by the lake, it pass by Rob Roy cave..where he used to hide. I saw people doing this area by bike. They have just to take the bike and carry it in the back, impossible to ride this area. The rest of the day has been quite a lot of walk close to the road, not very good really. you can see a lot of developments around. They are destroying the mountains....... I saw quite a lot of tree recovery plans around to bring back the oak and pines to the region.

campsite in the valley 

At the end I camped in the top of a hill, In a farm land. while cooking I did a time lapse , see below. I am now half way of the way but it would start raining from tonight.

The west Highland way

 

After hike the PCT last year I knew that this year would be just something short as I will have just a month Holidays. After being in a quick visit in Scotland I discover the West Highland Way. Just 96 of not very rugged terrain but very beautiful and full  of history 

It is just 96 miles going from the outskirts of Glasgow up to Fort Williams. It is technically part of the Appalachian mountains.... I will try also to do an scape to Ben Nevis, highest point in the Uk, with just over 1000 m. Easy. I have just 5 days so I will have to keep the typical average of the PCT but without any training . I think should be ok as it is quite flat really , it like goes through valleys rather than by crests.

 

 

 

Regarding equipment is basically the same than PCT, ready for a few showers ....Tarp tent... I have a new watch Garmin so I am looking to see how it works and carrying and ebook as luxury. Anyway not much problem for food resupply with a maximum of 2 days from point to point , so easy and light.

 

 

 

CANADA

After 6 months of finishing the Pct and decided to end the blog of this adventure.

 

 

 

 

This is my last stop , mu last resupply. Seems ages ago when I started in the Mexican Border. I look completely different. Everything is tear down, much skinny and with a big bear. I look to the picture and I don't recognize me.

Skykomis is a paradise, only connected to the world by boat, it is a beautiful small town in the middle of the Casacades. It remind me the Ness lake in Scotland , a long lake.

 

I camped again so it is now from Ashland that I don't sleep under a roof. I am being very lucky with the Weather . It has been some rain in Washington, but not much at all. Washington is the best, remote. High Sierras are more beautiful but are full of people, rangers, nice trails. The feeling of remoteness here is unbelievable . In my head this is like Alaska, the last frontier, no civilization, no phone, nobody.

 

I have to woke up at 3.00 am to be able to call London and change my flight, I am finishing a week earlier , I really smashed Washington with an average of 20 miles per day.

 

I left this little town after resupply, from the little bus I saw a Mon bear with the little kids. I camped in a designated campsite inside Cascade National Park. I though would be people but nobody. I was alone. I decided to cow boy camp, I did a fire. I start to be sad, probably today is the last cowboy camp. Sad and happy, I would finish in 3 days. I can believe I did it. I am ready for real life?

 

Next day I crossed rainy pass and climb a few passes. Now we are in the east side of the crest , so it is dryer, you can see that winter is coming . all the tree start to have red and yellow leafs > I was able to camp in the top of a pass , just 50 miles from the border. I set the tent.

 

 

 

I met Sandals and Princess , tortuga and cracker fire on the way to hard pass. I had lunch with them and I saw again Marmots , different colors from the sierras. Hard pass is the last road before the border , next road would be Manning Park in Canada. That night I spot a flat area in a ridge and I have a fantastic sunset while having dinner. Thanks PCT.

 

 

 

 

I have enough food to finish and I have some treats like coffee and pork scratching and some bourbon. Just doing the last miles while relaxing and enjoying. I met smiley and Mr JT  when they were on the way back from the border. I took the bus with those guys from San Diego to the border and we started together and we camped the first night together. Now I see them the day before finish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This last part of the PCT is spectacular. It is raining and getting really cold , I did it now even if snows, I will go through . I lost altitude , pass the last lake and I camped 4 miles from the border . Everything is wet , but doesn't matter . Tomorrow I will be dry. No much battery in the camera. Happy And Sad.

 

Oh god , last day few miles and turn left and I saw, I have been wondering the last 5 months how is that line. It is just that . I line in the forest without trees, I saw it and smile. I shout . hahaha I fucking did it . 2650 miles of everything. Dessert, high sierras , wet forest , bears, snakes, rivers..........fucking done! a life time adventure. The feeling of accomplishment. Done done. There was more people taking some picture and seat by the monument ad did a coffee reading the log book, so many friends ahead of me.

 

 

 

Finally in the Canadian border

 

 

That is done for me for a while, I will go to Spain , chill out and after work like a normal person but those 5 months in the wilderness will be there forever. Thanks to the PCT for be such an amazing trail, American people for being so cool, Friends and Family for support and ICC for let me scape for 6 months. I will never forget such a adventure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skykomish to Stehekin

I left the Cascadia In after breakfast. I spent some time outside trying to change my flights but I was not able because of the different local times with the London offices of Opodo. Great, the next possibility  would be maybe Stehekin if is real that exist a satellite phone or it would be already in Canada, no cellular services for the next 200 miles....

I went to the main road where the bakery borrow me his huge hitch hike sign, it helped me to get an easy ready to the trial with a nice all hiker couple. The start was an easy climb, it is funny just 24 hours out of the trail and you start missing it. I sat for a few minutes to rest in a ridges when I heard the distinctive sound of fighter SSSSSSSSSSSSSS BOOOM wow it was a F15 , so close , flying over the ridge, right time in the righ place. American wilderness: Bear, lakes and F15s

That night I slept in the top of a mountain called grizzly peak, on my way up I just saw another sunset over the mountains. I found a nice spot in the top where cowboy camping. I started to see mice. It is really a problem in Washington. I set the mouse trap, they eat the food my the trap did not activate it. Learning.

Next day was the first time that I saw blow up a fallen tree with explosives. It was a huge tree cutting twice the trail over switch backs. A few rangers with horses working on it and about an hour after I listen the explosion followed by the smoke. I imagine it is not a mechanical method it is more chemical.....

Getting into camp I saw a hunter with riffle, first one with riffle. They hunt Elk, deer and bear. The bear's meat is eaten over here. I slept in another ridge , the feeling is of solitude , I see one person a day. I know that I am not alone, maybe 20 people walk this trail a day but I don't see them. The day hikers, summer hikers ....all that .. not here and I love it . You feel the remoteness of this places. it is really raw.

Next morning i finish to climb this ridge and get into the glacier peak surroundings, it seems to me like the high sierras, very ruged, those valleys are full of waterfalls , vegetation and glacier rivers. The trails are very pour maintain . There is a fallen tree every 100 metres, or just the trail vanish because of a earth slice.

I was crossing a bridge when I saw a weird animal walking the trail. At the beginning I thought it was a baby bear, carefull !! or not is a marmot?  Not it was pork-spin.  I shout at him, he stop , it raise and put all his spines out , so cool . He was getting piss off . He left the trail very slowly. I never thought I would see this animal over here.

I climb the pass , and it is funny. When you think , maybe I reach the pass and after get flatter. You just can smile and laugh. You just can see another mountain range bigger and more scary , the Northem Cascades!! what is this place? I just have time to descent a little bit and get some protection in the Valley. I was quite lucky to find a little spot by the trail. Today I stick a super nut into the mice trap with KT tape. Before sleep I got 3, plus another annoying did not want to dye. Next day when I woke up the 3 body have disappear, creepy.

This day was marked. It was the craziest day of my PCT,the one that would push my limits  I would have to put everything. From early in the morning it was a drizzle, I was lucky enough to break camp just before it started so I had everything dry. I got into a dense wet fog during the morning until I got enough elevation going throw many switchbacks. It was the switchbacks day also. In the top of the passes the trees disappear and there are only small bushes in the side of the trail. Those plants keep all the water so when you pass you get all that cold water in you foot. In the top I started to panic , I barely could feel them , I could be in trouble. Too much cold water. I need it to loose altitude and get cover under tree line. I needed more speed , more heat. I put headphones , time for Guns and Roses, running down the mountain I warm up . Stop today for hot lunch I really need it. Quick to don't get cold . Stop and go.

I reached the old PCT trail. This is 5 - 7 miles shorter trail. It was a bridges that it was wash out so a reoute was need it. Still  today hiker choose the old trail , more for the extra adventure that for the short cut. You will have to cross the first river plus a classic old pct log crossing.  first you have to cross the first river, I checked around to find a good log but nothing safe and less with the raining day, I was ready to turn back when I thought about just crossing straight, just less check the deep and the strength of the river. It was ok I was in the other side. this trail is not maintain , sometimes you can lost the trail but is quite easy just to follow the tracks of fellow hikers and some signs that people leave around. 

You can start to hear the noise of that big river , wow that is not going to be easy, you reach the botton of the valley, follow some tracks and you see that wet log and that angry river. that is it, that is the cross, ufff  it is possible it is wide enough I can do it. Fuck I am alone, If i fell , nobody will find me.Should I leave a note? Should I turn back and walk 10 miles , 10 miles for 10 metres of log crossing no way, I do it now, I do it, I do it. Ok Warm up, some push up , jumps, ready ready. water prove electronics, unzip backpack in case of fall. I have the theory......should I crawl or straight over, that is it. Straight over no poles no nothing. Focus focus, not slippery, not stop.The noise was the worst. In a micro second when I was in the middle I thought about stop( I am afraid to highs ) I just keep going. Done hahahahahahah  what is next? what ? But not trail in the other side . Tracks goes to many different directions. I just took GPS directions and climb the mountain straight up until I got back into PCT. I was more relaxed.

During the afternoon I did the second climb o f the day. I pass the old miners camp site and I reach the top in dark, still raining. I should get a camp site just after but I miss it. I had just a few metres visibility with the dark and the rain. So next possibility is about 1.5 miles ahead, let's go. I found the area where it suppose to find that campsite, it was full of rocks, I left the trail I check GPS phones was not working. I realise has water all over, shit. I cross some snow fields close to a river. What the fuck I am doing , snowfields at night, what about if I loss the trail . I shout , I shout " any F hikers there" I am destroy. Only the noise of the rain. O man , just chill out and keep walking . The trail was a river all over and I start to worry again about the foot. I had a very funny deer encounter. It scare me as I saw first two big eyes in the dark. It was there, in the middle of the trail, seated in the dark, It did not want to move, it was dry under a big tree. I got very close, 1 meter. It stand up , it was shaken , poor. Yes mate , we are both fuck without a place where to sleep mate but I need to continue, I just pass around. I could touch it. Respect my friend. 

It could be 11 and no idea where I was . This is over. I set the tent in the middle of the trail. I sleep before on the trail but never set the tent. 14 hours hike , maybe 26 miles hike with a gain elevation of 2 Km. I roll inside the tent and got a couple of shots of Bourbon to collapse. I an using it as base layer.......What a crazy day and I did not see a single person. I just pass away.

The morning ufffff. I knew this situation would arrive , shoes wet, socks wet , I mean everything is wet. Push ups and suck it out ....Go Go Go . It was not so bad. I  was thinking to get a hotel bed in Stehiken, I am doing 40 days without a bed, from Ashland.  It is part of my challenge. In the first 1500 miles I stop quite a lot in hotels doing a slow advance. Now, I got use to , more in shape , more fit, I just stop few hours in town, get shower, washing....

When I started to go down the Valley the sun started to bright . Thanks god, big moral burst. I was thinking to reach town at 18.00 but apparently I did a bunch of miles at night and I was closer than I thought. I was there by three. On the way I saw one of those huge tree fell down, It happen just in front of me being lucky enough that the gigant fall in other direction. 

I was in Norther Cascades National Park. I crossed the Glacier Peak Wilderness. I come to the PCT and I really found it . The Glacier Peak with his beauty and brutality, what an experience. Really it helped me a lot all what I learned during the last 2500 miles to keep still in the difficult moments. Stehekin is a small location  that can be reached by boat or walking the mountain . There I met many many hikers, I finally camp so still no hotel room. We have steak and beers....was time to celebrate it. It is the last stop before Canada!!!! 

Snoqualmie to Skykomish

Leaving Snoqualmie I was not sure if take a shorter detour that pass by a popular  hot spring or continue the PCT. A fellow hiker explain that next miles were the katwalk , hiker heaven and one of the best parts of the PCT. With this description I have not choice PCT route. It paid off, the trail it get into the crest of the mountain, leaving little space for error. Trail is cut just by the cliff, you can see  in the distance Mt rainier. I decided to camp earlier as I found an spot with grate views.

The place was super windy so I started to build a wind cutter with rocks. A hiker arrived close to dark. it was rocket lama with her characteristic calm. rocket Lama is well know in the trail for her draws and her story of the early snow in 2014. I asked about that.....It is funny how calm she tell you all the details. we have dinner with this sunset over Rainier, have some whisky to prepare our self for a cold Night. It was actually the coolest night of the PCT, it was windy without tent, I couldn't sleep much. i was looking to Rocket Lama , she was sleeping ok......for me was impossible, not sure  if sleeping bag was not very floozy or what. Thanks I ordered some more layers for  the last part of Washington. I am getting worry, I am very cold some nights....

Prepared for wind cold night

This area is very beautiful.  Typical Washington. Most of the bridges has been was out but not difficult crossings. I try my first cascade picture  with a good result I believe, see below.

At lunch time I realize I lost my mach mix bag. Shit, most of the things are replaceable, but shit I have the passport..  Where I leave it? in the campsite or mid morning break.... All the way up back to campsite. I will have to exit of the trail to resupply, I am too short of food.......I need the passport. I started to walk  back and I found Rocket Lama, She was surprised to see me walking south. I asked her if she saw anything no....... A while after I saw Giant , I explain that I lost my passport. Wait a minute, I just found a hiker bag maybe is yours, THANKS my bag with all my stuff., lucky day, lost and found again. Second time I lost my passport in the PCT!!! lucky me.

To recover the mileage of the day I decided to night hike a little bit. It is always nice, I love it for 1 hour. Before in the dessert I used to be scare , but now I fell so comfortable, relax and enjoy. Camp at night have some dinner with some music  and warm up body with some bourbon. I camped in the side of the valley.

Next day I went down to the valley and to another climb I found a part of the Gypsy town, I had lunch with them and a few jumped in this clear lake. Clear and cold. I camped with them at night , we were a bunch of people by a small lake. Have some great story time. Last day was a little bit of climb and after the way down. I saw a group of LLamas , very cool and a naked hiker. In the distance you can see the sky lifts , the last push to the ridge and we were in Skykomish.

Swimming lake

I got a ride the back of a pick up track, here it is legal I believe. the destination is the Dinsmores  . It is a family that host hikers. I fell very welcome here. it was around 25 hikers. At this time we know each other. At night some music and drinks. I got my resupply box and merino Wool top for the cold Washington. Thanks Dinsmores for your support!!  Weather still good. I can not believe how many sunny days we are having. Everything going well , looks like I can finish this.

White pass to Snoqualmi

I left White pass in the afternoon. During the morning I was charging electronics and just talking with people.Adam and Ali show up around. There was around 20 hikers. Easy day without much elevation. In the camp-site  invite  me to my first s'more , holly molly !! this is the evolution of a  marshmallows. God save America. It's the marshmallow with a piece of chocolate and biscuit in the sides doing a sandwich. A caloric bomb....perfect.

Next day we approach to Mt Raynier, I think is the higher point in Washington. We just pass by the side. It is the type of are that I like it. Very vertical, exposed and walking through a ridge. One guy show me a picture of a mountain lion that he just show....so lucky, they are around.

In Chinook Pass we got some trail magic from Animal's friend. The had a weight machine. I jump in , something like 58 Kg, I was shock , people like to me like you are in trouble. I though can not be possible I did again , around 68 ok ok ok I lost a lot of weight but but not 15 Kg, anyway I have 2 more weeks left and after I will gain all the weight I am just getting ultralight........

That night I bunch of people camp around a lake just after the pass. I see lumbert eating cold noodles, what happen?? I lost my stove......ohhpss. I offered mine....We set to cow - boy camping I started to see mouses. shit, typical place. One guy show me his mouse trap, don't worry, I clean the area......I think it is a good peace of gear. Mice like to jump over you during the night just to piss you off, specially walk and jump over your hat, just to wake you up. I keep my food in zip lock backs , for different days, this bags goes into the main cuben fibre food bag, this bag into a trash liner bag , and this bag into the main backpack. If a mouse want to go into the food it would take him all the night.

Already in bed we show 2 eyes walking around.....oh man it is going to be the mountain lion, what is what is.....a deer ...ohh dear.....I just going to sleep...I will just do some noise if someone try to eat me. 

eyes in the dark.

The next morning was foggy, by the afternoon started a little thin rain. It is already hunter season with riffle so carefully  when you got to the toilet.....I check the possibility to reach a big hut for tonight as probably rain tonight. Normally I avoid this places as there are full of mice and full of snore people. Yes you have cover but I prefer sleep with the starts roof. When I reach the valley I saw all the humidity , fog and rain , straight to the Hut. Many people was there : GT, auris, neon, zinamon et c . They quickly set up a tomahawk throwing competition. The Hut had a good pile of wood so we were able to sit down outside around a big fire and also set the wood stove inside.

2 shadows show up between the mist , hunters , they stop for a few minutes , they have his bass close by. It was full moon , I have the joke with neon that tonight we go hunt Elk, just sneaking in the Valley with the light of the moon. Thankfully 3 more hikers arrived. They were coming from the dirt road, they will stay in the hut for a week, and.....they brought some alcohol. When I saw they have the classic jars with a liquid inside I though , yes Welcome to America! I tasted wow this is super good , what is this? Moonshine my friends. I saw this in so many films, it has a nice honey - cinamon - lemon taste. We stay until late around the fire. 

terror movie hut

I stay very warm during the night , when I opened the door the mist still was there, the Hut was really convenient   tonight. I crossed some burned areas and a nice lake just before heading to Snoqualime pass.

I reached the 2400 miles mark. I can not believe it, the miles start to fly by, 100 after 100. The first 1000 miles of the trail I average 13 miles a day., in Yosemite I thought seriously in quit, it was impossible. I will have to put over 20 miles average , without 0 days .......the last 1000 I am averaging over 20 miles a day. I don't have the need to recover , no much 0 days, my body just get use to it, I hike more hours, no much breaks......getting there. It is crazy what your body can do. My last bed was in Ashland, 700 miles ago.......and I don't fell tired.

My plan was to stop a few miles before Snoqualmi pass to avoid the noise  as it is a big inter-estate but the idea of hot food was too hard. I spot close to town a good place to pass the night between tree with little noise, perfect. Quite a lot of ethylic hikers around ..  Snoqualmi pas is basically a service area for the interstate with a small sky lift , few hotels , not much.....

Cascade Locks to White pass

People always say: in Washington rains. It was like that. I did not got soak in the trail yet. It would be the first day in Washington when I will finish soak soak. I crossed the Bridge of Gods in rain, leaving in the afternoon. I thought in stay another day in Cascade locks to see if the Weather improve. You think : be realistic, it could rain for weeks , this is Washington , just suck it out !

You cross the Bridge and everything change. All is green , full of bushes trees..etc all over , wet. ok this is that Wet forest that everybody talk about. Heat for me is ok but rain..... one day ok , 2 days ok but more, everything will get wet, what about a down sleeping bag.......better be really carefully with that.Even if it is not raining you get wet with this fog always around or with the touch of any wet leafs.

I am learning, PCT is all about adaptability, the learning curve still is there, new experiences. From Dessert to High Sierras to Wet Forest. It scare me the possibility of get wet and after hypothermia. I may order some extra clothes.

That day Hot Legs overtake me, he was delayed as he tear his sleeping bag in the washing machine, the same bag than me, so I was thinking to wash but no, I don't take the risk, this bag need to go to Canada. I checked the maps , ok only 1 big tent site it would be more people. Please , please, the first one should do a fire to dry out.  I did the last mile in dark and yes I saw a fire in the distance , thanks good, thanks!!!! It was a group of weekend hikers. I did not full dry but it is very mental to have a fire in a wet day. Harder was next morning....ufff wet cold socks.....

Next days were not very spectaculars , up and downs leaving the civilization. I had hikers around in this area. I met Lambert, a real character. One night i reach a campsite in dark and I cow - boy camp, next day, still in bed , I saw a familiar tent and a familiar shape, It could be Ali and Alam, I look for a few minutes but I realize there were not their backpacks. My surprise was went they show up, wowowowowowo what a surprise! what happens with your bags, new ones they change them for us in REI. cool.....

Another good surprise was to met again with string cheese, I hiked with her in northern California,  In Castella she continue north into the fires and I did the walk road. She was south bounding this part to go to the PCT days ( good idea ) I though about , get a ride from Hard pass , but finally I arrived late there so I skip it.

Trout lake suppose to be a difficult hitch  and it was starting to rain. I would get very piss off if I got soak getting a ride by the road. Determination, look to the driver , put the finger, stop stop. The first car , I wait like 3 seconds, it was a local hunter. Pit stop in trout lake, 2 hours, resuply and bye bye.

I am getting trouble to find places to camp in this area , all is full of bushes no free spaces I am relaying more in maps and app for campsites. 

Walking around Mt Adams a found the gipsy town group. I know most of them from the dessert and they have a good mood.I hiked the last miles of the trail with Whiskey,always if fun with him and we have some discussions.  I camped the first night with some of them by a nice little creek, fire and some games around.

Next morning was very early when I leave camp, between the early morning fog and the bushes show up a figure. WTF !! a bow arrow hunter ! in full camouflage gear......he took his net from the head to talk....my goodness, the fucking Rambo ( a fat guy).... Did you see any elk? I though you have 4 in puffy jackets 1 mile back.....lol

 I was getting into the Goat Rocks Wilderness , the knife edge...I did the first pass in the dust  the area is really nice, ok this is real Washington.  I love to hike at this time of the day, the light is perfect, is quite and there are animals around , I  camped in dark, it was a fire , it is part of the procedure to find some logs if you join a fire...

People ask many times why you do all this , why the PCT , What give you back? When you do parts like the Knife edge on the Goat Rocks you get all the answers........blow your mind . why I do the PCT ? there are not words , come here , hike 20 miles , wake up early and see the sun rise between the snowy peaks, cross snow fields, look around, the wild, the beauty, Rainier in the distance.  Fuck Yosemite in August with all the roads around. This is Washington.!! Sometimes the wilderness are a little bit in a second level in relation  with the National Parks but sometimes those areas are much better than some of those National Parks, and the best, there is no one. September : PCTers and goats 

On the way down to White pass I tried to cut through the sky lifts, it was quicker but a bad decision as I destroy the legs going down the steep slopes. White pass has a small store and I think two small motels. The lady in the shop was super friendly, she gave us the food that she did not sell at the end of the day, they had my resupply box and she said we could camp at the back of the shop.

google pic......

That night was very noise, there were elks making that noise all around us, there were very close. There were one moment that I panic as I hear noise of something approaching fast to us. I check under the tent and I saw 4 long legs in the darks running to us. O Shit , this could be a problem elk is a big animal, it could get aggressive, I shout   EH They are here!!! i opened quickly the door and they were hunters hahahaha walking in couples....2 and 2 so 4 legs . I relaxed.........The noise continue , I fell the so close that I was thinking to go down the lake and throw them a rock in the face, go and sign in another place!!! you know what time is it!!!!!

Oregon part 2

I left the young camping place in the afternoon. I did the typical hike out day a few miles to avoid the vortex. Hike in the sunset in this burned area create some crazy image.

I camped with a few more hikers and whisky show up later. I tried to find a protected place for the wind and I finished sleeping uneven surface, with the feet much below my head, really bad night, wrong sleeping spot........

The morning bring us up to 3 finger jack with his peculiar shape and colours and after in Mt Jefferson wilderness I met one of the most helpful Rangers, also pct thru hiker, he explain us the situation in the area. It is weekend and the area is full of people, so gave us some advised where to camp tonight. He also explained us a little bit what it is the job of a ranger....pretty cool job.

Mt Jefferson

Mt Jefferson is really beautiful; it is like an island in Oregon, really green with some snow in the passes, in general quite crowded because of the weekend.   

I walked next day with whisky, he is a warrior hiker. It is a organization that sponsorship Army people that have been deploy for long periods, a little bit to distress them. I think very good idea and program.

One night we reach the little Crater Lake. The clearest lake ever. We met a family that invite us to their RV for dinner. We accepted. It was a restored streamline RV, beautiful, we did a fire had some beer and burger. We passed really good time. Again America and his hospitality is unbelievable.

Mt Hood

The climb to Mt Hood was quite hard, specially in the last part when there is sand all over and you can see the resort so close. Timber lodge is where the sunshine was filmed. It is a type of Swiss sky resort with the terrace facing the mountain. Many hikers there, I resupply, had pizza, a beer, recharge electronics and I kept going.  The night got me without a place to camp, finally some spaces available  in a ridge with some more people.

Hood had some difficult river crossing but nothing crazy. You leave the Mt Hood area to move into different ridges with not much water. I dry camped in the ridge alone well protected of the wind by a big fallen log, no mice, good night. The good news of the day is that I met magic stick and sister after 2000 miles. Wow.

only with a Magic stick 

The last day of Oregon is really spectacular, walking the eagle creek gorge and passing by the tunnels falls.  I was fancying have a swim in the river but seems like temperature are going down.

Eagle creek Gorge

I did it!! After 18 days I crossed Oregon. I saw the bridge of gods! I knew it I was in Cascade Locks, mile 2155, 2155 this is crazy. I remember now thinking that I will never survive the first week. I thought after about quit in cascade locks but as soon I so the bridges, sorry but I go up to Canada! Hopefully before snow arrives, I am now in a good position to finish.

In Cascade locks I sent all my food for Washington, all the morning packing food, from the market to the post office. I got my external battery, bye bye solar panel ( I hate you )and also I  swapped the sawyer filter for aquamira. I think I squeezed enough this summer.

I have been chasing an envelope with the Washington maps for the last 200 miles. I sent by normal post 4 months ago from San Diego but I forgot where I send it, so  I have been asking in all the possible places, finally I found it in the Cascade Locks port office !!! I have maps.

Washington I am ready ! 

Oregon part 1

What can I say.........Oregon has been 18 days of rollercoaster. I went back to the trail after the tidius road walk and I fell the trail different, different plants, different feeling. It was nice to come back into a soft path and see the deers just walking around. The first day rained, walking in the wood with some showers, from ridge to ridge.

There were some small fires around because of the storms, one just by the trail, after started to rain and after to hail. I was in the 12^th of August training to get cover under a tree because is hailing? how is going to  be at the end of September, Winter is coming....definitely

Reaching the first resupply , Mazama campground, I meet many hikers and I had a kind of nero, it is nice to chill out after a few days in the woods, we got some beers and we sat by the fire. In the morning with the hung-over I did the climb up to the Crater Lake. This is a National Park, it is a Volcano inside another Volcano. I always thought that it was a meteoritic who form the lake but not, it is a Volcano. A volcano collapsed and another volcano raised inside......The place is really worthy.

the watchman

I did the beautiful   trail around the lake and went up to the watchman with the full resupply and 5 litres of water. Oregon is volcanic and quite dry in some areas , this is a 26 miles stretch without water. From the top the view is unbelievable; you can see your next picks, especially Mt Thielsen, that looks like the sierras.

mt thielsen

I am doing 25 miles days and I have been attack by a dog not lease it. I took a shortcut by the sky lakes I think is call, I reached Shelter cover resort doing a few hours miles at night. I am doing some night hiking just for fun; to break the routine also back into cowboy camping as there is not mosquitos.

Shelter cover is a a little bit more posh that other camping. It is for fishermen, so probably more money. After resupply the PCT goes throw woods and pretty lakes, after we got into the 3 sister wilderness, one of my favourite areas. Three very distinctive volcanos in line. One night I sleep between some trees, I dense fog came down from the mountain. I think the tree branches protected me from this humidity. Cold nights over here.

3 sisters

To exit the 3 sister you have to cross some lava fields that are quite hard for legs, many sharp rocks in the trail. I approached to the Youth Campground during sunset, crossing some lava fields, some burned areas and I continue in the dark. I realise that head light not working properly, not batteries so I had to camp before the youth camping.

3 finger,  jefferson

Next morning was just going down and cross the mile 2000!!! 2000! That is 3200 km. To celebrate it have some breakfast in the youth Hostel. There I never had such a horrible breakfast. Now I understand the problem of America and the food and the fat people. How can they give that shit to the kids......? Lunch was the same shit. No alcohol in this place. They have an area just for PCT hikers, like chill out room. Everything from free: Laundry, food, shower, resupply box....... Here I met Big daddy, Hot legs and family, whisky and a few more..........