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..........

Ashland

Ashland was a realise after the road walk, especially when we discover by surprise that we don’t have to walk all the way up to town as the PCT cross the Highway south of Ashland. The main hostel was full so we have to go to a camping two miles of town. It is a spa – hippie camping. We refresh in the afternoon in the pool and head into town for the night. It seems like there was a kind of PCT conference in town because of the fires. We saw Rock ocean after a long time without know about him. I also saw at night Mr J T and Smiley , the two Israel guys, after months without see them and a few more people. Danger spoon also is back on the trail. All good news.

Something that surprise from Ashland is how many young people is asking for money in the street, not sure if is for drinks, for need or for what or if it is like this in the rest of the country. I learnt i knew expression “spear oner”.

Second day we move to the hostel, better location, I have to do all the tedious resupply for Oregon, 4 , 5 boxes, some in regular post and 1 by UPS, I am jealous of the people that have that angel that send boxes to them and don’t have to worry about. Sometimes your zero it is just work and work. I tidy up my bear; yes I think I will keep it. Fix some gear problems, new platypus bottle and new tips for the trekking poles as I cannot set the tarptent properly plus new cascadia, don't like much the color, but cheap.

The night before depart, we went out 3D, danger, CJ, Gigant, Ashland has almost two microbreweries, perfect place to start, went to a mini club. We have a really good night we finished in one gypsy concert and at this point there is not more gypsy than us......Back on the hostel I found a mantis religious in my neck....Ready to be back on the trail.

My plan is to do Oregon in around 18 days, an average of 25 miles a day. Nothing crazy here. It supposes to be much flatter. People do here over the 30. With all the push that I did in northern California I start to be back on target to be able to finish around the end of September, but not yet.  Now I am completely refuelled, rested and with the next 456 miles shorted of resupplies.