I awaken without an alarm at 4:30. I roll over and sleep until 5:30. Oh, the life of leisure I now lead! It is chilly and snuggling in my bed feels good despite the filth. I break camp at 6:25. I only have to hike 16 miles today. This puts me in prime position to […]
Author: David Somers
Day 55 – This is Washington (finally)
I awaken at 6 am in the room where Tofurkey was born. If you are of a certain age you may remember Tofurkey or tofu turkey. To many people it was a source for comedy. But it was really just ahead of its time. Dave’s neighbor was the mastermind, but somehow this utility room I […]
Day 54 – Trout Lake Nero
I didn’t sleep well. I was thinking about going to town and worried that I would sleep through my alarm again and not get out of camp in “a timely manner.” It’s dumb, I know. I mean, when have I ever got out of camp more than 15 minutes after my plan? The things I […]
Day 53 – Patience
It was a short night. The campsite was the most quiet I have experienced so far. Early camped close by. Her light extinguished by 9 pm, leaving me to toil away slowly in the dark, pecking out each word of yesterday’s blog post, my face illuminated by my phone. My alarm goes off at 4:45 […]
Day 52 – Instigatin’
Yesterday, at the end of the day, I forgave Washington for the harsh elevation changes, because Washington presented me with a peace offering – a mosquito-free night. It was incomprehensible that less than three weeks after mosquito hell, the mosquitoes had vanished. I have heard that there may be more on the trail ahead, but […]
Day 50 – Bridge of the Gods
I stayed up until 2:30 finishing my blog after watching the final game of the NBA finals in my room at the Columbia Gorge Inn. For some reason, I still don’t sleep well and awaken at 6:30. I try to go back to sleep for an hour, but that is no good. I walk down […]
Day 49 – Eagle Creek
More than California, Oregon has been a test. I came into Oregon amid the worst heat wave in the state’s history. With fires springing up behind me and beside me, I pressed ahead. As I neared Central Oregon, three issues remained. What is the best way to circumvent the closed burn sections? What is the […]
Day 48 – Stan By Me
My alarm goes off at 4:50. Within minutes a creature goes running by the foot of my bed. It is tall and wearing a headlamp. It is one of those crazy night hikers. It vanishes almost as soon as it appeared. Did that really happen or am I still dreaming? I get up to pee, […]
Day 47 – The Road to Washington
I awaken in Portland. I had hoped to be camping by the Timberline lodge last night, but Stan, my hiking partner for the next few days, had forgotten his sleeping pad so we made the drive to Portland to pick one up at the REI. Stan’s girlfriend, Christie, has a condo in Portland where we […]