Day 25 – Into the Frying Pan

On my first day in Ashland, a young man approached me. “Are you a through hiker?” That confirms it: I look unredeemable. His trail name is GrindZ because he likes his coffee in the morning before anything. He offered to take me back to the trail today. So at 7:30 we leave my motel for Callahan’s.

GrindZ has completed several sections of the trail over the years and he is enthusiastic about the trail and about helping hikers. People like him keep the PCT hiker culture alive. Here he is:

Back on the trail

I trace my path back to where I left the trail, but just as I start, I meet two old souls out for a Saturday morning hike:

They are comforting in their comfortableness. They are in no hurry and they are happy to be right where they are. I try to keep this in mind as the words of the TV news this morning come back to me – “record heat wave in the Northwest”

After slipping under I-5 and walking along highway 90 for a bit, I slip into the cool forest. I will be encountering the Soda Mountain Wilderness Area today. That means Pilot Rock, which I saw before reaching Ashland. Here is what it looks like early on.

And here it is later from the other side.

Trail drama and llama drama

The trail can be a place to escape, but often your problems just follow you there or fester somewhere else. As I am walking, I see a man up the hill on my right swing down onto the trail and walk in front of me. I am about 30 yards behind him so he doesn’t see me. I think it’s strange because he did not come from another trail. Was he going to the bathroom up there. I do not call out to him. He is not wearing a pack.

A few minutes later he leaves the trail again, but as I pass I see he is in a little camp spot. A woman wearing a pack is with him. She is distraught. She says, “I’m wrecked inside. I get it. You’re right, I’m wrong. You’re right, I’m wrong.” I am concerned but it doesn’t sound like something dangerous is goin on. It sounds like a couple’s wrenching argument. I move on quietly. From farther up the trail I hear what sounds like crying. Did I do the right thing?

As I am still thinking about the couple, a timber rattler slides across the trail in front of me. By the time I get my camera out, it disappears behind a tree. I go around the tree to meet him and this is how he looks. He only gives me two quick rattles.

Then later, another odd incident. I approach a road, and as I pass through the gate I see this rather odd sign:

My first thought is: let me slap a llama! (That’s an inside joke with my daughter.) My first thought is, “Oh please, let me see some llamas. The pictures would make Sammy so happy.” But there were no llamas in sight. I cross the road and take off my pack to rest. Three cars roll up and a total of five men get out. They are discussing the property near the trail. Four of the men seem like prospective buyers. They see me, but since I am trash, I don’t matter.

The men are concerned about how hikers on the “environmental right-of-way” could damage the property or diminish its value. The broker tries to explain what the PCT is. “It runs from Canada to Mexico,” he says. The men are not impressed. I holler over to them, “Woohoo! Canada to Mexico, baby!” They look at me like I’m a drunken bum. I can’t really blame them.

To me the trail is a national treasure. To them it’s just an item in the risk column. What calculations we make!

Another shot up sign

After not seeing a single shot sign in Oregon, my hopes are dashed. However, it does seem that Oregonians prefer shotguns over rifles.

Flower time

Just when you had thought that I had lost my love of flowers, here are today’s beauties.

The heat is on

The day gets hot. I have 4 miles to go until camp. The tree covered areas are fine, but these open areas are hard, especially when they are uphill.

I run into two hikers I know. They are resting in the shade under a tree by the trail. One is Hammer. He is one of those fast thru-hikers doing 30-mile days. I met him earlier in the day. The second is Joan of Arc who I met yesterday at a bus stop in Ashland. She was trying to get back to the trail. I told her about the shuttle I used. It worked for her.

And now here they are under the same tree discussing what hikers always discuss – where is the next water source? They tell me that the source I am counting on is dried up. I think they are wrong. It turns out that they were right but magic happens instead – a water cache by the trail less than a quarter mile after I leave those two. What luck!

What’s up docs?

I roll into camp to find it occupied by two half naked doctors. Not really. They were just chillin’ in their sports bras, and who hasn’t seen that a million times. They are both internist from Ohio. This is how they spend their vacation. It is their second day on the trail and they are still getting their trail legs, so they are not at all concerned about hiking less than 30 miles a day! We chat for a while and I tell them I will try to get this post up today, since we have some cell service. Of course they are thrilled to be on my blog…just trust me on that.

I take their photo, and then it dawns on me to air-drop it to her. I am so tech savvy now. Of course, I completely fail in my attempt, and end up messaging it to her. Hoo boy. Here is the shot.

I am not sure what tomorrow holds. The heat will be worse, so I am tentatively planning on 16 miles before 1pm. If the heat subsides, I may do more. Either way, I need to start before 6am. Let’s see how that goes.

• June 26
• Starting mile: 1717
• Ending mile: 1730
• Daily PCT miles: 13
• Total PCT miles: 358
• Animals: Timba!