Day 26 – Out of the Frying Pan, into…

I stayed up way too late last night trying to get my blog post up for those two doctors I camped with. The cell service is only one bar, and everything uploads so slowly. Since I didn’t get to bed until after 10, I forgot to refill my water reservoir, and have to do it in this morning. It therefore takes me an extra 15 minutes to get out of camp on a day that I will need every cool minute for hiking. Was I wrong?

In Ashland, I followed the lead of the Wander Women and treated some of my clothes and equipment with Permethrin. Bugs hate the stuff and will avoid it. I am trying to avoid another tick on me. Since I sleep on the ground, I am at high risk for any bug that wants to crawl over my vapor barrier and get up under my quilt. I routinely have bugs on me. I just don’t want them to bite me. Most won’t.

Early morning is special. The nocturnal animals are arranging themselves for quiet. You see them occasionally scurrying for dark corners of the forest. This morning I am treated to a young family of deer coming at me down the trail. It is two fawns followed by Mom. I get my camera out, but not before they see me and run back down the trail. Here is what I do get.

As the sun rises, the trees begin to glow.

The Wander Women have left me in the dust. They started earlier than me yesterday, and it seems they may have yet another super-power – they are not affected by heat. They just plow ahead to their predetermined location, heads down, steps synchronized. They are doing at least 50% more miles than me daily now that the heat has slowed me down.

Here is the deal with me and heat. High temps are my Kryptonite. I am not going to go into my weird physiology. Just accept that I have to stop hiking when temps rise above 90F. With the heat wave we are having in Oregon, that means I can really only hike til noon. It does not drop below 90F until after dark. This changes my hike until temps return to normal. Right now I am wondering if I have enough food to finish this section. I added a little extra, but it will be close.

Trail groupings

I don’t want to sound hurt or betrayed. Hikers move at their own pace and have different objectives. It is normal for people to come and go on the trail. I am sure I will see them again. It was fun hiking and camping with them. And, besides, without them who would have taken those naked photos.

J Ditty decided to split up with the Women while we were in Ashland. After the first night there, she said she was heading back to the trail. Ditty had actually been hiking and camping with the Women since Dunsmuir. The first thing Ditty ever said to me was how much so was enjoying being alone. I on the other hand was struggling with that. Now it looks like Ditty, Doolittle and the Wander Women are all on their own again.

Flower gallery

Some interesting specimens today

Recap

I emerge from the forest to this vista

It may be hard to see, but Ashland is down in that valley. The last four days of hiking have been walking the ridges around Ashland. I started on the southwest side (far right), walked east (left) to Mount Ashland, then farther east to Callahan’s where I got a ride into town. After my visit, I returned to Callahan’s and began a wide circle that actually went south at first, then circled Pilot Rock and now I am on the north rim of the Ashland valley. From here I will head northeast to Crater Lake. The area I will pass through is largely deserted except for a few resorts. Tonight I am at the campground at the Hyatt Lake Resort.

Tomorrow I will leave the Siskiyou Range of the Klamath Mountains and heading into the Cascade Mountains. The Cascades will take me to Canada.

The water situation in Oregon and California is dire this year. Both states rely heavily on snow melt for water. There was little snow this year. Hyatt Lake will probably be drained completely. (Too bad for the Resort!) Water is still flowing at the reservoir below the Lake though.

I am so happy to reach the resort. One of the resort staff (Grasshopper) actually meets me at the trailhead and takes me to the restaurant. I order a big hamburger, a big Dr. Pepper (no orange sodas here), and a root beer float. I can’t finish all my french fries, but I do drink five 20oz cups of soda and water. And Joan of Arc is here! I join her for lunch. We discuss destination strategies.

She decides that she will hike a little further after getting a shower at the campground. I am definitely staying. I caution her against continuing in this heat. She tells me that she is a big girl. She is a seasoned hiker and has travelled trails in New Zealand, Europe, Corsica and South America. I am sure she knows what she is doing. We both get refreshing showers. She heads back to the trail, and I retreat to the PCT section of the campground. There are people there:

They are hiking a section of the trail that started in Seiad Valley and will end at the closed burn area in north Oregon. They are recently married and recently retired. Karina has five children and six grandchildren. They love hiking. But, they are struggling with the heat like all of us, and they are still working on their trail legs. At this stage, twelve miles is a good day for them. They are fun to talk with. They use the deferential language that new couples use. They are cute.

After my big lunch I am going light for dinner: rehydrated minute rice with bacon bits and olive oil, seasoned with hot sauce and followed with six Oreos. In the morning I will have sun-dried tomato bread with olive oil, prunes and dried apricots and a cheese stick.

I wish I had more to show you, but until I can hike full days again, it will be slim pickings. If the conditions are right, I hope to hike 13 miles before noon tomorrow when I hit the pause button again. I hope to break camp at 5:15 to make this happen. We will see how that goes.

For the Beauty of the Earth, BOCP, Rite 2

We give you thanks, most gracious God, for the beauty of earth and sky and sea; for the richness of mountains, plains, and rivers; for the songs of birds and the loveliness of flowers. We praise you for these good gifts, and pray that we may safeguard them for our posterity. Grant that we may continue to grow in our grateful enjoyment of your abundant creation, to the honor and glory of your Name, now and for ever. Amen.

• June 27
• Starting mile: 1730
• Ending mile: 1742
• Daily PCT miles: 12
• Total PCT miles: 370
• Animals: Wee deer; Peregrine falcon pair