8/23 Day: 49 Miles: 22 Total: 819

I was too cold to get out of bed at 5 so I waited until 6. I moved so slowly! I am drained. I can't wait for a couple days off at Crater Lake. 

The Diamond Peak Wilderness wasn't too spectacular, but at least I was at treeline for a bit. I never got a pretty shot of the peak though. 

Summit lake was really cool. I took a break there and waded in to get some really fresh water and soak my feet. 

The lakes were pretty from the ridge. 

Further up the next ridge I was able to look back on Diamond Peak. 

I only managed to do 22 miles before giving up and camping by a puddle that I was able to get water from. Hopefully tomorrow I will have higher energy and be able to walk further. 

8/22 Day: 48 Miles: 15+6 Total: 797

Got a super gentleman's start and didn't leave my sleeping bag until 7:15. 

Seeing Rosarie Lakes from above before dropping down to them was pretty. 

The day got off track after this. I went across the highway and 2 miles down trail, 1.8 miles off trail to Shelter Cove because I somehow thought my resupply package was there before remembering it was down at the Willamette Pass Inn. Shelter Cove is 2 miles off trail so I had to backtrack to the trail and back to the highway to hitch into town. There's the +6. I got lucky on a hitch and a man pulled over about 0.25 miles away to wait for me in a pullout. I couldn't believe he waited that long for me to walk to him! Such a nice person. 

I got my resupply and went to the store to find a cooler than 90* drink. I ended up with a hot cocoa and a root beer. Go figure. 

I was sitting outside on a bench charging and eating when a guy sits down next to me and asks if I'm hiking and if I need a ride back up to trail. I was astounded. I hadn't even tried to hitch and I had an offer! A guy walked up then and said they were camping nearby and wanted to offer me a hot meal because he knows how being "hiker trash" is. I was overwhelmed with all the nice people! I accepted the ride offer and quickly packed up. 

Turns out the guy and his dad had helped build many portions of the PCT. I thought that was so cool. He even offered to let me stay with his family for the night! I seriously couldn't believe it. I politely declined since I had done virtually zero productive miles at this point but am still so amazed at the generosity of people! 

He let me off at the pass and I got my pack in order. In my rush to get ready I think I accidentally threw out too many water bottles because I was one liter short. Considering I am going into a dry section I was concerned. The trail provides! I walked past the construction crew at the pass TH and said hi to the guys. They were super interested in my journey and wanted to help. I asked if they had an extra Gatorade bottle lying around and not only did they, but it as filled with cold Gatorade! I couldn't believe it! My mess up of a day had turned around so much! 

I got back on trail and was walking along when I came across the mobile trail Angels from yesterday! (The ones walking the circumference of the earth.) They offered me another package of Oreos and we chatted. They will be in Crater Lake National Park for the 100 year anniversary of national parks Thursday. I think that is so cool so if my body feels up to it I might try to push for that as well. 

Sorry that was so wordy! But I just had to share all of the amazing generosity I experienced today. 

8/21 Day: 47 Miles: 24 Total: 782

My phone seems to be having a midlife crisis and died last night after having a full battery. So I slept till 6. That's ok. I was planning to hike 32mi to Rosarie Lakes. There are so many ponds and lakes in this part of Oregon. 

I found another old trail sign. 

I met a couple of mobile trail Angels who were out hiking today! They gave me an entire pack of Oreos!!! Life made! The husband's goal is to walk the circumference of the earth (25,000mi). He is at 8,800mi so far! 

I stopped to get water before continuing the last 7mi to the lakes. I had gotten some blisters started and so I took off my shoes to let my feet air out for a bit. I met 4 NOBOs who were very friendly and conversational. I decided to make dinner with them. Then I decided to camp there. So here I am. The lake is beautiful, just not the one I had intended to stop at. 

8/20 Day: 46 Miles: 12 Total: 758

I slept in and then caught up on social media for the first time since White Pass which was nice. When I post on social media I usually don't have enough connection or time to see what other people have been up to so it was nice to glimpse at everyone's lives. 

Darla made delicious blueberry pancakes with fake sausage for breakfast which was amazing! The three of us made our way to the Columbia outlet store downtown to look for a super lightweight shirt for me. I found one and it's even pink! I am so happy now! My life has been severely lacking in pink since I've been on the trail. My leggings were the only thing I had that was pink and now it's too hot for them. 

We had lunch at Spork before heading back up to the trail. Mike and Darla joined me on the mile walk connecting the trailhead to the PCT which I thought was fun and kind of them. 

You can see Mt Bachelor from the trail. 

Darla had given me iced tea and cookies that she had made. Neither of them survived overnight. I had planned to go 14mi but the mosquitos got so bad that I gave up and set camp at 12mi. A couple of NOBOs joined me which was incredibly entertaining but not very restful. 

8/15 Day: 41 Miles: 26 Total: 659

I walked my first marathon today. There wasn't much water so I was carrying 2.5 liters a good bit of the day. 

We stopped at Olallie Lake for lunch and to pick up some snacks. The lady at the store was nice and let us fill water from their outside faucet. That was much nicer than the murky pond water I had. 

After lunch we got a view of Mt Jefferson. 

We had our first sunset of the trail! There has been too many trees and we've been below treeline for so much of the trail that it's hard to get a sunset view. 

We are camped with a bunch of NOBOs. Didn't talk to them. Too cold and tired.  

8/14 Day: 40 Miles: 20 Total: 633

Since I am camped at the 600mi marker I decided to correct my total mileage. I'm not great at math, especially when I'm tired and want to sleep. 

I visited Little Crater Lake first thing in the morning to get water. It was so incredibly still! The air seemed as quiet as the water, which was reflecting the trees and clouds perfectly. I stood and took it in before ruining the glass by dumping my bottles in. 

I took a break at Timothy Lake, which is HUGE!!!!! This little stump was intriguing with all of its twisted roots. I laid down on the downed tree to the right which has a perfect curve before the roots for me to relax in while elevating my feet on the roots. Bliss😊

The miles after that crept along. Crusher and I encountered more trail Angels at a campsite just off the trail. It was two sisters and they had been up riding their horses last weekend when they were asked if they were the trail Angels who left sodas and chips at a campsite. They weren't, but they were intrigued and wanted to do some trail magic of their own this weekend! They got a campsite close to the trail and put a sign out there so hikers would know they were there. They had pancakes!, juice, uncrustables (which I find disgusting in real life but had been wanting a pbj sandwich soooooooooo badly that it was delicious, cookies, and chips. It was so amazing! They were friendly and their horses and giant dog were well trained. 

After lunch I ate my last candy cane! I hope they don't have to change my name now. 

For some reason today I was just sluggish. But I have made it 600mi South of Canada. The NOBOs I talked with at the campsite were super friendly and nice. We all had a different pair of La Sportivas on so I obviously had to take a picture! 

We got to camp early and it hasn't been pouring for a week straight, so I made a fire and we enjoyed it while drying clothes and chowing down on rice and tuna (not the greatest idea ever, but edible). First fire on the trail!

8/13 Day: 39 Miles: 14 Total: 595

There were critters trying to get at someone's food last night. That kept me up a good portion of the night. 

I went to the lodge early and enjoyed a cup of really good tea in the main area. The lodge is a historic site and as such is mostly all exposed wood and rock. It's beautiful and the morning light had the wood glowing. 

The breakfast was all I had hoped it would be. The hot cocoa was super creamy and delicious. I ate it all!

As a send off they gave us switchel which is a digestive helper. It is composed of apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, molasses, and ginger. It was so good. 

I sat outside and chatted with my grandpa and second cousin, Darla, while admiring Mt Hood. 

After that I packed up camp and hit the trail. I had more views of Hood! 

The trail has widened and leveled out significantly. 

I crushed the miles and got confused when I stopped to chat with a group of NOBOs and the said I was at Frog Lake (I thought I had another 4mi to go before I got there). I got another view of Hood a few miles before my campsite. It's so cool to be able to see how far you've come in a single day.