Killen Creek, wooden bridge to Sheep Lake

Sheep Lake, mile 2267.

It isn't easy getting going in the mornings when it is still dark and you are cozy and warm.

But if you want to get 25 miles down the trail, then get going you must.

Got up to find clear skies. No rain today.

And someone put a mountain with a glacier right uphill from last night's camping spot.

The trail was a bit slippery and squishy in places thanks to yesterday's rain. As the sun warmed the wet ground and old wet logs, water vapor rose like steam.

We passed a trail crew out working on the trail and the runoff channels. Made sure to thank them for their work.

Had a few views of the big volcanoes around the area, but mostly the trail was in forest today.

-------------------

2021 Update:

It isn't easy getting going in the mornings when it is still dark and you are cozy and warm.

But if you want to get 25 miles down the trail, then get going you must.

Got up to find clear skies. No rain today.

And someone put a mountain with a glacier right uphill from last night's camping spot.

The trail was a bit slippery and squishy in places thanks to yesterday's rain. As the sun warmed the wet ground and old wet logs, water vapor rose like steam.

We passed a trail crew out working on the trail and the runoff channels. Made sure to thank them for their work.

Had a few views of the big volcanoes around the area, but mostly the trail was in forest today.

Photos from today: https://www.b-photo.com/Travel/PCT-2016-Day-by-Day/September/September-24/

Mighty Mouse's blog for today: http://www.timandgerri.com/blog---2016/day-158-24-september-mile-224183-226684

Road 23 to Killen Creek, wooden bridge

Killeen Creek, mile 2242.

Got a reasonable start for staying in town, on the trail around 11am.

Town stops can get busy and complicated. Do we eat out first or get to the store before it closes? Does anyone have packages at the post office, and what hours is it open? How long will laundry. Take to do? Who gets to shower first? How do I pack all this food in my pack, and why do I have so much food for just a few days?

The forecast was for some rain in the morning and then clearing skies. It rained all day. Fortunately it was a pretty light rain, but we were basically inside a cloud all day. Cool and windy and damp.

Ended up doing 15 miles and got to camp pretty early. It was nice to set up camp in the daylight, no matter how overcast.

Cold and breezy tonight, but our campsite is among some trees that give a little protection from the wind.

---------------------

2021 Update:

Got a reasonable start for staying in town, on the trail around 11am.

Town stops can get busy and complicated. Do we eat out first or get to the store before it closes? Does anyone have packages at the post office, and what hours is it open? How long will laundry take to do? Who gets to shower first? How do I pack all this food in my pack, and why do I have so much food for just a few days?

The forecast was for some rain in the morning and then clearing skies. It rained all day. Fortunately it was a pretty light rain, but we were basically inside a cloud all day. Cool and windy and damp.

Ended up doing 15 miles and got to camp pretty early. It was nice to set up camp in the daylight, no matter how overcast.

Cold and breezy tonight, but our campsite is among some trees that give a little protection from the wind.

Photos from today: https://www.b-photo.com/Travel/PCT-2016-Day-by-Day/September/September-23/

Mighty Mouse's blog for today: http://www.timandgerri.com/blog---2016/day-157-23-september-mile-222635-224183

Blue Lake to Road 23

Trout Lake

Woke up to the wind still blowing at Blue Lake. Jazzman stopped by as he was starting his hike and we let him know that he could probably get a ride into town if he was at the road when we got there since Tim was picking up Mighty Mouse, Share Bear and me to take us to the town of Trout Lake for resupply and a night indoors.

It was chilly hiking all morning as the sun was mostly hidden behind clouds. Fortunately no rain, just cool temperatures and wind.

Along the trail we spotted Stitch's signature scratched in the trail indicating that he was at that point at midnight. He hikes just a little faster than we do, but hikes some long hours. We'll probably see him in White Pass, it sounded like he might want to hike with a group once we get into the Cascades and bad weather becomes a worry.

At a side trail down to one of the many lakes we passed today we saw a single hiking pole. Share Bear commented that it was the same kind that Max uses. Kate and Max hiked with Share Bear from the second day of her hike up through Kennedy Meadows, and with Mighty Mouse from around Baden Powell through Kennedy Meadows. They were a few days behind us through the Sierras and then skipped from Tahoe to Ashland, putting them several hundred miles ahead.
So, the poles...Mighty Mouse yelled out for Max, since we heard people down at the lake, but we got no reply. Walking on, Share Bear and Mighty Mouse speculated that it might have been Kate and Max, since they hadn't sent any messages saying they were at Trout Lake yet and their last message put them just a couple days ahead.

We stopped for lunch after about 10 miles, early because Tim met us at a gravel road. As we were eating, up walk Kate and Max. A happy reunion ensued and Kate and Max accepted both an invitation to slack pack the remaining miles of the day and the offer of space in the cabin.

So, tonight we have Tim, Mighty Mouse, Share Bear, myself, Kate, Max and Jazzman. A full house.

Along the trail today we had some great huckleberries, the greatest impediment to hiker foreword progress yet encountered.

----------------

2021 Update:

Woke up to the wind still blowing at Blue Lake. Jazzman stopped by as he was starting his hike and we let him know that he could probably get a ride into town if he was at the road when we got there since Tim was picking up Mighty Mouse, Share Bear and me to take us to the town of Trout Lake for resupply and a night indoors.

It was chilly hiking all morning as the sun was mostly hidden behind clouds. Fortunately no rain, just cool temperatures and wind.

Along the trail we spotted Stitch's signature scratched in the trail indicating that he was at that point at midnight. He hikes just a little faster than we do, but hikes some long hours. We'll probably see him in White Pass, it sounded like he might want to hike with a group once we get into the Cascades and bad weather becomes a worry.

At a side trail down to one of the many lakes we passed today we saw a single hiking pole. Share Bear commented that it was the same kind that Max uses. Kate and Max hiked with Share Bear from the second day of her hike up through Kennedy Meadows, and with Mighty Mouse from around Baden Powell through Kennedy Meadows. They were a few days behind us through the Sierras and then skipped from Tahoe to Ashland, putting them several hundred miles ahead.
So, the poles...Mighty Mouse yelled out for Max, since we heard people down at the lake, but we got no reply. Walking on, Share Bear and Mighty Mouse speculated that it might have been Kate and Max, since they hadn't sent any messages saying they were at Trout Lake yet and their last message put them just a couple days ahead.

We stopped for lunch after about 10 miles, early because Tim met us at a gravel road. As we were eating, up walk Kate and Max. A happy reunion ensued and Kate and Max accepted both an invitation to slack pack the remaining miles of the day and the offer of space in the cabin.

So, tonight we have Tim, Mighty Mouse, Share Bear, myself, Kate, Max and Jazzman. A full house.

Along the trail today we had some great huckleberries, the greatest impediment to hiker foreword progress yet encountered.

Photos from today: https://www.b-photo.com/Travel/PCT-2016-Day-by-Day/September/September-22/

Mighty Mouse's blog for today: http://www.timandgerri.com/blog---2016/day-156-22-september-mile-220273-222635

Paved Panther Creek Road to Blue Lake

Blue Lake

Ran into Stitch this morning. He and Jazzman had camped near where I did. Stitch walked with Mighty Mouse, Share Bear and me for most of the day.

Had a couple sprinkles during the day, but mostly just cloudy skies and some wind.

It was dark by the time I made it to Blue Lake, and I set up camp by the light of my headlamp. Stitch was also here, but he just cooked his dinner and headed off into the night. He is hoping to make it to White Pass a couple days before Mighty Mouse, Share Bear and I do, we'll probably see him there since he likes to take days off in town.
Jazzman is camped nearby, he hikes pretty fast so he had time to relax.

It is windy and cool tonight, with a chance of rain. As long as the rain holds off, it'll be a good night.

------------

2021 Update:

Ran into Stitch this morning. He and Jazzman had camped near where I did. Stitch walked with Mighty Mouse, Share Bear and me for most of the day.

Had a couple sprinkles during the day, but mostly just cloudy skies and some wind.

It was dark by the time I made it to Blue Lake, and I set up camp by the light of my headlamp. Stitch was also here, but he just cooked his dinner and headed off into the night. He is hoping to make it to White Pass a couple days before Mighty Mouse, Share Bear and I do, we'll probably see him there since he likes to take days off in town.
Jazzman is camped nearby, he hikes pretty fast so he had time to relax.

It is windy and cool tonight, with a chance of rain. As long as the rain holds off, it'll be a good night.

Photos from today: https://www.b-photo.com/Travel/PCT-2016-Day-by-Day/September/September-21/

Mighty Mouse's blog for today: http://www.timandgerri.com/blog---2016/day-155-21-september-mile-217946-220273

Campsite at Mile 2154.13, WA to Paved Panther Creek Road

Somewhere near Panther Creek campground.

After yesterday's late start and slightly early stop there were some miles to make up, so today ended up being a 25 mile day.

Ran into Ballou and Rembrandt, who I hadn't seen since Lone Pine in the Sierras. They skipped from Tahoe up to Ashland at some point, and we still managed to catch up to them. At this point they are taking their time since they plan to get off the trail at White Pass a little over a hundred miles up the trail.

Tim surprised us by meeting us at our last road crossing with pizza. Mighty Mouse went back to town with Tim and Share Bear and I are camped in the woods.

-------------

2021 Update:

After yesterday's late start and slightly early stop there were some miles to make up, so today ended up being a 25 mile day.

Ran into Ballou and Rembrandt, who I hadn't seen since Lone Pine in the Sierras. They skipped from Tahoe up to Ashland at some point, and we still managed to catch up to them. At this point they are taking their time since they plan to get off the trail at White Pass a little over a hundred miles up the trail.

Tim surprised us by meeting us at our last road crossing with pizza. Mighty Mouse went back to town with Tim and Share Bear and I are camped in the woods.

Mighty Mouse's blog for today: http://www.timandgerri.com/blog---2016/day-154-20-september-mile-215413-217946

Cascade Locks, OR to Campsite at Mile 2154.13, WA

Got to sleep in a bit this morning, but my body still isn't quite recovered from the miles we did yesterday. Hopefully a decent night's sleep will help.

Did some food sorting and shopping this morning then had lunch at the fish market in Cascade Locks before heading out over the Bridge of the Gods into Washington, the third and last state of the trail.

And of course, the trail starts to climb. The crossing of the Columbia river is the low spot of the PCT, so everything is up from there.

Only hiked about 10 miles today, so will have to make up a little tomorrow.

It rained a little as we departed Cascade Locks, but it held off for the rest of the day. It is a bit humid, but the forecast says no rain for a few days at least.

Breakfast at the fish shop in Cascade Locks.

The bridge between Oregon and Washington, named "The Bridge of the Gods"

-----------------

2021 Update:

Got to sleep in a bit this morning, but my body still isn't quite recovered from the miles we did yesterday. Yes, we did the 29 miles. Hopefully a decent night's sleep will help.

Did some food sorting and shopping this morning then had lunch at the fish market in Cascade Locks before heading out over the Bridge of the Gods into Washington, the third and last state of the trail.

And of course, the trail starts to climb. The crossing of the Columbia river is the low spot of the PCT, so everything is up from there.

Only hiked about 10 miles today, so will have to make up a little tomorrow.

It rained a little as we departed Cascade Locks, but it held off for the rest of the day. It is a bit humid, but the forecast says no rain for a few days at least.

Photos from today: https://www.b-photo.com/Travel/PCT-2016-Day-by-Day/September/September-19/

Mighty Mouse's blog for today: http://www.timandgerri.com/blog---2016/day-153-19-september-mile-214419-215413