Day 130 - 9/02/12 - Wedding Crash Fail!

Contents:  0.0 miles

Today was an unplanned zero in Timberline.  Believe it or not, unplanned zeros are the absolute best!  I kicked the morning off with another hotel shower.  The showers are technically for guests only, but the gal at the front desk yesterday had told me that I was welcome to use one as long as I was discreet.  I decided a second shower was in order after waking up feeling more than a little stiff.  The hot water definitely helped.

After my shower, I broke camp and then met everyone at the lodge for the most fantastic breakfast buffet ever.  It was probably my favorite trail breakfast yet.  I ate two waffles, some veggie scramble, and heaps and heaps of fresh fruit.  So good, and it was followed by an even better nap in one of the hotel lobbies.  

Post nap, I gathered a few more items for my resupply from the hiker box and ski lodge vending machine.  The stores were pretty pathetic and contained mostly souvenirs, but many people had sent themselves packages, and I had raided the well stocked hiker box last night.  I just needed a few more snack items today.  I then hit up the ski lodge cafeteria for a milk shake and headed back to the hotel pizza restaurant/bar to hang out with the whole gang.

I had a great time at the pizza place.  Before I knew it, plans were developing to crash a very fancy wedding that was underway at the hotel.  We were all game to stick around for another night if dancing was involved!  I actually would have stuck around for just about anything.....I wanted to postpone more walking as long as possible!  Anyway, we hung around at the restaurant until they were about to close and then Shameless and I snuck into the hotel hot tub while the rest of the posse headed to the bar upstairs.  The hot tub felt absolutely fabulous to my tired body, and we had no trouble getting in.  The door wasn't even locked!

After hot tubbing, Shameless and I joined the others upstairs at the bar and watched the wedding party unfolding on the floor below.  The bar was basically in a circular balcony, and we had a great view of the event.  We'd noticed that the entrance to the party wasn't well monitored.  Our plan was to wait until people were drunk and the dancing was in full swing and then walk in one at a time and join the fun.  I think this plan would have worked, but Shameless got a little cocky and went down and took a free drink while the toasts were being delivered and he was busted by a hotel manager who watched the whole thing.  It was a bit disappointing as most of us just wanted to dance and weren't going to take from the bar, but oh well!  It was still a night to remember.  Lots of innocent fun out here.

Hiking tomorrow.  Canada is getting close!

Day 129 - 9/01/12 - 55 Miles = Certified Bad Asses

Contents:  Olallie Lake Resort - Timberline Lodge (54.2 miles)

Ok.....so maybe it was only 54.2 miles, but Flappy and I did it!  We cruised the 55 miles between Olallie Lake Resort and Timberline Lodge in about 21 hours and had an absolute blast.

We left Olallie Lake shortly after 5 PM following a hodge podge dinner.  I'd eaten mac and cheese late in the afternoon and wasn't super hungry but managed to eat some  granola with raisins and a Butterfinger candy bar.  The hiking was easy and we knocked out the first 20 miles to Warm Springs Creek before midnight.  We ate our first "lunch" there, crackers and cheese for me, and I did a short foot soak.  It was definitely cold and dark, though the full moon was wonderful.  It's always a little depressing when the sun goes down, especially when I'm working hard and know that I will be doing the exact same thing when the sun rises again, but the moon brightened our moods and Flappy was excellent company.  Shameless and Lava Goat had also left notes of encouragement along the way.

The second 20 miles went pretty quickly as well.  Flappy dropped his winter hat shortly after taking it off and had to backtrack a bit but was fortunately able to find it.  I hiked on a short distance and then stopped until he caught up.  We also cranked up some tunes on our iPhones.  The speakers aren't great but they work well enough and we blasted Tom Petty followed by Beetles' White Album as we charged through the forest singing at the top of our lungs.  Our usual crew, Team Slacker, was camped a short distance off the trail at Little Crater Lake with some of Shameless' friends who were providing magic.  We passed those guys around 3 AM but didn't head into their camp.  Other highlights were a ridiculously long downed tree that Flappy and I both thought might have been a hallucination and gorgeous Timothy Lake which was magical with a little fog in the moonlight.  Also, my good friend Gene from Seattle had buried a couple of beers for me near Timothy Lake while on a mountain biking adventure earlier this summer.  Sadly we weren't able to locate the beers, but we sure had fun looking.  Drinking a beer probably wouldn't have been a great idea anyways, as my stomach was already upset from only eating two chocolate muffins and a bag of Fritos since midnight.

We celebrated the sunrise with Isreal Kanamawiwoo'ole's Somewhere Over the Rainbow, a special request from Peelsy.  It was so uplifting, definitely one of my favorite parts of the hike.  We stopped for our second lunch and water around 8.  We were probably  about 40 miles deep at this point.  I don't think either of us could stomach junk food so I cooked mac and cheese and Flappy had mashed potatoes.  We thought it would pull us in (and it probably did)  but fatigue was setting in and our pace slowed for the last 15 miles.

We arrived at Timberlake Lodge around 2:30, over 21 hours after we'd left Olallie Lake.  The last few miles were super tough and sandy.  Tons of climbing.  It was definitely beautiful but we were beat.  We did a lot of moaning and groaning.....it seemed to help. We rocked the Beastie Boys for a while but they became too obnoxious for our tired states.  We eventually took to singing Hallelujah as loudly as possible.  We both knew all the lyrics by heart though I'm not convinced we were singing the verses in the correct order.  I'm sure we frightened a day walker or two!

We ate pizza at the lodge and made camp just a couple minutes away.  We are camped at the base of Hood and have spectacular views of both Hood and Jefferson near where we started our day.  Breakfast buffet tomorrow.  Wooly, Black Beard, and Destroyer are here and the rest of our crew should roll in first thing in the morning.

Thanks to Flappy for being the perfect hiking partner.  We created a rule early on where we could only make quantitative statements if they were positive, and we stuck to that plan.  Neither of us ever considered stopping and we shared countless laughs.

Have a great night!  Team Strong.....is signing off!

Day 128 - 8/31/12 -Resting Up For the 55 Mile Challenge

Contents: 0.0 miles

Hello!  I am writing this entry a little earlier than usual, as I am getting ready to embark on the 55 mile challenge.  Mud Flap (Flappy) and I are planning to leave Olallie Lake around 5.  We'll knock out a few easy miles before the sun sets, push through the night, and then crank out the really fatiguing miles during the day tomorrow when we'd normally be walking anyways.  With some luck, we should walk into Timberline Lodge late tomorrow afternoon in time for a massive pizza celebration.

My day has been good so far.  I hit up the Olallie Lake store for a chocolate muffin after breakfast and also grabbed some junk food for the trail but have since been holed up in my tent.  I slept well last night and am definitely more rested.  I feel a little nervous, almost the way I would before a marathon but I know I shouldn't because I can stop and make camp at any point.  I just hope this isn't a poor choice for my already very beat up feet and legs.

Hasta manana, hopefully from Timberline Lodge!

Day 127 - 8/30/12 - Hello Hood, Adams, and Helens!

Content:  Shale Lake - Olallie Lake Resort (23.6 miles)

Today was AWESOME!  We had great views of Jefferson and then topped out at a pass after a long climb and got our first views of Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, and Mt. St. Helens.  It was unreal.  Bobcat had already dropped down the other side and heard me hooting and hollering in what she could only describe as a visual orgasm.  It was definitely pure joy to see those mountains.  I went from unfamiliar territory to feeling like I was in my own backyard in a matter of seconds, and I am so happy to be home.

We encountered quite a bit of snow today.   Oregon and Washington had such huge snow years that I have no doubt we'll see more snow in the next few weeks than we did in the High Sierra in June.  We managed to do some glissading and had to cross a snow bridge over the creek where we ate lunch.  I love it.

I'm currently camped near Olallie Lake Resort with Mud Flap, Shameless, Bobcat, Black Beard, and Destroyer.  The temps dropped below freezing last night and I was miserably cold and wet from dew/frost, so I begrudgingly set up my tent this evening.  I am really hoping for a better night of sleep.

Big plans that I haven't yet revealed in the journal....I am going to try the 55 mile challenge which is a 55 mile, 24 hour push, between Olallie Lake Resort and Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood.  Yes, I may be crazy but I think I can pull it off.  Mud Flap is on board as well.  Our plan is to spend most of tomorrow resting and then start the challenge around 5 PM.  I'd originally been planning to hit the trail a little later (maybe 8-ish) but pushed the time forward to accommodate Mud Flap.  I also have to buy him pizza and beer at Timberline.....so worth it in order to have a partner in crime!  It's going to be an epic push but I'm excited to give it a shot.

Please, please send me good vibes over the next couple days!  I'm definitely going to need all the help I can get!

Day 126 - 8/29/12 Fall Is In The Air

Contents:  Big Lake Youth Camp - Shale Lake (29.4 miles)

Great day today.  We woke up to a foggy morning but the clouds quickly burned off and we had another beautiful day.  About five miles from camp, we crossed Highway 20 at Santiam Pass.  From there, we headed into a massive burn area. Burn areas are usually pretty awful (sun exposed and not very scenic) but this one was a different story.  The air was cool and crisp and the lack of foliage on the trees gave us great views of the Sisters to the south and Mt. Jefferson to the north.  I walked much of the day with Bobcat, a cool gal from Bellingham, WA, who has done quite a bit of climbing and is getting into back country skiing.  Hopefully we can get out for a tour or two this winter.

We thought about stopping for the night about three miles back but were all feeling good and pushed on to Shale Lake.  I'd had a stomach ache and headache since yesterday but finally am feeling like I rounded the corner this afternoon.  Camp is beautiful and we are taking a break from the Beetles tonight in order to sing Hallelujah.  

On to Olallie Lake Resort tomorrow!  Have a great night!

Day 125 - Peace for Peels After 2000 Miles

Contents:  McKenzie Pass - Big Lake Youth Camp (11.4 miles)

Today was another fantastic day.  After a tasty breakfast of cereal and fresh fruit, Stephanie and I gave Action Pack, Smiles, and Amigo a ride to the PO in Sisters which was about half an hour from the Browns' house.  On the way out of Bend, we stopped at a great little coffee shop to pick up some famous Ocean Rolls and coffee for Stephanie and Peels who is a bit sleep deprived.  The Ocean Rolls were a definite hit, and we had a stress-free ride to Sisters.  It was also super nice to squeeze in a few last minutes with Stephanie on my way back to Bend.

Shameless, Mellow, Mud Flap, and I got a lift up to McKenzie Pass from trail angel Lloyd Gust who was kind enough to pick us up at Stephanie and Dave's house.  Lloyd was a retired man who had made four trips with thru-hikers yesterday.  Really nice guy who knew a lot about the area.

The hiking today was pretty chill.  We had a few miles of annoying lava but eventually got back on some softer, less rocky ground.  The best sections of trail were two parts that Shameless worked on a couple years ago as a trail crew leader.  It was fun to hear him talk about what they had done, and we are currently camped at the site he stayed at with his crew.  

We're about a third of a mile from Big Lake Youth Camp where I picked up a package of food and some new shoes.  Shameless, Mud Flap, and Bobcat are here, and I wouldn't be surprised if a few others roll in later.  There was quite a crowd at Big Lake Youth Camp.  Mellow is a little ways ahead, probably trying to catch up with Smiles, Action Pack, and Amigo.

We hit mile 2000 today and we're less than 650 PCT miles south of the Canada border.  Time is flying now.  I can't say enough about how great it was to see Stephanie and Dave as they really helped me reconnect with my life in Seattle.  There's no doubt I'm going to go through a major grieving period when I get off the trail, but I'm starting to look forward to building my new life.  I've had a lot of time to think on the trail, and I'm planning to make some changes.  

For now, I've decided not to return to the corporate world.  I've tasted freedom, and I can't go back to the confining walls of a cube.  I've also discovered how little I need to be happy.  I'm having the summer of my life with little more than food, water, and about 14 pounds of belongings on my back.  My current (tentative) plan is to return to Seattle, find a cheap studio apartment in Fremont or Wallingford, and then take a month long EMT/Wilderness course in Leavenworth, WA.  I also plan to apply for a spring certified nursing assistant (CNA) program in Seattle.  I've been thinking about the CNA program for quite a while now but was originally planning to get a non-professional job between the time I get off the trail and the time' I'll start school in the spring.  However, I've realized that I'm going to have money left over after the trail and I wouldn't be able to make much money before starting school anyways, so this is a perfect opportunity to open some doors with the Wilderness EMT course.  This is a program I've thought about doing in the past but haven't had time for and I can only imagine that it will benefit me as a CNA.  At a minimum I can definitely see myself getting involved in volunteer SAR in the Cascades.

Why the CNA program?  Any time I meet someone new out here, I always make a point of asking them what they've done for work.  Most of us aren't independently wealthy, and yet we've all found a way to escape the "real" world and spend 5+ months hiking across the country  Almost everyone of us managed to save enough money to survive out here and/or has a job with an enormous amount of flexibility.  I wanted to know the secrets of other thru-hikers!  Anyways, the predominate careers that I heard mentioned over and over again were trail maintenance leadership and the CNA. Don't get me wrong - I gave (and continue to give) plenty of thought to trail maintenance.  However, for the time being, I've decided that I would prefer to keep my passion for the outdoors separate from my professional life.  Also, my love for the outdoors extends beyond hiking and I worry that I would miss out on other types of adventures if I were leading trail crews for weeks or months at a time.  As for becoming a CNA, many of you know that I've been interested in nursing for quite some time and even went so far as to take some pre-reqs for an RN program several years ago.  I chickened out after deciding it was too big of a switch from what I was doing at the time and that I wasn't ready to make the commitment, but I don't think I ever totally let go of the idea.  While I won't make nearly as much money as a CNA versus an RN, it will be a low investment way to get my feet wet in the nursing field.  Also, CNA's often have a lot of job flexibility and there are many opportunities for contract work (hence the great number I've met along the PCT).  At this point, flexibility and feeling like I am helping others are my number one career requirement. 

Lots of changes ahead, and these plans may all change too.  However, this is what I'm thinking at the moment and it feels right.  There's no doubt the trail has chilled me out a lot and I'm extremely open to new opportunities.  I've also become much more adverse to commitment (the thought of even signing a six month lease is terrifying now), and I have a lot of trouble looking more than a couple of months into the future. For the entire summer, I have avoided making plans beyond my next resupply.  I'm definitely just going with the flow now, and it feels really good.  I don't fret about every little detail like I've been known to do in the past.  I know life will work out one way or another.

Off to bed!  More hiking manana.  Hope all is well for you!  

Day 124 - 8/27/12 - Bend Zero

Contents:  0.0 miles

Today was exhausting but super productive and wonderful.  Mellow and Smiles kicked off the morning with a delicious pancake and fruit breakfast.  More thanks to Stephanie and Dave for stocking up on food before our arrival.  After breakfast, Stephanie was kind enough to let us take their Subaru so the seven of us piled in (two in the back hatch) and I became chauffer for the day.  I hadn't driven a car since April 24th, and it felt great to get behind the wheel.  And you can't beat a little Journey for some good cuisin' tunes!

Our field trip into the bustling metropolis of Bend was certainly an adventure.  None of us had any lay of the land, so we'd pretty much just pick a chore or destination, determine where to drive, get 'er done, and then move on to the next item on the list.  We hit REI, multiple POs, lunch, downtown, a hotel where Amigo needed to pick up a package, grocery outlet, Safeway, 711 for HEET, TJ Maxx, the liquor store, Radio Shack and probably other places I am forgetting.  Half the time I felt like we were driving in circles and the other half of the time I felt like a ping pong ball bouncing from one end of town to the other.  Nevertheless, tiring as it was, our spirits remained high and we got everything done.  Can't ask for much more than that!

We did a BBQ dinner at Stephanie and Dave's place and everyone is currently watching the Hunger Games.  I was there for the beginning and enjoyed what I saw but was just too beat to stay up.

Back to the trail in the morning.  A few of us (myself excluded) need to stop in Sisters before heading back to the trail, so Stephanie or I will drop those folks off first thing in the morning.  The hitch up to the pass from Sisters shouldn't be too bad.  The other three and I will get a ride all the way to the trail head from a local angel who is picking us up at the Brown's house at 10.

Thank you again to Stephanie and Dave!  I love you guys and am already looking forward to a Bend ski adventure this winter!  You are amazing friends!

New photos - Ashland to Cascade Locks

Check out Peel's new photo album.  (See link to Photos on her home page).  It has photos from Ashland to Cascade Locks.  Enjoy!

SPECIAL UPDATE: Peels Back in Washington

We got a call from Peels, and she just crossed the border into 
Washington via the Bridge of the Gods near Cascade Locks! She is 
currently about 500 miles south of the Canada border at PCT mile 
2,156. Her first Washington resupply will be at White Pass in 150 
miles. She expects to arrive there on Tuesday. We'll try to keep you 
posted as she moves across Washington!

Day 123 - 8/26/12 - The Best Trail Angels Ever

Contents:  Obsidian Falls - McKenzie Pass (12.1 miles)

I'm in Bend with my awesome friends Stephanie and Dave!  I am so happy to be here.  The have been absolutely amazing and I don't know how I'll ever thank them enough for everything they've done.  It is also super late so I'm going to keep this short.

The hiking went fast this morning.  We knocked out the 12 miles to the road by noon.  There was a cooler with fresh fruit about a mile before the highway.  So nice!  The last mile was rocky and tedious.....lots of lava and more to come!  Definitely hard on the feet.

We'd been planning to meet Stephanie at McKenzie Pass, but my SPOT transmissions hadn't gone out so she didn't know when to show up.  Instead, we wound up hitching into the town of Sisters (on the way to Bend) and she picked us up there.  I was glad it worked out and we didn't somehow miss her.  Amigo, Shameless, and I got a ride from a really nice woman who had hiked a section of the PCT a few weeks ago and discovered the world of thru hiking.  She was actually at the pass looking for hikers to take into Sisters.  Smiles, Mud Flap, and a guy name High Life were able to get lifts all the way to Bend, and we rendezvoused with them at a place called McMenniman's for lunch after dropping off our gear and Lander the dog at Stephanie's house. 

After lunch, Stephanie drove Smiles, Mud Flap, Shameless, and Amigo back home so they could get started with showers and laundry.  Stephanie and I then took off to pick up Mellow and Action Pack who had been dropped off at a Mexican joint and were eating lunch.  It was great to get Stephanie to myself if only for a few minutes, and we enjoyed a pleasant hour or so on the deck of the restaurant with Mellow and Action Pack.

We eventually made our way back to Stephanie and Dave's townhouse where the PCT had pretty much taken over.  Before I forget, I want to thank Stephanie and Dave for the awesome plate they decorated with a dry-erase welcome message.  So sweet!  Anyways, showers, internet use, laundry, movie watching, and eating and drinking were in full swing.  Action Pack, Mellow, and I joined the rotation and then we proceeded to raid Stephanie and Dave's closet for clothes to wear out for the night.  All of us girls found super hot dresses (thank you Khanh, for giving Stephanie the one I wore!) and I think we finally managed to impress our boys.  And I couldn't stop smiling at Mellow, my Jersey boy with a mohawk, who was sporting a Vert Fest t-shirt and Carharts.  He definitely could have passed for one of my Seattle homeys!  So cute, though his smile and baby blues can always melt my heart!

Anyway, dinner was a blast.  We went to the world famous Deschutes Brewery.  Due to limited car space, Stephanie, Kevin (a friend of Stephanie and Dave's who was joining us for dinner) and I rode bikes into town.  It was all downhill and as always it felt great to be on a bike.  We weren't able to get a table right away, but there was live music upstairs and we got to hang out there until our name came up.

After dinner, Dave, Smiles, Kevin, the car and the bikes went home while the rest of us (Action Pack, Mellow, Shameless, Amigo, Mud Flap, Stephanie, and me) hit a dive bar down the street.  We had a good time there before eventually calling a cab to get home.

I can't thank Stephanie and Dave enough for all they're doing for us.  They have welcomed seven guests (thru-hikers, no less!) into their home, and let us take over their lives.  Seeing them has been good for me not only because they are great friends, but because they've brought back a connection to my Seattle world.  My Seattle life has felt very distant lately. Right now, going home seems scary but it's a reality.  I'm going to have to face in less than a month and a half.  It felt so good to talk about friends from home and the world of skiing and climbing which I'm missing out here.  It was awesome to think about all the friends and adventures I have waiting for me after the PCT.