Daily Miles: 21.5, Total Miles: 2287.5 I started to get up at 5:20am but heard the pitter patter on the rainfly. It drizzled for about an hour and then stopped. After over two hours of hiking, I hadn’t seen any goats or many rocks so what’s with this wilderness anyway? Fast forward to the end of the day – Goat Rocks ROCKS! Absolutely one of my top, favorite days on the trail! The views are spectacular. Mts Adams, St Helens…

Daily Miles: 28.3, Total Miles: 2266.0 Hard to take off the dry sleeping clothes and put on the damp, cold hiking clothes this morning – can’t dry anything in this weather and humidity. I started climbing quickly to the east, entering the Mt Adams Wilderness and seeing my first elk on the PCT. Three cows were standing on the trail ahead of me wondering where the noise was coming from – they were gone in a flash. Once Mt Adams…

Daily Miles: 31.2, Total Miles: 2237.7 Another walk in the forest for the most part. Entering Indian Heaven Wilderness, I passed several shallow ponds and lakes. At the high point, I got closer views of Mt Adams, the top obscured by clouds, and a nice view back to Mt. Hood. Raining and drizzling most of the afternoon, I put on the rain jacket and pack cover. Because of all the wet vegetation along the trail, I also put on my…

Daily Miles: 25.7, Total Miles: 2180.7 I had a good breakfast of pancakes and eggs at the Charburger and then a short walk to the Bridge of Gods. The toll booth attendant gave me a high five – I guess this was my toll? Bit of a slow start on the WA side because the ripe blackberries were too good to pass up. I finally had to get going – 3,300 ft climb in front of me. Dense forest and…

Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 2155.0 I had a nice rest and enough time to get organized for Washington. A thunderstorm and showers made me happy today was a zero day. A special treat tonight was pizza and beer with my uncle and cousin from Portland!

Daily Miles: 21.9, Total Miles: 2155.0 I smelled smoke first thing in the morning and suspected it’s from the Dalles fire east of here. Hiking along Waucoma Ridge, a great panorama of Mts St Helens, Adams and now Rainier. Ate quite a few thimbleberries on this stretch. I dropped to Indian Springs on the steepest two miles downhill I have experienced so far. My legs were quivering a bit at the finish. I then connected to Eagle Creek Trail which…

Daily Miles: 25.8, Total Miles: 2133.1 I got a second shot at the breakfast buffet – a repeat of yesterday except I skipped the biscuits and gravy. What restraint on a hiking day! I passed under the ski lift shortly after leaving the lodge. Still a fair number of skiers up on the glacier. Great views back toward Mt Jefferson and even to Three Sisters. I descended the side of Mt Hood and crossed Sandy River, appropriately named. Took the…

Daily Miles: 3.6, Total Miles: 2107.3 Only four miles uphill to Timberline Lodge with close views of Mt Hood. Timberline Lodge was built by the WPA in the 1930’s and is quite the rustic lodge. The exterior of Timberline was used in the movie, The Shining. Of all the entry doors to choose from, I somehow chose the one straight into the buffet, joined Prophet, Cleats and Side Project who had already started. The first plate was eggs, potatoes, sausage,…

Daily Miles: 35.0, Total Miles: 2103.7 Nearly the entire day was spent under a forest canopy. Although a bright, sunny day, I didn’t even put on my sunglasses. Relatively flat, gentle terrain today heading north, crossing Warm Springs River and traversing around Timothy Lake. Just prior to the lake, I met trail angels who had set up a nice spread of snacks and fruit. Thanks Kelly, that was wonderful! Took a side trip to Little Crater Lake, a large artesian…