PCT Day 112: Mt Jefferson Wilderness

Daily Miles: 29.5, Total Miles: 2041.0

Wow, what a sunrise this morning from my campsite on Three Fingered Jack!

I continued to climb up and around the west slope of Three Fingered Jack and then got on the Cascade Divide.

I passed Shale Lake and descended to Mill Creek, a silty, glacial stream.

Climbed up Woodpecker Ridge, grazing on huckleberries, and views of upcoming Mt. Jefferson.

I made a treacherous crossing of very fast flowing Russell Creek – heavy flows in the afternoon due to snowmelt off the glaciers. The water is so silty you can’t see the bottom and I got drenched. I can see why some hikers have been swept downstream here.

I trudged up to Scout Lake and met Prophet at a campsite above the lake. Mt Jefferson was obscured by clouds and fog was rolling across the lake by the time I arrived.

Prophet and I agreed that a worthy goal is to get to Timberline Lodge at Mt Hood in time for their Monday morning buffet. This buffet is legendary in PCT hiker circles.