Starting the second section
After the first section of the path that was from Shelter Cove to Santiam Pass, it was time for the second section. He started well with some treats from the sisters’ bakery. Soon the path led through Mount Jefferson Wilderness and the number of hikers got up. It seemed that I was just ahead of a smaller bubble that has now reached me during my rest days.
The landscapes also changed and also did the way to walk. No more lakes did not mean mosquitoes, but were no longer the possibility of swimming. This was good and bad at the same time. I missed my swimming brakes but I didn’t miss my mosquitoes.
Burned areas
Another reason for the lack of mosquitoes was probably the huge burned areas that the path leads. It was scary to see how much forest it was destroyed, especially knowing that many of these fires occurred after 2019. This caused a feeling of sadness in me again. I told myself that I could have walked through a good forest here if I had not had to leave the path and some melancholy caught me. It made me ask me some almost philosophical questions about whether the PCT is still the PCT or not. The safe path is the same, but the experiences are different was the answer I stopped.
After crossing one of the largest burned areas I have seen, I finally reached an oasis that could probably be considered the highlight of Oregon (with Crater Lake in my opinion). Jefferson Park was incredibly beautiful and quiet. And there were lakes to dive! It was heavenly after walking through shadowless dust. In addition, he gave the feeling of having reached another milestone.
This year’s milestones are smaller and closer together, but provide a feeling of achievement. In comparison with 2019, only the miles uploaded to day that provided such feeling were uploaded. I am very happy to be able to perceive the path at this stage so different from 6 years ago. My concerns and concerns not to be in the form of hiking and not be part of this group slowly decreased.
Trace magic and felt that being at home again
As the number of hikers increased, so did the conversations with them. One thing that each hiker wants to listen has been transmitted as a lighthouse through the southern paths: the magic of the path. Just before Timothy Lake, there are two groups of Trail Angels that provide magic to American hikers. The first, the carbohydrates, made huge pancakes for us and the second provided hamburgers, grilled cheese sandwiches and much more. There I could also meet some hikers and meet them better. In doing so, I had the feeling of belonging and boy, this was very good.
The following days I loved the same hikers and this feeling of continuity reminded me of my first attempt in 2019. The combination of the Trailmagic and the other hikers finally made me realize that it does not matter if I have not started on the Mexican border and I found my peace in being the hiker that I am for this season. The daily mileage that I could also have increased so that it can be said that I finally returned home again.
Timberline Lodge and Hier Hunger
One of the following stops was the famous Timberline Lodge and his breakfast buffet. It was interesting that this year there was apparently a discussion about whether breakfast or buffet lunch was better, but my choice was definitely the breakfast buffet. Being there it was fun to see all the backpacks stopped around the shelter and realize that the majority of the guests were hikers. The buffet was good safe, but my hunger for hikers is not there yet. Anyway, it was a really pleasant experience and to collect my refueling box in the government camp, I even got a hook at the back of a truck. What else could you ask for?
Leaving Timberline after making more friends of hikers, I took an alternative through Paradise Park that was beautiful and full in flower. Passing Ramona Falls and camping there shortly after was also pleasant.
The next day I went to Eagle Creek to see tunnel falls. There I met 2 other hikers who left the path and now made a road trip. We agreed to go to Portland together the next day, since this was my next planned stop anyway.
All these spontaneous things, Trailmagic and Angels, hook with strangers and making friends with other hikers is what makes this path so special to me. Of course, nature is also beautiful, but in the end it is people.
Crossing Washington soon
Soon I will cross the bridge of the gods, I am sure that this will be an emotional moment for me that I have already imagined in the last 6 years. Just approaching the Cascade locks caused me some chills. More about that later
This website contains affiliate links, which means that the walk can receive a percentage of any product or service that you buy using the links in the items or ads. The buyer pays the same price that would do it differently, and his purchase helps to support the continuous objective of the walk to address his quality backpack advice and information. Thanks for your support!
For more information, visit the page about this site.
