Day 151 Trout Lake – The Walk

11.4 miles
From Junction Lake (mile 2210.4, elevation 4761)
To Forest Service Road 24 (mile 2221.5, elevation 3920)
Upload 1085
Descent 1908

Last night the wind picked up, but the temperature didn’t drop as much as I expected. This morning it’s cold, but not cold.

This morning’s hike felt more like I was in a green tunnel, like the Appalachian Trail, than the PCT. I never had a view that showed me any of the nearby hills or mountains.

I walked 11.4 at 11:30 to reach a paved road where I could hitchhike to Trout Lake. A couple of women offered to take me if I’m still here when they get back from mushroom hunting.

Mushrooms along the way

I need to get to Trout Lake to pick up a resupply box. But there are two different roads you could hitchhike from: about 10 miles away on the PCT. I was very confused as to where I should hitchhike. I feel pressure to make progress on the trail, so I can finish before the winter weather hits. I also have the inclination to “do it right” by hiking every stretch of trail I can.

Then I remembered my own comment that hiking the PCT is actually doing a long backpacking trip based on the PCT. Very few of us hike every step of the PCT. We can define that journey however we want.

I have been questioning the motivation to keep walking. Some days my body hurts a lot (especially my Achilles tendon). Other times, like today, I feel pretty good. But I chose to hitchhike to Trout Lake on the first road and return to the trail on the second.

After being in the city, I am very glad I made that decision. For me, making progress on the PCT is not just about following the steps along the way. I also want to experience some of the small towns and the people who live in them. I found Trout Lake to be a lovely place and I’m happy to sacrifice a few miles on the trail for a few extra hours in the city.

Corey was spending a week at a small cabin nearby and was just enjoying the time hiking and taking in the views.

After hearing about our conversation in the car, my friends at home continue to express their disbelief that I am an introvert. They seem to think I need to be more socially shy to be an introvert. I like people. I like to interact with them… in small groups. But I still need my alone time to recharge. I’m far enough behind the NoBo hiker bubble to spend a lot of time alone on the trail.

All I can say is that I am quite surprised with this place. It’s not a big store, but it seems to have almost everything I, as a hiker, could want. It also has many things that anyone could want while shopping. It doesn’t have entire aisles dedicated to things like soda or breakfast cereal, but it still has most of the things my Safeway in San Jose does.

Also, the owners are extremely friendly and helpful. The first woman I spoke to asked if I had my backpack on the side of the building where the picnic tables and hiker boxes were, in her mother’s front yard. It is definitely a family business and they deservedly take pride in it.

I mainly stayed in the hiker area next to the store (in “mom’s front yard”). I bought a couple of things to restock. I also bought a couple frozen dinners and another 1.5 quart ice cream (Tillamook Mudslide again) for my dinner. My tent is pitched in that front yard tonight.

Lake Trout General Store

Looking down the main street of Trout Lake

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