When friends and family are the Los Angeles trackers

Started with a lady

When my refueling box did not appear in Shelter Cove as scheduled, I felt grateful, which surprised me a little by surprise. I was going to use the refueling for Santiam to spend 4 days later to meet my good friend Dan, who would join me for cascade locks.

Thanks to the UPS driver, I was now having my coffee and I wondered what my options were to replenish and question if I could in fact walk the distance to Santiam Pass on time to meet my friend on Sunday afternoon.

Luckily, a fellow hiker was going out of the day to visit a friend who met while walking through the AT. His friend offered me a trip to the city, but I had to decide in 5 minutes if I wanted to take it. I took the trip. I needed a refueling.

While sitting in the back seat looking for refueling options in Farout for the city, an inner voice whispered: «Take a break.» With a deep breathing and a long exhalation, I realized that what I really needed was a couple of days out of the way.

I would only realize later while I was in the house of the angel of the path in blesy that my body was. My feet hurt. My legs were fatigued. I was hungry for food without paths. I wanted to sit in something comfortable. I wanted to relax a little. I was tired. I need a break from the PCT. Physically and emotionally.

I had always heard of Blesy Oregon and wanted to visit, but I had never found me in the center of Oregon. Sitting in that car, I realized that I was a short distance by car. With Farout’s help, I had a place to stay and a bus trip reserved before leaving the car.

When Emma picked me up at the bus station, he warned me that I had 3 dogs at home. She knew immediately for my smile that I am a dog person, so there was no reason to explain anything. Anyway, I needed some puppy time, since I had not seen my laboratory since April.

I spent 2 days exploring bles. I ate good food, I drank a delicious coffee, I saw movies with Emma and other hikers at home, I played with dogs, I saw people floating the river in the city and simply relaxed. For once, it was great to have a couple of zeros that did not focus on clothes and refueling. Bles was just what he had needed. Time was like a refueling box for my soul.

After I revitalized in Bles, I took a fair trip along the way to the sisters to meet my friend Dan, who came from Portland by bus. My day in the sisters was my day of resupply of trails, but I was ready to hang out when my friend Dan arrived that afternoon.

I have met some incredible people while on the PCT, but there is something special when you get up to date with a true friend. We take a bite to eat and then sit down and talk while enjoying a pinot noir from Oregon. When in Oregon …

Back on the way

Dan and I returned to the road in Santiam Pass. It took us for 4 days to walk the 100 miles to Timberline Lodge in MT Hood. Those 4 days turned out to be the classic PCT days, which I was glad to experience.

Day 1 was a walk through burns scars with a good climb. We camp on the southern side of Jefferson and then spend day 2 walking through Jefferson and descending to Lake Orelallie. On day 2 it was dusty and very hot. Enjoying a cold lemonade from the store in Olallie Lake was an excellent way to finish the day.

On day 3 he saw us walking through an exuberant forest along beautiful paths. It was cooler and the shadow of the trees was welcome after the previous 2 days in burns scars. Just before arriving at the camp, we saw an awning through the trees. Dan had to experience his first path of path. The carbohydrates were pleasant enough to make us grilled with egg in the middle. We both ate 4 pieces while we sit in the chairs that the carbohydrates had provided.

When we arrive at the horse camp on a mile along the path, we sat at the camp next to a picnic table. I cannot stress enough the luxurious of a picnic table, a well bath and a water spot after 4 months on the PCT.

On the 4th it was the beautiful walk and climb to Timberline Lodge.

In Timberline, we decided to get out of the way to deal with an injury. While this meant that I would not be walking to the cascade locks, it was an easy decision for me, since I wanted to maximize time with my friend. In addition, I know we will return to finish this section at some point in the future. In addition, it will give me an excuse to climb Mt Hood that has always been on my desire list.

Time with the family

Since the beginning of July, I had August 5 on my calendar, since that was the day that my parents flew to Portland to spend a few days with me. After hanging out with Dan for a few days in the city, I met my friends at the airport. In the following days, it was magical to spend with them. I would like to say that we did a lot of tourist things in Portland, but that would not be true. We ate well, we visited Powell’s bookstore and relaxed a lot in the Airbnb.

When I dropped my parents at the airport for their flight home, I found myself excited to return to the path. Now I am in the final stretch and I have some beautiful sections of WA ahead of me. I also have more friends who bind to me on the way shortly.

Looking back at the time since I left the Cove shelter, I am happy to have left the road for a prolonged period of time. I was much more tired that I realized, physically and emotionally. I also realize how much my friends and family treasure. The 4 days on the way with Dan are 4 of my favorite days on the PCT. And spending time with my mother and dad was beautiful.

Now that I am back on the road, I look forward to everything Washington will serve. I have climbed Mt Adams and Mt Rainier several times, so walking beyond them will give me a new perspective of the places that I love. I am also sure that I will find Washington parts that I want to explore again in the future.

Until next time. Happy paths!

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