Bushcamp to Bushcamp
32.5 miles
SoBo mile 665.2
Total mileage 3317.8
The wind woke me a few minutes past when I’d set my alarm to go off, I guess it didn’t feel like working this morning. Anyways, once I started moving around I realized everything was damp from dew, and after peaking from my tent I found we’d been engulfed in a thick cloud atop our mountain perch.
By 4:30 I was fumbling down the trail ahead of Airborne, who had still been packing when I left camp. The trail was barely visible through the heavy fog with my head torch on full brightness. As I walked the ridge line in the darkness, the brisk wind ripped through my thin layers, chilling me to the core.
By 6 it was still dark, cold and impossible to see more than a few feet. My stomach was also in knots, so I decided I’d had enough misery for one day and wrapped myself up in my quilt on a flat spot off trail. An hour later the weather had improved, so I repacked my quilt and got moving.
As I descended down Mt. Jefferson, every north bounder I passed told me my hiking partner, Airborne, was looking for me and worried. I figured he’d see me when he passed, since I was just off the trail, but apparently he’d missed me.
As the day progressed the sun broke up the clouds, turning it into a gorgeous day.
I hustled as best I could over the last 10 miles to Big Lake Youth Camp, as I was aiming to arrive in time for lunch. During my rush I lost my first item in over 3300 miles…my water bottle…my one and only water bottle! I realized it was missing when I reached back for a drink to find it missing, whoops! Luckily I wasn’t far from civilization, otherwise I would have been in trouble.
A few miles out I met up with Airborne, and together we walked into the camp.
We arrived at 2, and had just missed lunch. Fortunately, Airborne’s friend Dani was driving down from Portland to hook us up with subs, so all was not lost!
While waiting for Dani, I located the resupply box that Paige had sent me. It contained all sorts of tasty snacks…after hiking with me for 4 months, she knows what I like. Everything was bagged and portioned perfectly for the next section of trail, I definitely felt the love! Thanks Paige!!!
Once I organized my food, I took a quick shower and started a load of laundry. The hiker facility at Big Lake Youth Camp is absolutely incredible!
When Dani arrived Airborne and I destroyed the subs she’d bought us. It was so dang tasty!
She also hooked me up with a new Smart Water bottle…so basically she saved the day all around!
After polishing off my sub, I grabbed an ice cream, followed by a second ice cream, for dessert.
Once my laundry had finished I repacked my gear, thanked Dani and was off by 5. Airborne was planning on meeting me later that night at camp.
Feeling clean and full, the evening miles came easily at first.
While walking through a burn area I watched a massive tree fall across the trail maybe 10 feet in front of me…so that was exciting.
The sun began to wain as I made my way through the lava fields of Mt. Washington Wilderness. The loss of daylight made it increasingly difficult to find proper foot placements in the jagged rocky terrain, so once I located a suitable flat piece of ground, I called it.
I pitched my tent in the dark, and feasted on salami, protein chips, chocolate caramels and trail mix for dinner.
Cheers!
Beautiful pics.