Start point
Tentsite at mile 1870.6
End point
Large Pond and Tentsite at mile 1893.5
Miles hiked
22.9
Wilderness area
Diamond Peak Wilderness
Willamette National Forest
Deschutes National Forest
Umpqua National Forest
Mount Thielsen Wilderness
People I met
Conan
Yard Sale
Corn Lily
The day on trail
Today was a lot of fun, despite struggling against mosquitoes!
I was late leaving the site, of course, which meant I had to deal with the morning swarms of mosquitoes. And they were thirsty. I’m trying to get out of camp earlier because it means I get to camp earlier, and leaving earlier also gives me more time without the mozzies. And the mozzies are the absolute worst.
I’m starting to see more and more mushrooms and it excites me so much.
This proud coral mushy was just growing right down the trail. And it was one of many I’ve seen. At least a dozen of them!
Heading down the trail farther I found something Ranger told me about a few days prior: grouse whortleberries. They have the best name ever. And they taste so sweet. Their flavor is as large as their size is diminutive.
They grow in these rich green, low to the ground, bush like arrangements. Most of them are barren of berries, but some stretches of them have a couple. A few of the plants are lush with berries. I love taking as many as I can and eating them at once. The flavor is bright and full, it’s almost like a Starburst, without the chewiness.
Further down the trail I came across a tree that had some termite or beetle damage and had some pieces cut out of it. It had a shape that was pretty abstract and interested me.
Finally, I got to the day’s first water source. It was a big water cache run by a few trail angels.
This cache was located at the intersection of the Windigo Pass road and the PCT. It had a bunch of 5 gallons jugs and a refillable spigot to fill up with them.
This cache also had some boxes of supplies: tampons, insect repellent, and charging blocks. It was a great stop.
By The Way, Snake Mate, and their crew were there napping. Slaphappy and Yoga Bear were there taking a breather. I arrived and met Conan, then Yard Sale and Corn Lily. They’re section hiking and are filling in part of Oregon.
I took a little break, charged my phone a bit, and drank some water. My body wasn’t really responding to walking so I took it easy. By The Way and his crew woke up and took off down the dirt road to bypass miles and get to the next resupply area, Shelter Cove, faster. Slaphappy, Yoga Bear, Conan, Yard Sale, and Corn Lily all took off shortly after.
I was alone for a few minutes before two hikers, whose names I didn’t get, came by. They were the trashier kind of hikertrash. They washed their socks and other garments in the water cache water meant for drinking. It was wasteful and rude. I tried not to talk to them because I didn’t have the energy.
They found a spot in some shade away from me. I refilled my bottles and took off.
Up the trail, climbing a hill, there was a super informative sign.
I stopped near this sign and had a little snack. It was a good spot with some campsites, logs for sitting, and no mosquitoes. As I was getting ready to go, Rascal and Ripper from the Ranch in Lone Pine came by! We caught up and it was just…so great. I love seeing people I haven’t in a while.
Further up that climb I saw an amazing view of the Calapooya Mountains. What a name.
And getting close to the crest of the climb Oregon is finally opening up into some views other than Crater Lake!
Continuing on, the trails here have this beautiful meandering quality that feels like a picture book.
It’s just like stereotypical hiking. And I’m enjoying it.
This next bunch of mushrooms are called funeral bells. They earned that name because if you eat them, that’s what’ll ring out for you. They’re extremely toxic and deadly.
There are some fires nearby-ish and parts of trail are hazy.
I came near a place called Summit Lake and then entered a new Wilderness Area shortly after!
This next stretch of trail had a lot of ponds and they were just shining.
But it was getting later and I needed to get to camp. I pushed on. Anytime I needed a break and set my pack down, mosquitoes would swarm it and me.
Finally I got to camp. Ketchup had set up a mile earlier and was too beat to catch me that night.
I didn’t mind the space. I set up camp, ate, and then went to bed after sundown.