Start point
Tentsite at mile 2124
End point
Cascade Locks, mile 2149.3
Miles hiked
18 miles
Wilderness area
Mark O Hatfield Wilderness
Mount Hood National Forest
People I met
Oodles of thru and day hikers
A Net
The day on trail
Holy smokes. After today, I’m done with Oregon. That’s it. It’s done after today.
If I didn’t know all I went through and every step I took, I wouldn’t believe it. As it is, I can believe it. Though it’s still hard to believe who I’ve become.
I’ll be taking the Eagle Creek alternate route to get to Cascade Locks because it goes through Tunnel Falls and that sounds amazing. The terrain also just sounds fun with some blowdowns and brambles.
It’s nice to be solo. As much as I love Ketchup, I need this alone time. I had a not-too-leisurely morning and then took off.
Speaking of blowdowns, there was this astute graffitied blaze.
It says “I fell over”. I found that funnier than I really should have. Or maybe it’s exactly as funny as I found it.
And I came across my first salmonberry! I haven’t seen these since before I left Washington on this trip! They grow like weeds out there and have such variations in color. Some are yellow, some golden, some orange, some deep red. And their flavors are just as varied, from tart to sweet and unrelated to their color.
This one was sweet. Just like my arrival to town will be today.
There were a few past-their-prime boletes.
This is just one of many. They were massive, decussating, and full of bugs.
Always take a moment to look back. Partially for safety, partially because there might be a great view. A view like this one.
I came to an old, weathered sign. I think it said “Leaving Bull Run Reserve.” I don’t know what that is, and I don’t have it on any map.
Hm. Odd. Oh well. No time to waste. I want to walk!
And hunt mushrooms. Like this prize winning porcini.
She’s so beautiful. I stuck her in the elastic outside my bag and resolved to be careful with how I set it down. I’m excited to slice her up at eat her.
Following along the trail, I came to a massive cairn supporting a trail signpost.
And shortly after I got to a little picnic area.
This was at the Eagle Creek alternate junction. There was a picnic table and a few guys sitting there. Two were from the Netherlands, the other was from somewhere in the US. I sat down, ate a quick peanut butter wrap, and chatted with them for a few minutes.
The guys from the Netherlands were videoing their trip. The other guy asked me what I did for work and I told him. He then went on to explain false principles of movement to me for at least five minutes, though it felt like 30.
I told him I needed to get going, mostly because I wanted to get going.
It was a bit of a rough descent to the final stretch. Lots of blowdowns and loose dirt on steep terrain made it a little slow. But it wasn’t the worst I’ve had. It was actually really fun.
It evened out and snaked around some drainage areas, finally moving to the side of a valley.
There were some people swimming in some of the pools. There were also a ton of day hikers. It was so nice seeing so many.
And then Tunnel Falls!
It was so chilly! And so loud! It was a truly incredible detour.
I talked to some day hikers. They asked where I came from and I told them. I asked if I could get a ride with them to the town, from the parking lot, as it’s a few mile trip from the lot to the town.
They said that if we were in the lot at the same time, they’d give me one.
I kept on, crossed a bridge over a wee gorge.
I got to the lot where I met two hikers, Ziplock and Baby Spice. We chatted and tried to get a hitch. We really wanted to get to town in a timely manner so we started walking with our thumbs out.
Soon, the couple I spoke with pulled up and had room for me. I jumped in and said bye to Ziplock and Baby Spice.
This could drove me to across the street from Thunder Island Brewing, where I’m going for lunch and to plan how I’m getting to Portland. I’m going to head into Portland to take care of a few things. Dryden, whom I met in Bend, is going to let me crash with her for a couple nights and let me zero there. I need shoes, I need a resupply, I need calories, and I need rest. It’s a lot, especially considering the rest part.
I got to the brewery, snagged my free hiker-beer, and ordered a salad. A bunch of people asked me about the porcini on my pack. Questions ranged from “is it real?” to “what are you going to do with it?”
I checked out how to get to Portland, having heard there’s a bus. Indeed, there was a bus coming in about 40 minutes. That’s enough time.
There were a bunch of fliers for the PCT Days party coming up, and one for how to help support trail magic.
It came that time for me to grab the bus. I got my cash, waited, and sure enough I was on my way to Portland.
It dropped me off at a large bus station. I got an Uber to Dryden’s house. We ordered DoorDash from a chicken and waffles place. They delivered it to her neighbor, which we were able to intercept, and they also messed up the order. It was refunded in full, thankfully. But also…it was soggy. This is why I don’t DoorDash. It’s so expensive and it’s always less than average.
I started my laundry and Dryden and I chatted before we crashed. I have a massive day tomorrow.
I can’t believe it. Oregon is done.