Start point
Trout Lake Creek, mile 2224.9
End point
Forest Service Road 23, mile 2231.6
Miles hiked
6.7
Wilderness area
Gifford Pinchot National Forest
People I met
Barbie
Fake News and Mountain Man
Sand
A ton of others
The day on trail
Super short day! I guess it’s technically a nearo. I’m still stoked for it.
Just got up early, didn’t really eat breakfast because there’s trail magic ahead, and if there’s not, I still have snacks! Plus, I have to get to Hood River, then Portland, then Cascade Locks. The faster I get to a road to hitch to, the faster I get my errands done and get to Cascade Locks for PCT Days.
The trail was so freaking beautiful. It’s really exemplary Washington. Older trees. Moss. Moist air that’s almost misty.
I just love the texture of Washington. It’s sublime.
I came to a trail sign with some, let’s say, creative graffiti on it.
And a dead out tree with a mushroom growing in a crack in the trunk.
A trail register! I’m at the spot! There were a couple other hikers there and we waited for the trail angel to get there with some magic and others to get there to shuttle us to Trout Lake.
We waited for about 15 minutes on sleeping pads we laid out, just to keep us off the hard road. A large truck rolled up and a man got out with a slight limp. He opened the rear cab door and a black and white dog with short ears bounded out. The man grabbed a toy and threw it so the dog could chase it. They had a couple throws and we greeted each other between those throws.
We offered to help him unload his coolers and set up his tables, which he accepted. In no time, we had his stuff set up and he started unloading it. Pastries, sodas, oranges, bananas, and beer.
I love an 8 am beer.
We hung out, eating, shooting the breeze, and enjoying some company. Connection can be so refreshing.
The shuttle to Trout Lake got there at 8:30. It filled up with other hikers really quickly. Another pulled in as they were filling in, and that one had room for me.
In about another 20 minutes, we were at Trout Lake. I threw five bucks to the driver, got out at the local grocery store, Trout Lake Grocery. The grocery store told me where to find the local showers. They have an outdoor area to sit and eat, laundry services, and wifi. They made some change for me.
I got my clothes into a load with someone else, using the promise of having my own laundry detergent to share. While that worked over, I walked the mile to the RV park with public coin showers. One side was shut down, and one had just been cleaned. I felt bad about using the just cleaned one, but that’s what it’s there for.
I felt refreshed. On my way back to the grocery store, I stopped at Trout Lake Tacos, a renowned taco truck. I ordered a carne asada burrito and took it back to the grocery store. While I ate, my clothes dried.
After that, I pulled my clothes out, and talked to a guy who was heading in the direction I was going. He and his pal were able to give me a ride in their Prius. Love me a Prius.
The drive to Hood River was beautiful. We drove over the Columbia River, and it was just beautiful. They dropped me off at the bus station there where I ran into Lone Wolf and Oldhead. There was one other guy at the bus station, he was down on his luck and fighting with the attendant about trying to get his cell phone which he lost somewhere and was blaming the bus company.
Just before the bus got there, a bunch of other hikers got there. We took off and stopped at Cascade Locks. Most of the riders got off there. Then it was to Multnomah Falls, Troutdale, and finally Gateway Transit Center in Portland.
I had called a fingerprinting center while in Hood River and got an appointment to get fingerprints done. I took a Lyft straight there and got my prints taken and sent off. It felt great to have that done, and they worked me into a busy day.
It was back to the transit center, which I feel too familiar with now. Back on the Gorge Express! This time it was Troutdale, Multnomah Falls, with a bunch of people with their Multnomah stickers who got off there, and finally Cascade Locks..
CASCADE LOCKS! TRAIL DAYS!
I went to Thunder Island Brewing to connect with people. After some lunch and beers, I went down to Thunder Island. I saw the vendors setting up for the event. The air was electric. Everyone is excited for this. The hikers are all ready for it. We’re ready to see vendors who make things for us. Not things for others that we have to jimmy rig to work, but actual lightweight gear.
I went to the entrance to Thunder Island and saw I needed to pay for both days up front. I only had enough cash for one day, so I turned around, went to the grocery store, and got some cash back. On the way back I met Barbie, who a number of people had introduced me to. We got along instantly.
Back to Thunder Island — I paid my entrance and started wandering the island. I saw Ketchup, Eva (now Bedrock), and Swiss Cheese. I saw Ranger and Good Canadian. The icing on the cake was seeing Piñacolada hanging with Monkey.
Barbie walked with me while I looked around to find a tent site. On one side was my new contacts, on the other was Pinacolada. I chose the side with my OG trail family.
After setting up, Barbie and I wandered around. She took some pictures of me with the Trail Days sign because I’m just too excited for it.
I also met Mountain Man with a gloriously braided beard and Fake News, a cute trail couple. (Fake News only in this picture)
I ran into a bunch of hikers whose names I couldn’t remember and we grabbed a picture.
I hung out with Ketchup and crew and caught up. Then Ranger and Canadian. Piñacolada and I grabbed a beer.
I ended up at Thunder Island Brewing talking with hikers and hanging with some of these people I cherish and am excited to see. Soon, it was time for bed. Hiker midnight goes away when we can party. And that, we did.