Thursday, August 18, 2016

So Long Oregon, We Hardly Knew Ya

Day 135 - August 18
Mile: Eagle Creek alternate 4.5 to 15.0 (11.5)
up/down: 500/1700 feet

455 miles in 22 days (including 1 zero day) for an average of 20.7 miles per day. And we didn't push very hard. We are well beyond getting in better shape and now are in jeopardy of wearing down. With the considerably more difficult Washington coming we were happy for the cruiser miles. 

We finished Oregon with one of my top 5 all PCT highlights so far - Tunnel Falls. The Eagle Creek alternate we started yesterday descends into a deep volcanic rainforest canyon with awesome waterfalls, the gem being Tunnel with its big drop and trail constructed high on the canyon wall and the tunnel behind the falls. The entire length of the canyon was a joy but that falls was especially fun. Because we camped within a mile of the falls we were there alone this morning, long before the crowds for this popular day hike could make it up the canyon. In fact, finishing the hike down canyon was a bit like a salmon going the wrong way. 

 
 
 

 
 
 
  
 

We are in Cascade Locks for the rest of the day. One of our two resupply boxes didn't bother to finish its journey up here from So. California so we're without food and shoes (which we were in desperate need of). Thankfully this resupply is a town with a grocery store and we'll be there later this afternoon to scrounge up a week worth of food. I ordered shoes from Amazon delivered to the next resupply town. Susan has another pair of shoes coming from home. We will persevere. 

Small town groceries for a week on the trail are not cheap!

 
Our Last Man Standing competition was busy this morning with 2 singing Dippers, a squawking and drumming Pileated Woodpecker, and at least three singing Pacific Wrens. You would think it is spring along Eagle Creek. 

Tomorrow morning we walk across the Bridge of the Gods into Washington.

 


7 comments:

  1. Gotta say nice job blowing through Oregon. And certainly don't see that kind of scenery in dry California. Which by the way, you left behind some serious fires. Enjoy the wet greenness of WA. ....and did you say - 30 lbs? Well, now you're just an old guy.

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    1. You are too funny, my friend! I hate hearing about those fires and pray for Wrightwood and all the residents.

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    2. Wow, my bird chapters in Of Giants and Grizzlies are about American Dipper Birds and Pileated Woodpeckers. I'm jealous! Of course, dippers love waterfalls, and pileated woodpeckers hang out in old growth forests. I'm jealous. Sorry for you about the shoes and the grocery bill! More challenges! My best to you, Mary

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  2. Speaking of fires, I'm sure you must have heard but there is a bad one burning in the Greenhorn Mountains too. It started two days ago I think. It's a very bad year in CA. Enjoy Washington.

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  3. The green, wetness and waterfalls are singing a siren call to me! Glad for photos so I can dream on and be partly there. The good thing about the grocery store food is something different to eat?.

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    1. Sort of different, sort of the same. The selection was meager. We do have a bunch of Snickers, so there's that. 😀

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