The Outlaws

This wonderful gang of horseback riders are known as The Outlaws and they treated us to some trail magic and a song as we hiked out.  Thank you, Ladies!

Two Angels From Michigan...

 ...swept in and saved me.  I was a little behind on my nutrition until Traci Rink and her daughter Katie took time off from touring colleges and universities in Oregon to meet me on the trail.  The Fish Lake Camp is just off PCT mile 1780 and has a restaurant, a store and some cabins. They got a cabin there and let me take a nice hot shower.  First shower I've taken (besides a 'hippie shower' which is really just dancing around in the rain with some Dr. Bonner's) since staying with Piper's Mom. Then they took me to the restaurant and treated me to something called a 'Hiker Burger' (nominated for Best Burger On The Trail) along with a salad, sweet potato fries and strawberry-rhubarb pie a la mode. Best meal I'd had in weeks.

Then they loaded me up with a TON of food to take with me.  More food than I could even carry but it soon evaporated when I saw other hikers on the trail.  They know I'm bound by hiker ettiquette to share so Traci and Katie actually helped out about a dozen hikers with their generosity.

And gear!  Traci got me a really nice 100% Merino wool tee shirt and some Smartwool socks.  This is quality stuff and I will wear it to the end of the trail.

Seeing Traci and Katie was good for my stomach and good for my soul.  They sent me off by sharing a bottle of Black Butte Porter from Deshutes brewing here in Oregon.  They lifted my spirits and renewed my energy - which I'll need to get through Oregon and Washington.  Seeing them was a highlight of my trip that I will never forget.

Thanks Traci and Katie!

Something ate her hat!

Everything I have has to be multi-purpose.  Clean socks make great mittens according to Katie.  Good call, Girl!

Just Thought I'd say, "Hey!"

Hitting Crater Lake very soon.  Four more resupply boxes for Oregon and then on to WASHINGTON!  

Neon and Onnamove

These are two of the coolest people I've met on the trail.  Both well educated and amazing conversationalists but still fun and relaxed. He's an engineer and she's an artist.  Check out her work at onnamove.com

The Oregon Border!

Finally made it to PCT mile 1699 - the Oregon/California border.  Found some sweet trail magic from Flag Man (Col Fuller, US Army Ret). 

Celebrated with Dancing Feet and Not So Bad, Brian, 

Straw and Willy.  I know it's boring to post about mileage but I've hit some important landmarks: Mile 1700 and my 4 month anniversary out here. 

Sweet trail lately.  Compact earth softened by pine needles.  Smoky purple mountains in the distance, deer and bow hunters everywhere, bushes full of blackberries, bright orange and yellow warblers, cold, clean water right out of the ground, dirty hippies and 100 feet pine trees!

  Wish me luck!

Moosejaw

 Moosejaw gear stores in Birmingham, Ann Arbor, Boulder, CO and now Natick, MA are the bomb. They have been knowledable and supportive of my hike since the planning stages.  Special thanks to Perry in the Birmingham store, Tom in the warehouse, Kristen in marketing, Lola who runs the Moosejaw Mountaineering FB and to all the Custies who donated their points to buy me a fantastic new pair of trekking poles!  Special thanks to Tom Miedema.  He's done this trail before and he's helped me with information, advice and gear.  Thanks to all of you!

Here's to using your teeth instead of a knife!

Wolverine

Bouncer is cool...

...but his parents are even cooler.  Know what they like to do?  HIKE.  Like, all of the PCT in Oregon and Washington. Know what else they like to do?  FEED HIKERS.  Luckily, we like to eat!  They welcomed me and about a dozen other hikers with breakfast, lunch and dinner while they followed and supported their son, Bouncer.  Unbelievably generous and cool people.