Day 7

  So... tried for hours to get a ride at Klammath Falls to Crater Lake, but no one stopped. So me and another hiker had to walk to a KOA to camp and then head for Bend via Amtrak in defeat. I'll be bypassing a lot of bad conditions and mosquitos, though, so there's that. Met a lot of nice people while hitchhiking, and I'm very thankful of each of them for stopping for me!
  I'm at a youth camp west of the town of Sisters, and I totally didn't expect the kind welcome I got! They invited me in for dinner, but before that we sat in this room to sing songs to acoustic guitar. I believe they are Seven Day Adventists. The meal was really nice, and I'm glad to be able to stay here for a few days before a package shows up.

Day 6

It's been a crazy day figuring out how to get around the bad trail conditions. I'm in Klamath Falls with another hiker figuring it out. We will be in Bend tomorrow, and then likely Sisters the next day. I guess I'll come back to see Crater Lake another time.

Day 5

  Just an off day at Fish Lake. Had breakfast with another backpacker in the area and did some laundry.
  He left to do more hiking, though, and came back saying that the conditions were too extreme for him to continue that section. Wondering what's going to happen for me tomorrow. The host at the campgrounds mentioned a similar story with two men a few days ago. I might have to hitch another way to Crater Lake... Not sure.

Day 4

Been a long day! Saw a lot of volcanic rock and also more fallen trees. Also, Mount McLaughlin is very beautiful.
The mosquitos, especially as I neared Fish Lake, are getting pretty bad. More than a few claimed me today. I am going to be taking a zero day tomorrow here at the lake for more than a few reasons... Apparently my solar charger doesn't really work, and I don't have a wall charger. Ugh. So I need to figure some things out.

Mile 1770.84, 4603 feet. Fish Lake.

Day 3

   The last 5 miles were pretty gnarly... There were fallen trees every hundred feet or so, so getting around them and back to the trail was a challenge. Felt like I was walking on water balloons when I woke up, as well. I'm sure I'll develop calluses soon enough.
   Only had two occasions today where I saw other people, though this group of trail volunteers gave me an apple. Yesterday I met two nice hikers, and they decided to re-christen me with the trail name 'Maiden.' My new solar charger isn't working as well as I would like, so I'm going to have to spend some time at noon tomorrow making sure the tablet gets recharged.
  Fish Lake is coming up tomorrow, but I'm not sure I want to stop. I'll have to see how I feel.

Mile 1754.47, middle of the woods. 14.28 miles hiked today. 5981 feet.

Day 2

First full day!
My feet are pretty hammered... got 19 miles in, though, which is good. Walked by this big field of flowers, and moths would jump up when I'd walk by! Pretty neat. Didnt have any sightings of Mount Shasta in the second half of the day. Must mean I'm getting closer to Crater Lake.

Hyatt Lake, mile 1740.

Day 1

Got dropped off by my sister and wife after driving from California. Perfect weather today!  It was just cool enough that I never really broke a sweat. The forest around here is gorgeous. Very green. There also weren't a lot of bugs around, which is a plus. Probably got around 3-ish hours of hiking in today.
  I happened to break camp at a gorgeous vista! I think that's Mount Shasta in the distance? Pretty amazing. Also passed Pilot Rock.

Mile 1721.88

 

Preperation

Here's my gear! All 20 pounds of it.

I will be starting at around Ashland on Saturday... I think? Excited to get out there! Just have to tie up some loose ends before the trip begins.