Category: Long Distance Trails

Start: 736.6

Stop: 751.5

Today’s miles: 14.9

Total PCT miles: 939.2

Total miles hiked in crocs: 55

I drooled all over my sleeping pad this morning, so I think it’s safe to say I slept great. I snoozed until after 6:30 and then finally woke up enough to realize both Marquis and Margot were packed and about to leave. Whoops. I quickly packed and ended up only being a couple minutes after Margot, but caught her quickly because she stopped to put a bandaid on her foot.. her feet aren’t all that happy right now, either.

I started off in my crocs and just kept them on all day. I can’t make myself shove my feet into my shoes! Thankfully Mom mailed out my shoes from home this morning so I can pick them up in Fish Lake in a week. A week in crocs. God be with me.
The trail was easy going as far as hiking goes.. no blow downs really at all, majority being soft pine needles and duff, which praise the sweet lord because my feet would not have made it. There were a couple stunning lakes, early in the morning, and then a few look outs, one showing off the gorgeous Odell Lake and all its coves. Not long after this beauty, I started seeing day hiker after day hiker. Ah. Must be close to the road!

I got to Shelter Cove Resort (12.5 total miles, but only 11 PCT miles) just before noon and found Marquis. He had been there for close to an hour already and didn’t eat anything yet! I lasted all of 5 minutes talking with Marquis and Keith, who we caught up to, before I departed and ordered a pizza at the counter. My stomach was growling and everything else I needed to do could wait until after food!

While I was waiting for my pizza, Margot arrived. We agreed to split mine since they’re pretty huge. I started charging my electronics and talking with others on the patio while we waited on the food. Marquis ordered a pizza, too.. but the line had gotten long and they aren’t the quickest. To be fair, they make them to order, so 25 minutes for a fresh baked pizza isn’t bad.

Margot was in the store getting drinks and taking forever. Marquis went inside to see what the hold up was. She had almost passed completely out! Tunnel vision, loss of hearing, having a wave of heat wash over her. When they came out together telling me about it, she looked ghostly pale. She drank some water and eventually was able to eat some pizza.. she had to have been dehydrated combined with not eating enough calories. After really long days she gets nauseous at the idea of eating a meal and has to force herself, and with her getting in late last night, all she ate was a ramen.. which kudos to her, staying up to cook when you want to just sleep is tough.

We sat awhile and made sure she was ok before eventually getting started on our chores. We started our laundry and took turns showering. No matter how much I scrubbed my legs they still looked dirty. Oh well, effort was made and my hair felt nice and clean! Small victories! We got our resupply boxes and organized our food.. and then just sat around for a while doing things on our phones, like ordering necessities for future stops and filing Darn Tough Sock Warranties.

I met a girl and her boyfriend that used to work in Reno at the same hospital I used to work at! We chatted and name dropped and I loved every second of it. She has me missing that city and my friends even more now, especially my Andrea.. but I know I’ll be getting to see her soon some how some way. Maybe I need to take another contact in the biggest little city sometime in my “near” future.

We hiked out of the resort around 6pm and took an alternate trail instead of the one we came in on. All the NOBOs we talked to today said it was a nice trail and had beautiful rivers and lakes, so why not? Plus there’s a dry stretch of trail without water, so this seemed smarter. I’ve heard Oregon is the state of alternates, and so far if one has been available, it’s been nicer than the actual trail.

So, we don’t technically know how far we went.. my app won’t tell me that and I’m back in airplane mode. BUT, we’re guessing close to 3 miles so I picked a mile marker from the pct 3 miles in from the junction to make it add up correctly. Tomorrow we’ll get up to Windigo Pass where there’s a water cache and then continue south on the PCT from there.

The spot we set up in is just off the alternate trail and it feels more remote than the PCT, maybe because there isn’t people crawling all over the place. Laying here I can hear crickets and birds and stuff moving around. It also sounds like it might rain, too. It’s sprinkled a little bit and storm clouds rolled in before the sun disappeared.
I think I’m going to close my eyes and try to sleep, once my earplugs are firmly in place. I don’t need to hear what all is moving around out there. Sweet dreams, y’all.

Start: 751.5

Stop: 782.1

Today’s miles: 30.6 (technically only 23)

Total PCT miles: 969.8

Croc miles: 78

Last night may have been my best night of sleep on trail. Maybe not, but at the very least close to it for sure. Naturally, in all my nocturnal wonder, I didn’t want to get up. Marquis said he woke up to my vibrating phone.. I didn’t. Hahaha. I’ll be glad to get my new watch Mom is sending with my shoes. Not only did she mail me shoes from home that should fit perfectly, she also found a watch like mine, but newer, for sale off of Facebook marketplace, went and got it for me, and then mailed it to me from the other side of the country. I seriously don’t deserve her. She’s simply the best there is.

Anyway, I packed and got to walking at the same time as Margot, maybe close to 7:30 ish. The alternate trail we were on was 20 miles total, and we’re guessing we did 3 yesterday, so only 17 to go to meet back up with the PCT. Marquis made sure to make arrows or be at the junctions, because our phones didn’t have the whole map visible like his did.

It was easy trail, very manageable in my crocs honestly. There was maybe once or twice where I was worried about slipping out of my shoes but otherwise, it was great. The alternate was also lovely because there was only 3 or 4 NOBOs to pass us, and 4 horses with riders to go by! It was peaceful and overcast and cool temperatures. I was in Heaven.

The two of us ate lunch together, then we all three walked together awhile after a junction. At some point in the afternoon we made it to the PCT junction. There was a huge water cache, plus plastic totes filled with fully charged battery banks and cords for every phone, so you can charge your goodies. We sat awhile and chatted with other hikers and charged our phones. We caught up to Keith at this junction, too.

We hiked 6 more miles, all on the PCT, and set up camp with Keith and another guy.. although as I’m typing this at 8:45pm, others are appearing out of thin air. In the morning we’ll have to walk the half mile down the side trail to get more water, because from here there’s none for 14 miles. I should have just done it today, before eating my dinner, but I couldn’t make myself walk anymore. The trail was kind to my feet, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t hurt like hell.

I’m tired. Tomorrow will be another 23-24 mile day, but the following day we make it to the north end of Crater Lake National Park and plan to get there super early, claim a tent site, and then hitch around the lake to go swimming somewhere. Margot wants to hike the rim trail (another PCT alternate) at sunrise, so we’ll camp there and then wake up early the morning after to do just that. I’m sure it’ll be magical. I can’t wait! Beauty and TWO short hiking days! Heck yeah!
Goodnight, y’all.

Start: 782.1

Stop: 806.3

Today’s miles: 24.2

Total PCT miles: 994

Croc Miles: 102.2

My. Feet. Hurt. That’s it. That’s the post.

Ok, fine, I’ll say more-but please know, this was the one thought coursing through my brain all day long today. On repeat.

I woke up late, of course-by trail time anyway. Marquis and Margot were both packed and gone down the 1/2 mile side trail to get water. Keith was mostly packed, and the guy camping on the other side of me was gone. I just wish the days were still so long like they were in Washington, then I wouldn’t feel guilty about getting up “late” at 6:50am.

I was completely packed and walking down the side trail by 7:12 and back up by 7:30. That side trail was switchbacks down the mountainside to a tiny stream.. it was rough coming back straight up that booger that early in the morning. I started hiking after the other 3, because I knew I’d be slow today in my crocs. My feet have been aching so bad at the end of the day.

The trail was again, easy terrain. We crossed the highest part of the PCT in Oregon.. and it wasn’t steep or difficult or anywhere near the highest peak in the area. The trail is cut so smooth, even with tons of blowdowns to cross, that when I got to the sign telling me as much and that I was standing at 7,573 feet, I didn’t believe it. Oregon has been incredibly gentle. I wouldn’t be capable of doing the Washington part of the trail in crocs-not even a single day!

There really isn’t much else to say. Margot and I ate lunch together. There was a gorgeous stream and Mount Theilson was visible throughout the day. Keith is stopping at this stream and his buddies are hiking in-tomorrow they’ll all climb Mount Theilson, then the next day or so Keith will be back hiking. Pretty neat side trip!

The trail was beautiful and calm, and my sore feet were grateful for all of it. And now they’re throbbing and I’m tired as can be. Tomorrow is a very short day into Crater Lake, where we’ll claim our campsites and then hopefully go swim and get out to Wizard Island. I am SO READY for some short days and some swimming, too.

I hope I wake up on time. Ha. Fingers crossed. Sorry it’s a short one, there just isn’t much to say some days, it all honestly feels so repetitive. Wake up, walk, eat, walk, complain about my feet..

And now that I’ve done all of that, Goodnight 😉