Category: Long Distance Trails

Start: 806.3

Stop: 815

Today’s miles: 8.7

Total PCT miles: 1002.7

Croc miles: 113.1

Today was pretty dang amazing. Don’t get me wrong, my feet still hurt, and bad.. BUT, that was shoved down and ignored as best as possible. We got up and left before 7, me being the last one out.. I seriously just do not feel or hear the vibrating on my phone for my alarm. I can’t use an alarm with sound because that would wake the whole world.. soooo.. here I am, always getting up a good 20-30 minutes after my friends. I can’t wait to get my new watch my Mom is sending with my shoes.

I quickly caught up to the two of them sitting on logs chatting. Marquis’ left foot is really bothering him. It sounds like shin splints or an overuse injury to me, and I showed him the stretches TBird showed me on the AT. Hopefully they help, but we don’t have service right now.. so he can’t ask for advice or look up better things to do. Once we get service tomorrow he’s going to reach out to a physical therapist. If we’re catching up to him, you have to know he’s in some significant pain. I’m worried about him.

As we hiked, I hit my THOUSAND MILES HIKED milestone! Wahoo! Only 1,655 more miles to go! Haha, yikes. Anyway, we continued walking to the next junction, and then on to our campsite for the day and night. We were set up before noon and walking back to the road to hitchhike down to Crater Lake. We were able to get a hitch pretty fast, a man and his son stopped for us.. we sat in the trunk of their car as they drove us to the swimming area. The guy’s wife is a ranger and they were out here on a road trip. The little boy said he wants to be a ranger when he grows up, too. It was super sweet. He gave us facts about Crater Lake, which were all wrong. Marquis let us know after the fact, not to bust the little boy’s bubble. Ha.

The trail down to the lake was 1.1 mile down semi steep switchbacks. It was smooth and wide, and there were tons of people. I think we were the only thruhikers. At the bottom, we clambered over some rocks, put our packs down (that only had our food and water, since we didn’t want animals ransacking our tents while we were gone), and got out into the water. Well, Margot and I got in to swim, Marquis just got his legs in. He’s really in some pain.

I got to SWIM IN CRATER LAKE!! How stinking cool! I’ve been twice now and never once swam! Margot and I waded out and came back to sun bathe on rocks and then jumped in to swim again. I was sad that Marquis wasn’t feeling his best, because this should have been a favorite day for him too, but he was hurting bad enough that he wasn’t really enjoying himself at all. Even if he didn’t admit it, the misery was all over his face. We attempted to cheer him up. We ate on the rocks while we dried out.. listening to all the kids and their parents chatting and snapping pictures.. “SAY CHEESE!” And fought the fearless chipmunks for the safety of our food and belongings.. they were something else!

The walk back up to the parking lot was of course straight up now, but it was nice seeing how well we’ve been trained for this. We didn’t huff and puff and take breaks like all the people we saw doing on our way down. It was a moment of pride, for sure. At the top we used the bathrooms and sat in the shade while Marquis did his stretches while we had flat space for him to do it.

Eventually, close to 3:45, we stood at the stop sign to hitch hike back to the trail head. Many people drove by, many refused to make eye contact.. Marquis started doing the sprinkler and then talked us into doing it too. We were laughing and “sprinkling” with our thumbs out and a couple stopped for us! They’re from Oklahoma, out here visiting the park. They were so fun to talk to on the 15 minute ride, and they even went out of their way to take the extra turn to get us back to the trailhead instead of dropping us off at the intersection, and then causing us to hitch again.

We were so thrilled! We hiked the 1/2 mile back to camp after getting some water from a cache at the parking lot of the trailhead. Then we ate dinner, Marquis stretched.. we chatted and laughed and now I’m laying down at 6:15pm. Im about to try to force myself to go to sleep, because we’re waking up at 3am so we can hike to the rim and watch the sun rise over the lake.

Depending on how Marquis’ foot is doing tomorrow, we may or may not stay in Mazama Village, the “town” in Crater Lake National Park. Either way, we’ll get there, eat breakfast, brunch, or lunch, and then get our resupply boxes from the post office or general store, do some laundry, charge some things.. then decide to stay or hike out.

It makes no difference to me, I’ll get to Fish Lake either Friday or Saturday, and BigMama says she can take me to Seiad Valley on Saturday.. so, as long as I’m there by then, it makes no difference. I don’t think they’re going into Fish Lake at all, so this is our last few days together.. I’m ok with not rushing it. Now, let’s hope I can get some shut eye, 3am will come very quick! 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 😉

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.