Preparations for the Final Month in Washington – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [44]

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Part 43 ‘Mt Hood, Timberline Lodge & the PCT Days Event’ 

Day 132 (20/08) – Zero Days at Rex’s Parent’s Home

Rex and Deb made a delightful breakfast for us all before Corky, Caddyshack and Noodle had to return to the trail. I still needed to send home the gear I had left behind here, book a flight home, and plan some resupply boxes for Washington State.

Rex drove the guys back to the trail and on the return trip picked up Bubbles, who was going to stay a night too. In the meantime, I ended up booking my flight from Vancouver, Canada for 20/09 and organised how much food I’ll need for my boxes (which I’d buy tomorrow).

Tim arrived from an overseas business trip, and we greeted before he promised to cook salmon up (we talked about having fresh salmon last time I was there, and now he felt he owed me it haha).

Day 133 (21/08) – Solar Eclipse

Today was the day of the total solar eclipse across the USA. Sadly, the fire ruined the possibility of seeing the total eclipse actually on trail, but here in Vancouver, it was a 99% eclipse. It was still awesome to witness, but instead of darkness, it was a surreal dimming effect – like the sun was a low-wattage light bulb. We all felt suddenly sleepy after, even though it was only 10:20am, but it felt like it was the last light at dusk. Coffee all around it was!

Whilst Rex and Bubbles went girly shopping, I resupplied. I was buying the resupply for most of Washington. Four resupply boxes were the goal to mail to me, as Washington had limited options. I ended up buying Deb a bunch of flowers and Tim a case of his favourite beer for hosting me for so long in total.

Day 134 (22/08) – Cascade Locks and the Bridge of the Gods

I said my farewell to Tim and Deb, and thanked them again for their kindness in hosting me twice. Rex drove me back to Cascade Locks to the ‘Bridge of the Gods’ over the Columbia River, separating Oregon and Washington states. It was great to finally be in Washington! It was the last time I’d see Rex in a very long time, or ever! We had a big farewell hug and departed ways for the last time.

It wasn’t an easy first day – a 3500-foot climb from sea level at Cascade Locks. Up, up, up with a final downhill before I called an early camp by a stream. Bobby Hill was somehow again at the same place as me and he camped with me – how we always meet in the same area without any communication has me beat haha!

Distance hiked: 20 miles

Total PCT hiked: 2165 miles

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Part 45 ‘Mt Adams & Ascending into Eternity’

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