Mt Hood, Timberline Lodge & the PCT Days Event – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [43]
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Part 42 ‘Bending Past PCT Trail Closures & Homely Trail Angels’
Day 129 (17/08) – Timberline Lodge and Ramona Falls
I left my camp near Frog Lake at 6:20am, and only needed to do 2.5 miles to get to Timberline Lodge. The intention was to arrive for the breakfast buffet, a notorious feed for PCT hikers. The lodge is famous for its architecture and history, and for the movie ‘The Shining’ with Jack Nicholson and the “Here’s Johnny” scene. I asked if I could borrow the axe used in the movie (from behind the counter) for a pose. 😀
The buffet was yummy – but it was a little overwhelming to see at least 30 hikers there too. It felt like I was in the main hoard somehow by now, even after bypassing so many miles. The road closures had grouped everyone up, and a lot of people were aiming to reach Trail Days, the PCT event at Cascade Locks. I decided to get back on the trail as fast as I could to be ahead of the crowd.
Mt Hood, a stratovolcano, looked awesome as I hiked around its southern flanks through river beds and ridges. Apparently, there were two trail fatalities in this area recently, at the base of the waterfall in the photo below. I think it’s because the trail here skirts the edges of the river-cut valley.
Eventually, I took an alternative route that bypasses some of the PCT to see Ramona Falls. It was spectacular, and so was the creek walk to follow. Sometimes I wonder why the PCT doesn’t go along these awesome side trails.
The day was a lot of steep up and downhill climbs and my sore ankle was making a return. Eventually, I reached Rattler, who had just set up his tent, and decided I’d camp there too. Many other hikers turned up, and we had a bit of a tent city happening.
Distance hiked: 27 miles
Total PCT hiked: 2119 miles
Day 130 (18/08) – PCT Days at Cascade Locks
Everyone in the campsite left between 5-6am and pursued the last 25 miles to Cascade Locks and the Columbia River – the end of Oregon!
The hike was mostly downhill, and it went in and on. Just when you think you’re at the bottom, a new switchback appears and down you go further. It was another one of those ‘am I descending into the depths of Middle Earth‘ mental games. Cascade Locks was, after all, only 100 feet or so above sea level, and the only time I had come that close before on the entire trail was above 1000 feet at Seiad Valley or Belden.
Upon arriving, Rattler and I got a photo at the iconic Bridge of the Gods separating Oregon and Washington states. We then had our customary milkshakes, and I also grabbed the fattiest greasiest burger I could find to support my now, modest body size.
We strolled onto Thunder Island, paying our $5 camping fee for PCT Days, the event where all the hiking brand vendors and guest speakers gather to sell or promote hiking to both thru-hikers and other aspiring hikers.
Almost immediately, I spotted a familiar face. Long orange frizzy hair and beard, aviator sunglasses, a look of confusion as he stood in the middle of the grassy field… It was my old companion Corky the Viking! Reunited finally, since the day on Glenn Pass where he and Rex both turned back in The Sierra. It was damn good to see him again, and still in high spirits! He had his friend ‘Still Phil’ with him now, and several other hikers they met along the way including Caddy Shack, Torpedo, Orange (who was surprisingly more orange than Corky was) and a Dutch girl called [something] Dump.
Not long after reacquainting with Corky, Rex shows up, whom I told to come. She was further behind on the trail, but agreed to make it on time. The old trail family was back together, even if only for a day or two.
I had already made plans with Rex’s mum, Deb, to get a lift back to their place the day after to retrieve and post my items home and resupply. Rex too was now going there, as she had decided she was done with the trail after completing the last few days of Oregon. So we decided to bring a few others back with us too for an overnight break.
It didn’t take long to also find Grim, Akuna, Rubberball, Thirsty, Canary and Mellow. I hadn’t seen those guys since Mammoth at the campground when I started my solo stretch for the first time in the rest of the Sierras. It was great to see everyone again! The PCT definitely revolves a lot around good friendships!
After checking out the stalls and listening to some talks, we went to the breweries to receive our free beers, like the scum of the Earth we were, haha. At the first one, I also reacquainted with some hikers I had camped with before, Sweet Spot and Wolf – sharing a few laughs.
At the end of the evening, I was expecting raging parties and drinking – but no… hiker midnight settled in, and almost everyone was in bed. For the few of us not yet ready for sleep – I cleared out my tent, and we had a beer-drinking, dice-throwing tent party with 6 people in a two-person tent, haha. You weren’t meant to drink on Thunder Island, so this was our pathetic way of ‘hiding’ that.
Distance hiked: 22 miles
Total PCT hiked: 2044 miles
Day 131 (19/08) – PCT Days, and Rex’s Parents Home
It was my birthday! 33 years old!
Slightly hungover, I awoke… fumbling for my much-needed ibuprofen – what a tent party! Rex and I went to the shop for some coffee whilst Corky and his gang slept in. Rattler was also there after having some breakfast too.
When I crossed the footbridge from Thunder Island to the mainland, my hat whipped off my head in a quick blast whilst taking a photo of the Columbia River – ‘Really… fuck you wind!‘ I may have said to myself. Damn… I loved that Bristlecone Pine cap I bought in Bishop. I immediately bought a new PCT one, which was also quite good. I’ve decided I love caps, after never ever wearing them in my lifetime, and being without one sucks balls.
Furthermore, I bought a new pair of shoes from the Altra stall, so I didn’t have to get a new pair when I got home. My current ones will surely be binned when I reach Canada after 800 miles or so of use. I’ll post them home with the rest of my gear tomorrow.
Rex’s mum arrived at 1pm, and Rex ended up convincing Corky, Caddy Shack and Noodle to come back to her folk’s place for a feed, laundry, and a shower.
After an hour-long drive, we arrived and cleaned up. We were greeted with much food and drinks, and decided to go pick blackberries growing on their fence line – there were millions of fat, juicy ones! Harlem (Rex’s dog) also joined us… except he just ate them off the plant, not caring about the spikes.
Rex played Happy Birthday to me on her newly acquired ukulele. It was a delightful way to celebrate for me, haha. It was funny because it was Noodle’s birthday on the 18th, mine on the 19th and Bubble’s on the 20th (who was coming the day after).
Next Post:
Part 44 ‘Preparations for the Final Month in Washington’
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