‘Bending’ Past PCT Fire Closures & Homely Trail Angels – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [42]

  1. The Pacific Crest Trail Blog of ‘Tatters’ 2017
  2. Scout and Frodo ‘A Homely Beginning’ – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [01]
  3. Am I Really in a Desert? – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [02]
  4. Scissors Crossing and Julian ‘A First Time for Many Things’ – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [03]
  5. Early Mornings and Desert Superblooms – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [04]
  6. Paradise Café & Idyllwild ‘The Motivation for Food and Alcohol Grows!’ – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [05]
  7. San Jacinto & Fuller Ridge ‘Alpha Mountaineering Crew’ – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [06]
  8. Trail-names, Burgers & Sleeping in Cyclones – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [07]
  9. ‘Hippy Hot Springs’ & Big Miles to McDonald’s – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [08]
  10. Motivation into Wrightwood & Mount Baden Powell – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [09]
  11. Trail Closures & Reuniting at Hiker Heaven – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [10]
  12. Trail Family United & Casa de Luna – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [11]
  13. A Truly Hot and Dry Desert Surrounding Hikertown – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [12]
  14. Tehachapi Zero and Nero Day Morale Boosting! — PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [13]
  15. Nearing the End of the Desert? – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [14]
  16. Lake Isabella & Last Stops Before the Snow and Mountains! – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [15]
  17. Kennedy Meadows ‘Into the Mountains We Go!’ — PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [16]
  18. Off to Lone Pine – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [17]
  19. Badass Mountaineers on Mount Whitney – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [18]
  20. Forester Pass & the Township of Bishop – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [19]
  21. Glen Pass & the End of the Family: PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [20]
  22. Mountaineering on Pinchot Pass & Mather Pass – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [21]
  23. Muir Pass, Evolution Creek, & Flooded Creek Crossings – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [22]
  24. Walls of Snow at Mammoth & Donohue Pass — PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [23]
  25. Solo Hiking to Yosemite Valley – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [24]
  26. The Waterfalls of Yosemite & Sonora Pass – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [25]
  27. Truly Alone in the Wild (near Ebbetts Peak) – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [26]
  28. South Lake Tahoe, Dicks Pass & Frozen Lakes – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [27]
  29. Desolation Wilderness & Truckin’ to Truckee – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [28]
  30. A Week Off-trail for 4th July with Rex! – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [29]
  31. Back on Trail, Sierra City & Out of the High Sierra – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [30]
  32. New Faces, Middle Feather Fork River and Belden – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [31]
  33. The PCT Halfway Point and Lassen Volcanic Wilderness – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [32]
  34. Chilling with Bears, Old Station & Burney Lodge – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [33]
  35. Burney Falls to Dunsmuir – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [34]
  36. Deadfall Lakes and Finding the Long Lost Dinosaur – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [35]
  37. Rockin’ Through the Trinity Alps Wilderness – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [36]
  38. Sky High Lakes & Grider Creek – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [37]
  39. Bye Bye California, Hello Oregon! – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [38]
  40. Rollin’ Along the Meadows to Lake Hyatt – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [39]
  41. ‘A Hike of Ice and Fire’ – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [40]
  42. Frustrating Closures & Shelter Cove – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [41]
  43. ‘Bending’ Past PCT Fire Closures & Homely Trail Angels – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [42]
  44. Mt Hood, Timberline Lodge & the PCT Days Event- PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [43]
  45. Preparations for the Final Month in Washington – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [44]
  46. Mt Adams & Ascending into Eternity – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [45]
  47. Amazing Goat Rocks Wilderness & Resting in Packwood – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [46]
  48. White Pass & More Fire Closures! – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [47]
  49. The Beautiful Deception Lake & Loving the New Trail Family! – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [48]
  50. The German Town of Leavenworth & Hiking in Beauty – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [49]
  51. Mica Lake, Suiattle River & the Final Push into Stehekin – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [50]
  52. All Good Things Come to an End… The PCT Northern Terminus! – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [51]

‘Bending’ Past PCT Fire Closures & Homely Trail Angels – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [42]

~~~ Previous Post: Part 41 ‘Frustrating Closures & Shelter Cove’ ~~~

Day 126 (14/08) – Bending it to Bend

Was I back in the Sierras – why was it so damn cold? Also, why was my ankle in such agonising pain!

In the morning, I struggled outside. I limped to take a piss, before hobbling back into my tent of comfort and warmth. I think I had ankle tendonitis for the first time ever. It was such a strange place to get it too, but perhaps it was because of the larger distances I was covering in Oregon.

I ate breakfast whilst taking in the views. The mist over Brahma Lake was particularly beautiful. The cold can do wonderful things sometimes.

Mist on Brahma Lake (photo credit: Rattler)

Rattler and I hiked the final stretch of 20 miles to Elk Lake, where we had to get off trail yet again to avoid a fire closure in Sisters NP. I was glad to be able to stop joking to rest my sore ankle. My strategy for tendonitis was to walk it off. ‘She’ll be right’… I’m such a typical Australian, haha!

Blasted fires again!
This section literally closed the day before we arrived

We were immediately approached by an old couple who offered us a lift back to Bend. ‘Well that was easy‘ I softly said to Rattler. Another hiker named Tim was also interested and joined us. They drove us an hour or so to the small city of Bend to the east.

When we arrived at Ginny and Jim’s (the couple who gave us a hitch) home, they offered to accommodate us too if we wished. Rattler hadn’t stayed with a trail angel before and was a little hesitant at first before I convinced him that they probably house people all the time. The couple were involved in the PCT, as they maintained a particular stretch of the trail (which was on fire!). They understood hikers’ needs and were very kind to us.

We walked into the nearby area of the city and Rattler and I found a Ben and Jerry’s ice cream store and devoured delicious thick shakes – I had a salted caramel one. The three of us bought Ginny and Jim flowers and chocolates to say thanks for their hospitality.

As we walked back in the evening, we could see the fire raging behind North Sister (one of the mountains the PCT passes). This fire wasn’t on the side where the trail is, but it also prevented the alternative detour.

Distance hiked: 19 miles

Total PCT hiked: 1950 miles

Day 127 (15/08) – Zero Day in Bend

Sleeping into 7am was a big thing foe me. Rattler, Tim and I were really treated to have that opportunity in such a nice place. We had a few cups of coffee and then pursued our chores. I had to finalise bank issues, and reorder my new camera, which was rejected due to annoying security features. Rattler and I needed to fill out insurance claim forms on the library computers that we couldn’t do on our phones for different reasons.

I also needed to pick up an item at the post office. It turns out I went to the wrong post office, and I needed to walk a further 30 minutes to the one on the north side of town. Luckily, we passed an Albertson’s grocery store and bought a few things there for our resupply, before calling an Uber back to Jim and Ginny’s place. We like walking… just not that much!

Finally, I got to chill out and watched some Game of Thrones whilst eating a bucket of fried chicken (and a tub of salad!) which was awesome! Rattler and I did a small amount of housework to help out Jim and Ginny before all going to bed.

Day 128 (16/08) – A Long Bypass to Frog Lake

With coffee in hand – Rattler, Ginny and I had discussions about teaching (Ginny was a Science teacher too before retiring). We also talked about the Geology of the area. Rattler mentioned he was thinking of returning in a year to help out with trail maintenance, as he too just retired and wanted to return the favour to the PCT.

I received my new camera that I had posted to Jim and Ginny’s house and was immediately relieved. It felt like a loss of a relationship when losing the other one. At least I could take photos again – my phone takes photos like a potato!

Ginny gave us a lift around 2pm, and we drove the two hours to Frog Lake. Here, we bypassed the numerous fire closures and just decided to hike where there were no logistical nightmares. On the way, we passed The Sisters and Mt Jefferson, which we would normally hike right past on the PCT. This was a 134-mile skip, unfortunately! However, there wasn’t a lot we could do – nature was nature! They think that most of the fires came from lightning strikes in past storms.

Along the drive, we could see private farmland fields divided up into campgrounds for the upcoming total solar eclipse on 21/08. It was crazy how popular this was! I wish I could see it, but you need to be in Jefferson NP if on the PCT, and it’s closed from fires. I gave up on the idea and decided I’ll see the 99% version in Vancouver, Washington state at Rex’s parents’ place. This was where I was planning on going to box up my stored possessions there and resupply. It is a big difference seeing a 99% to a 100% eclipse, though.

After saying goodbyes to Ginny, we set off. I decided to do a short hike a few miles before Timberline Lodge. I camped with Tim, but Rattler camped a bit earlier.

The forest definitely changed in northern Oregon
What a nice little spot by the stream

Distance hiked: 8 miles

Total PCT hiked: 2092 miles (detouring past fires)

Next Post:

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

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