2,000 miles and Bend, OR

Hiking the PCT can be just as much about experiencing the culture and people as it is about the hiking.  Trail Towns and Trail Angels are an important aspect of the journey and learning more about amazing places here in the US.  In Ashland, hikers were invited to an incredible BBQ feast where we relaxed and got our toenails painted.  It's not everyday that we are invited with open arms into a complete stranger's house and treated like family, THANK YOU SIERRA!! 

I arrived at the rim of Crater Lake in the evening and the smoke was so dense that I literally could not see the water, it was certainly an incredible site.  That night I actually slept up on the rim and was able to catch the sunrise with much less smoke than before.  It was easy to visualize the massive caldera spread out below us.  For anyone who has never visited Crater Lake, it is certainly an incredible site to see and not to be missed. 

Further north and just before McKenzie Pass (where I hitched into town) is the Three Sisters Wilderness and some of the best wildflowers I have seen as yet.  There have been a few afternoon thunderstorms, that have also started small fires nearby, but nothing to be concerned about for the moment.  It is already getting late in the season for the fires to be allowed to get too big so we actually ran into smoke jumpers (back country firefighters that jump out of an airplane to access remote areas.  As a matter of fact, Kiddo and I were in a small thunderstorm one afternoon and there were a couple lightning strikes within a few miles of the trail.  Later that afternoon we were on the other side of the valley climbing up the side of Diamond Peak and we were able to look back at where we had come from that day.  There was a column of smoke not far from the ridge we were on that was definitely not there when we passed through.  There is always something to keep us on our toes!!!

In mid-Oregon there is the small town of Sisters and also Bend that is fairly easy to hitch-hike to.  Sisters is well known for it's small town charm, many tasty eateries, lots of local art galleries, and of course ice cream.  Bend is extremely well known for it's many local brew-pubs, which is a must for a thirsty thru-hiker.  I had the pleasure of enjoying both of these towns with 2 other hikers, Kiddo and Cowboy, making for excellent company indeed. 

Only 650 miles left and it seems like such a short time left on this awesome trail.  It will not be long before I am in Washington State where internet and cell phone coverage are scarce.  Of course I will do my best to update my progress but rest assured that I will be walking north and enjoying every moment of it.  Peace and Love and Happy Trails
~Beads

Mountain Lupine with South Sister Peak

Playing with the Locals

Fellow hiker Kiddo on trail next to a rock cairn marking a side trail to a water source

Sunrise over Crater Lake with Wizard Island in the bottom right

Morning fog while walking through an area burned 2 or 3 years ago

An original PCT marker