Showing posts with label Sky Lakes Wilderness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sky Lakes Wilderness. Show all posts

Saturday, August 23, 2008

August 12, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

Destination: Sky Lakes Trail Junction
Miles: 25.2


Adrian: This morning the sting was stiff and quite swollen. On top of that, it itches like hell. All day it feels like this.

We hiked past Mt. McLoughlin, a magnificent peak. Kirsten, Lorenzo and I were tempted to do the 5-hour detour to climb it, but we were low on food and need to get to our boxes waiting at Crater Lake National Park.

In the evening we hiked a short time with Don't Panic, something we haven't done since Idyllwild. That's over 1,650 miles ago! He's a great guy.

I heard Sparky is way ahead. Too bad, I would like to hike with him again. On we go...

Kirsten: Adrian mentioned being low on food. This doesn't quite describe my situation. I'm not sure how I got so low on food. I think I put all my treats and such in the boxes sent to Crater Lake and Shelter Cove. I have good food. There just isn't enough.

Moonpie has affected my food choices probably more than any other hiker on the trail. This time around I have bagels, blueberry cream cheese, carrots, apples, peanut butter and pepper jack cheese. You're probably thinking "Cream cheese in a backpack?" If its placed far enough into a pack cheese and other products like it will keep for about four or five days.

Friday, August 15, 2008

August 11, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

Destination: South Fork Little Butte River
Miles: 26

Adrian: We got out of camp around 6:50 a.m. and made slow time all morning for some reason. I bought new Nikes in Ashland and am still breaking them in, so my feet are a bit tender. Things should be worked out soon.

We enter Rogue River National Forest, which features vast pine plantations. Section B gets sour reviews, but if you big forests mixed in with a small bit of logging, it's fine. Water is scarce here and we have to leave trail to get it most times. I'll have to increase my water capacity for after Crater Lake there are 25 miles segments without water.

While walking today I got stung by something fierce on my right calf, near the bottom. It hit and then kept stinging until I was able to swipe it away. It hurt. It hurt so much I had to look at it to make sure it wasn't a snakebite. So it continued to hurt all day and then it mellowed out at night.

Today we hiked through the Sky Lakes Wilderness, staying high above the numerous lakes below. A light breeze blew into the thick pine forest. Spanish moss look-alike hung from the tree branches and bright green lichen clung to the trunk.

Kirsten: Wow, Adrian let me know when you've traded in your skirt and are ready hike with the rest of us. Actually I hike in a skirt so I just ripped on myself. Although I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have cried like a baby after getting stung. His ankle does look a little nasty though.

We met a couple today from Switzerland, Mamma Mia and Philip. There are a number of overseas hikers on the trail. The Swiss couple, Lorenzo, a couple from Belgium called the Belgian Waffles, Germinator from Germany and a number of others. Mamma Mia was so positive about her time here. She said a number of people, all strangers, had taken them in along the trail. It's comforting to know these overseas travelers will leave the United States with a good impression. Our country certainly some positive PR these days.