August 11th, 2016
Miles Hiked: 26
Start Location: Mile 1771
End Location: Mile 1797
End Location GPS: 42.65068, -122.20562
“Thru hikers are like pie. Crusty on the outside, sweet on the inside.” – Snackman
There were over 200 blow downs on the trail today. I wish I was kidding or at least exhagerating but I’m not. Apparently there was a big wind storm in this section this year that wreaked havoc on all the trees. Hiking today was more like crawling through an obstacle course, a la Tough Mudder or American Ninja Warrior. Trees of various sizes and diameters lay sprawled haphazardly all over the trail. We went over them and around them and under them for pretty much the duration of the day. I’d say it was a real hoot but I’d be lying- it was absolutely and utterly terrible. Carolyn knocked her noggin several times on low overhanging tree trunks, a casualty of her wide brimmed hat that keeps out the sun but severely limits her peripheral vision.
Tommorrow we will arrive at Crater Lake National park. I’ve been waiting a long time to see this and I’m pretty excited.
