Day 116-122: Santiam Pass to Trout Lake
Mile 2001.0-2229.9 (Skipped 2028.1-2074.4 due to fire closure)
After 2 restful zeros in Bend with my mom, it was time to hit the trail again. Well, sort of. I slackpacked the section between Santiam Pass and the beginning of the Lionshead fire closure, and my mom picked me up at the other end. It was a beautiful section, and pretty effortless without the pack. All was going smooth until a mile from the end when someone’s dog was apparently threatened by me and gave me a nice bite on my thigh.
After a lengthy visit to the ER, I got the good news that the infection risk was low. So the next day it would be back on trail for real. As the previous night was a late one, I didn’t get back on trail until late afternoon. I still managed 16 miles, just without much stopping. The next day it was up to Mount Hood, which was one of the best sections of Oregon. The views were incredible, topped off by the amazing breakfast buffet at Timberline Lodge. I would’ve gotten a good pic, but I was too busy eating it. Here’s some pics of Hood to make up for it.
I made 29 miles despite tougher terrain, and the next day would be my last in Oregon! I took the Eagle Creek alternate trail down to the town of Cascade Locks, which is known for its abundant waterfalls, including the amazing tunnel falls. The falls get their name from the tunnel blasted behind it where the trail is routed. It was such a wild spot.
Tunnel Falls. Notice where the trail goes…
Due to recent fires, the Eagle Creek trail now travels through a burn zone. It’s a shame, as the trail would be even better with lush greenery. I guess it’s just a sign of the times we’re living in. Once in Cascade Locks, I ended up heading to the nearby town of Hood River, where another hiker and I stumbled upon some trail magic. A former PCT hiker let us sleep on her floor, and her property had an AMAZING view of the Columbia River Gorge.
A walk across the Bridge of the Gods the next morning meant I was in Washington. 1 state to go!
The first few days of Washington were quite uneventful compared to the end of Oregon. The forest was quite lush and I had some good views of Mount Adams, and occasionally Mount Rainier.
Mount Adams
The first 3 days of Washington were a preview of what lies ahead. It’s gonna be a lot of walking near massive glaciated volcanoes, followed by the alpine terrain of the North Cascades. Time to buckle up, it’s gonna be a wild ride to the finish.
