Saturday, August 29
Start: Killen Creek
End: Steamboat Lake
Miles: 23.0 miles (+0.25 for campsite)
Gain/loss: 3891’/5794′
Listened to: book- Cursor’s Fury
After a heavy night sleep, I was awake around 5:15am and on trail by 6:30am; the inside of my tent was wet with condensation so I took time to wipe it down so I wouldn’t be packing it up wet.
I hiked around Mt Adams, with some volcanic rock and sand to navigate, as well as some burn areas. I bumped into Blaze and Danger, two NOBOs, one of whom I know from NH and hiking in the Whites. They recommended Trout Lake. I made the forestry road into Trout Lake by 12:15pm and decided to go into town for lunch at least.
The very first vehicle, a pickup truck, stopped and invited me to hop in the bed. I rode the 14 miles into town in the back, and then enjoyed a pleasant lunch (with two shakes) on the cafe’s patio, using their wifi to update my Guthook app and dumping my trash in their garbage bins. Having nothing else I needed in town and feeling overwhelmed by the Saturday crowd, I reached out to Doug, a local trail angel, for a ride. Within 5 minutes of me texting him, he had picked me up and we were heading back to trail, arriving by 2:30pm.
Once back on trail, I hiked another 8-9 miles to get to the side trail for Steamboat Lake campground, arriving around 5:30pm. I decided to stop for the night rather than pushing forward. As I got closer to the lake, I saw two pickup trucks and two tents were already set up. I asked one of the men if they knew of another spot; they directed me around the corner to a spot where two PCT hikers had stayed the night before.
I had a smidge of service, so I was chatting with my partner after dinner sitting in my tent when one of the men came over, and let me know that I was invited to come share their fire and a drink if I’d like. He specifically mentioned his son and son’s husband would be there. I perked right up and as soon as I was done on the phone, I went and spent an hour sitting around the fire with them. It was a nice way to spend the evening, and I especially enjoyed the fire, since it was windy on the lake and pretty cold.
