Tuesday, July 11
Start: Ollalie Lake Resort
End: Timothy Lake
Miles: 32.4
Elevation gain/loss: 3074’/4797′
I was up at 5:15, out by 5:45am. Mattias was just starting to get up when I left. The elevation gain was very light, but the miles were a bit tiresome and boring, with no views to be had and some 10-mile water carries. My feet and legs were painful for the last few hours – they’re starting to show more accumulated wear and tear. I made it into the Mt Hood area, with a substantial increase in signage at trail intersections.
My day’s miles were almost exclusively on forested trails, with only one small burn area, and the temperature difference at mid-day was striking – it was comfortably in the mid-80s for most of the day. While the miles were boring, I was very happy for the change of temperature. I only saw a few other PCT hikers on trail today; overall, it was a quiet day.
I stopped at the north end of Timothy Lake at 4:30pm since I’d done so many miles already, and I need to slow down in order to get to Cascade Locks on the correct day (Sat). I had a nice swim, chatted with a few day hikers (including one who used they/them pronouns), and rinsed out my socks and underwear. I started this trip with brand-new Darn Tough socks and both pairs already have holes. It’s been a thorough adventure for sure. I closed out my day with a substantial dinner snack in my tent, hiding from the small amount of bugs at my tent site, and went to bed early, after enjoying having cell service at my campsite for the first time this trip.
Transcending Mountains 