Days 125, 126, 127

Day 125, 22 miles, endpoint PCT mile 2011

Our friend Josh drove us back to McKenzie Pass this morning (after a stop at the local donut shop, of course) and we were back on the trail. We immediately started a long uphill through the Mt. Washington Wilderness on a lava-encrusted trail for several miles. We walked through the red lunar landscape towards Belknap Crater and Little Belknap Crater, two volcanic, treeless formations to the north of the Sisters mountains.

After passing the craters we meandered by Mt. Washington, a tall, snowless, pointed peak. We went through a burn zone filled with white toothpick trees, then hit a big milestone of the trip: mile 2,000! I was both excited and a little bit sad that we now have less than 700 miles to the end of the trail.

17 miles from the start of the day we reached Santiam Pass, a busy highway and the main thoroughfare for people traveling from Portland and the Willamette Valley to Central Oregon. We hopped across the highway and began climbing up thrugh the next wilderness zone of Mt. Jefferson. The hill began with another burn zone, but eventually gave way to greener trees.

We found a camping spot up a hill behind the trail. From there we had a great view of Black Butte and Mt. Washington at sunset. Three Fingered Jack, a multi-pronged gray peak, was just barely visible to the north.

We will continue past Three Fingered Jack tomorrow as we head closer to the snowy peak of Mt. Jefferson.

Very rocky terrain

Mt Washington Wilderness!

The Three Sisters is now behind us.

Mile 2000!

Burn zone

Now entering the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness

Black Butte from camp at sunset.

Day 126, 26 miles, endpoint PCT mile 2037

We started the day with a tour of Three Fingered Jack. This jagged peak got its name from an outlaw bank robber from California in the 1800s. Three Fingered Jack was ultimately killed by rangers, who wanted to prove a point. They cut off his hand, put it in a vat of whiskey, and toured the land with the hand on a gruesome public display. How, exactly, a mountain came to be named after this bank robber, I am really not sure.

We had great views of the steep, vertical, striated north face of Jack before heading north towards Mt. Jefferson. Jefferson grew bigger to us by the hour as we hiked closer to it. More clasically mountainous in shape and appearance, Jefferson has symmetrically sloped sides and large areas of snow.

Besides the beautiful view of Jefferson, another highlight of the day were the huckleberries growing allong the trail. These edible berries are one of Josh's favorite; we even added it to our dessert tonight in camp.

This evening we ran into our first ranger since the Sierras. We chatted with him about camping, fire closures in the area (none on the PCT) and the upcoming section through Jefferson Park. Suddenly, Josh recognized the ranger's name, and we realized the ranger was also known by the trail name Balls. Years ago we watched an PBS special on a father and daughter team hiking the PCT by the names of Balls and Sunshine. The daughter, Sunshine, was, at the time, the youngest person to hike the PCT (I think she was about 11 years old?). Within the albeit small community of long-distance hiking Balls and Sunshine are a bit like celebrities, so it was very interesting to run into him on the trail like that.

We are cammped near a small lake tonight. Tomorrow morning we have a long uphill to start the day, but it will put us in Jefferson Park, a popular and supposedly beautiful area near Mt. Jefferson.

Looking back at Three Fingered Jack.

Mt Jefferson

Sweeping views of the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness for most of the day

Carla & the mountain.

Mt Jefferson from Shale Lake

Day 127, 24 miles, endpoint PCT mile 2061

Our day started with a long uphill towards the area of Jefferson Park. After much anticipation, we finally arrived at this beautiful area in the shadow of Mt. Jefferson filled with lakes, wildflowers, meadows, and crowds of weekend backpackers.

Our first stop was off the PCT at Scout Lake. The lake was still filled with people camping, swimming, and playing with barking dogs. It wasn't the most serene setting because of all this, but the view couldn't be better. Jefferson looked massive; its alpine slopes were covered in white snow and its rocky summit was in the clouds.

We took an early break at Scout Lake and cooked breakfast while Josh took some photos. We would have loved to stay longer, but we were already behind on the mileage we needed for the day so we moved on. Next up was Russel Lake, another marvel with amazing Jefferson views over the water.

Our pace was slowing; we had to force ourselves to keep moving. The hike out of Jefferson Park was a long uphill towards a mountain pass deep on the horizon. When we arrived at the top, we said goodbye to Mt. Jefferson and began a descent down the back side of the pass over multiple snow fields. We could just barely make out our next mountain destination: Mt. Hood.

The rest of the day was filled with ups and downs until we arrived at Olallie Lake, which has a small store and cabins for rent. We bought Ruby Red Squirt, made dinner, and hurried on our way from the store, still worried about getting more miles in.

As it was getting dark we found a place to camp off an old dirt road next to brightly blooming, tall-stalked purple wildflowers.

Tomorrow will be a long day as we continue towards Mt. Hood. We are hoping to make it to Timberline Lodge, up on Hood, the day after next, but we will need some big miles to make it happen!

Wildflowers were peaking in Jefferson Park... unfortunately so were the crowds.

Park Butte from the north.

Mt. Jefferson and Park Butte from Park? Saddle.

From the saddle looking south.

Late summer snow.

Along the ridge near Ruddy Hill

Mt Jefferson from Ollalie Lake