Misty, Twisty

No lake sunrise for day 20. We'll have to settle for a mountain sunrise from my campsite. 

I am glad I camped when I did last night. It never did rain, but the next section of trail was best tackled on fresh legs. 

The rock formations through the lava fields here are stunning. My calves felt stunning, to after climbing the switchbacks that made up this wall. 

The views were obscured nearly all day by clouds, but I did get this little peek. 

As the trail winds itself north, it gets more 'crowded'. Lots of day hikers, section hikers, some dogs to pet, and some trail runners. How amazing to have this scenery while you train!

Made it to the Dee Wright Observatory for an ill-communicated rendezvous with the family. 

It's a tower built from lava rocks, with tiny windows situated with plaques so that you can see specific mountains. Would love to come back on a sunny day. The sisters still only teased me. 

But I got to meet these guys!

This is Tom and Jerry. They pretended to be impressed that I walked here from Ashland. Then they told me they rode their bikes here from Bar Harbor, Maine! To celebrate Tom's 70th birthday. What?!

The best trail angels ever found me, and drove me right to a campsite that has a picnic table and is free. (I'm still kinda waiting for someone to come kick me out.) They brought the most thoughtful thing ever. A jug with piping hot water, soap, a washcloth and towel. You're darn right I took a makeshift bath in the pit toilet camp bathroom. AND a fresh change of clothes to wear! 

As a reward to these guys for being awesome and driving 3 hours home with my dirty laundry, a deer pranced through my posh campsite before these guys

left.  Already looking forward to seeing you again next week, dudes. Love you tons and bunches!

Enjoy the View!

Today probably would have been the most epic views of the trip so far as I wound my way through the bases of the 3 Sisters. But I was shut out by some of the Pacific Northwest's finest clouds. But you know what, Oregon? I'm not even mad. It was kinda nice to have some clouds after 14 days of the bluest sky ever. Portland friends may understand the feeling. 

So, instead of being bitter (which I think some other hikers were) about what I couldn't see, I focused on what was awesome about what I could. 

I ran into this couple yesterday, and I'm so happy I found them again. 

They sectioned hiked nearly 40 years ago when they were newlyweds. Now they're out here again. With the same exterior frame packs they used before! How sweet! Not sure if it will stick, but I gave them the names Mink and Marten. 

Dragonglass! 

Which is good, because the clouds are low and it's feeling like White Walker weather up here. Today's section went through the Obsidian Limited Entry Area. With the clouds on top of me, and the crazy gorgeous landscape, I expected a unicorn to prance by. Or maybe, after all these miles, a bear. No luck on either. 

Obsidian Falls

This creek has water from a spring that came from the base of North Sister. Might have magical properties. Filtered it anyway. 

I was snuggled down early after 16 miles, and Windscreen joined me! We met him at Shelter Cove before we left. Very great dude. I'm in my down jacket, down sleeping bag, double walled tent, and he contemplated cowboy (tentless) camping 

before putting up his minimal tarp. Basically a large poncho that can cover your pack, a hiking pole and a few stakes convert it to a tent that as Windscreen describes it, "perfectly fits a half-sized adult human." I feel like I'm in a Winnebago compared to him. 

Tomorrow I get to see my most favorite trail angel ever! Let's hope he doesn't drop my resupply box and run when he smells me!

Three Sisters Wilderness

Getting sick of lakes at sunrise yet? No? Me either!

Mac Lake 

Some seriously gorgeous terrain today. 

The camera is level. See the pitch of the earth? Thank you, amazing people who made a trail happen here. 

And here. 

And also here, where I was escorted from one patch of first to another by dozens of butterflies. 

But these gorgeous mountains stole the show. 

Hiked to Sisters Mirror Lake to camp. I've had the last two nights completely to myself, so it's weird that there are so many people here. (So many=maybe 20 around the whole lake.) A thru hiker named String Bean agreed. 

But, I'm working with 14 straight days of sunshine and a lake to dip my feet in. Can't complain too much!