Free at Last - 1780.6 mi Campo

Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty we're free at last of the Oregon mosquito horde. We made it to Fish Lake today, and according to all northbounders we've met, this is where they stop. So far, so good.

It's been quite some time since my last post; can't quite remember when I last wrote even! We managed to make it through our two long waterless days - we actually turned that bit into 3 days, hiking the 24 mi, then split the 26 into two 13 milers. A nice water cache at Hwy 138 sure helped!

We got to Crater Lake on the 21st. What an amazing place. Everytime I go there, my eyes have trouble believing what they are seeing. Hanging out at the lodge we met the first true northbounder, Scott. He was attempting to "yo-yo" the trail - hike it south to north, then north to south, all in one go. Crazy. He was hiking ~40 miles a day at that point. Said the Sierra's had been quite difficult. Surprisingly, his pack seemed to weigh just about as much as mine, ~25-30 pounds with 2 days food and water. He was also doing some filming of other thru hikers and we got interviewed.

We hitched from the rim down to Mazama, stopping at the PO along the way. Many thanks to the two nursing students, and to Mike! Arij and I are convinced Mike was CIA. Knew more than anyone should about the area, was ex-military etc etc.

Also ran into some other thru hikers at Mazama. The buffet at Mazama, btw, was great. First was a group of south bound Oregon section hikers - Tom, Sarah, and Dani. They were all Peace Corps buddies. Next was a group of 4 Quebecois - David and Antoine (brothers) and Gabrielle and Claudia. We camped with them at Mazama (thanks!)

Crazy story here now - David and Gabrielle had converted to the raw food diet while on the trail (northbound, they had skipped the Sierra's and North Calif.) Right before Arij and I left, we had Bill and Sarah and Anna over for dinner, Sarah told us about this family who had one day gone totally on the raw food diet, lost a ton of weight, then hiked the PCT in Tevas. Anyways, in the morning, they get a raw food delivery - from that FAMILY! Turns out they had met the family in Ashland and changed over. Crazy small world.

It's been blisteringly hot the last week or so - apparently hit 105 degrees F a couple of days ago! Yikes! Quite humid as well. Our mileage has been good though - hiked 25.3 mi yesterday, and did an easy 18.1 mi today. We're only ~ 30 mi from our next resupply at Hyatt Lake, and still have 2 days of food!

A few weeks ago Patrick inquired if I had ever really used the fork portion of my spork. After considering my answer was no. We had a bit of a laugh about how yuppie we were. We could have just carried lexan spoons. Now I know the reason I wanted to bring a spork. Patrick may soon be proliferated with spork wounds, he is really eyeballing my food and always begging. I have to fend him off with it!

I have a total of 4 toenails falling off in various stages. I think the only ones that may escape this trip are my baby toes.

Now I know the Leave No Trace motto is something like "Take memories, leave only foot prints," but I have to admit to leaving hundreds if not thousands of mosquito corpses. If I wrote a book about this section of the PCT, I would title it Bug Tales. Everything seems to be driven by the bugs. Patrick cracking his head, where, when, how we eat & sleep, go to the bathroom, EVERYTHING!

As Patrick said though we are in a no bug territory. I am not sure how to act. Today hiked 1/2 the day with my mosquito net uselessly on. I was afraid to take it off. I am taking baby steps though, I may try and hike in shorts tomorrow.

So I believe the purpose of Patrick taking me on this trip is to slowly kill me from methane poisoning. Now he has an explanation for his lethal doses. Dave, a N bounder we met, told him it is all the nuts & dried fruit fermenting to create an evil dose of butt. At the next resupply I am plotting to steal his apricots and gorp, I mean I have to survive, he is going to kill me soon. If I don't do something...