Words about science and hiking
Of course the PCT would save its best for my last day on the trail. After weeks of hot smoky weather, today was cool and clear. The trail was gentle. There were blueberries, beautiful lakes and great views. The country ahead looks beautiful and promising. I want to keep hiking. But I really can’t. My Read More …
My last night on the trail, I think Reading back over my earlier journal entries, I see that they are awful to the point of being unreadable. They are accounts, not stories. They are devoid of emotion and spirit. They are withdrawn and reserved. They lack joy, a feeling that usually suffuses my time on Read More …
Thursday I walked the remaining 8 miles down to Shelter Cove Resort on Lake Odell. My left knee, which began bothering me a couple days before, was now feeling stiff, weak and unstable. Unlike the day before, it did not loosen up after a couple of miles. Shelter Cove is a fairly highly-developed resort on Read More …
A chill and often smoky night as the wind shifted. I suppose I should be grateful for what respites from the smoke there have been, but then that is like being grateful for a pause in one’s daily beatings, isn’t it. However, the morning was mostly clear and brought views of the isolated conical peaks Read More …
My joy yesterday at leaving the smoke was premature. After midnight the stars faded out and it became so smoky I put on an N95 mask to give my lungs a break while sleeping. But the morning was cold and windy, with wet clouds whipping up the mountainside. I was thrilled to have to put Read More …
Another hot and smoky morning, but it was only 5 miles to Mazama Village. I stopped in at the store to pick up my resupply package along with some cold drinks and snacks, and spent most of the day hanging out with the other hikers around the store. The general mood was not the usual Read More …
The skies cleared a bit last night and I saw not only stars but half a dozen Perseid meteors. That seemed a good omen. I started the day with high hopes of better hiking conditions and indeed the first climb up to a pass revealed some gauzy views. But as the day wore on the Read More …
One of the things I love about hiking the PCT is the people that I meet. Although the majority are young folks who have not yet done much, older generations are also well-represented. Anyone who has a career, yet breaks it off to go hiking in the mountains for weeks or months is someone who Read More …
The day started out just as hot but even smokier. It was too much. I expect there to be hardships and difficulties on any long hike but also expect some compensation in the form of great views and beautiful scenery. There are no views and the landscape is desiccated. Most water sources are dried up Read More …
Another one of these “heat domes” has set up camp in Oregon. It is way too hot. It is way too smoky. And the water carries are approaching way too long status. A couple miles out from last night’s camp I encountered the Hyatt Res campground and made use of its very clean restroom (no Read More …