We are currently traveling in a war party of 8 people, and growing by the day. The current roster includes the four core hikers (Moosie, BR, Gangles, me), and we have the momentum and appeal of a giant rolling snowball.
At beautiful Porcupine Lake, Bigfoot found us at dusk in camp. In Etna, we picked up Grinder. T-Bone was with us on and off, and caught up in Sisters, OR. We finally caught Swiss Miss at Timberline Lodge. We are chasing Heehaw (another AT '05 sobo), and Hiker X may catch us in a day or two.
So far, finding camping for a group this large has not been a problem. We have been able to find sufficiently large campsites and sleep comfortably. The trade off in space and resources is emotional and psychological support. The physical challenge of finishing this trip is achievable by most people--people of all shapes, sizes and ages successfully thruhike the PCT (and AT) every year. The larger challenge is mental--being able to endure the sheer length of the hike. Though beautiful, thruhiking can be isolating and monotonous.
My hope is that hiking together, we will be able to keep each others' spirits up so that we can finish Washington and the PCT.
- Team Stubborn
Showing posts with label oregon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label oregon. Show all posts
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Sisters, OR
Emily/Gangles and I made an unexpected stop in Sisters, OR. The original plan was to run through Oregon in 17 days without a day off. During the heavy rain after we left Ashland, I tweaked my knee. My knee felt more and more sore. The lava rocks a few miles from McKenzie pass were the last straw. Gangles and I hitched out to Sisters, OR.
We were dropped off in the center of town, near Bronco Billy's. I was pretty glum, so we went to get ice cream at Ali's. As we walked in, we were greeted by a petite Ukrainian woman with the most perfect tapering braids. Em and I ordered quiche and a cone, and Ali came to sit at our table. She brought us soup, and asked us how we were doing. She held our hands, and told us she was proud of us. She likened our hike on the PCT to her experiences in Siberia. (For the record, I think Siberia is tougher than the West Coast).
She was a beam of pure sunshine. and the exact kind of trail magic we needed for a glum mood and bum wheel.
p.s., The huckleberry ice cream was phenomenal.
We were dropped off in the center of town, near Bronco Billy's. I was pretty glum, so we went to get ice cream at Ali's. As we walked in, we were greeted by a petite Ukrainian woman with the most perfect tapering braids. Em and I ordered quiche and a cone, and Ali came to sit at our table. She brought us soup, and asked us how we were doing. She held our hands, and told us she was proud of us. She likened our hike on the PCT to her experiences in Siberia. (For the record, I think Siberia is tougher than the West Coast).
She was a beam of pure sunshine. and the exact kind of trail magic we needed for a glum mood and bum wheel.
p.s., The huckleberry ice cream was phenomenal.
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