Well we're back - sorry about the wait!
We're making progress now and we finally get
to black out the last bit of the PCT in Oregon!
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| Our progress map is starting look better! |
When you're on the trail for awhile you tend to get a little 'ripe'..
A lot of people object but Darrell found a nice old chap that didn't!
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| "Hi there... Did I ever tell you about the time I climbed Mt. Everest??....." "No?....Well have I got a story for you......." |
Things are going a little slower than expected due to the snow
If we don't speed up all the PCT markers will be gone!
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| Going....going....Gone? |
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| A little bit of energy drink and a lot of Jack Daniels eases the boredom of the Hwy 58 to Elk lake section. |
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| As long as you ignored the bugs some of it was kind of pretty! |
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| And some of it wasn't.....(approaching Mt.Bachelor) |
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| A welcome break at Elk Lake - 'Pick-up' & 'Drop-off serving smoothies at the Tiki Bar! |
Next leg - the 'Three Sisters' area
Elk Lake to McKenzie pass
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The pumice fields of 'Wikiup plains' (the Indians used to hold huge pow-wows here) |
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| Obsidian by the ton! (volcanic glass) |
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| Some 'normal' hiking.....finally! |
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| Hiking buddies for awhile ( to McKenzie pass) Terri (left) & Isabella (right) Together they figured out a way through the remaining snow sections! |
Next section - McKenzie pass to Bruitenbush lake
Joined by Richard Walters and Rob Mason on this 4 day piece.
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| 'Mom' (Sandy) checking the boys out before they leave.. ...adjusting straps...checking water levels....hats on?........ |
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| Requesting 'blessings' from the 'Yekceb' obelisk at McKenzie pass prior to hitting the trail |
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| 100 yards on the trail and so far so good!....no blisters yet! |
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| A nice reward for a hard day's work A cool swim and some TLC for the feet! |
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| An other nice reward.....Left by trail angels....sweet!! |
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| Not as nice as a TV set but still OK If you're going to rough it ....you got to rough it!! (they're trying really hard to ignore their blisters) |
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| Last section to do in Oregon.. approaching Mt Hood |
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| Richard...'smelling the roses'.. Darrell didn't have the heart to tell him they weren't roses! |
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| Done!!...... the reward is coming! |
With Oregon done Richard and Rob give Darrell a ride
to Cle Elum in Washington - End of the Journey for R & R
and the start of the next leg in Washington for Darrell
Turns out that didn't fly - Park Rangers advised them not to
carry on into Washington as there was still too much snow!
Rod and Nicola arrived just in time to drive Darrell back
to Northern California - There they joined him on the Etna to Seiad
Valley section of the Trinity Alps.
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| Rod's next business venture! |
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| "Hi guys!" |
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| Almost as nice as the North Cascades!......(Almost) |
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| Rod and Nicola luck out..... they got to hike one of the more beautiful sections! |
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| A cool refreshing swim (the drastic cropping was necessary) |
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| 'Nurse' Nicola in action.....applying some TLC. (I suspect Rod didn't have any blisters at all!) |
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| Success!! - Made it! Time to turn the 'boy' back over to 'pickup' & 'dropoff' |
COACHES CORNER:
While Darrell does the 'Hard Core' hiking J & S take a more civilized approach.......
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| What do you do when see this sign?? .....'Kayaks for rent' |
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| "you rent them of course!...." |
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| A strenuous climb to the top of 'Mt. Bachelor' - 9500' |
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| the 'hard' way1 |
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| After all that work you need some serious 'time out' An interesting book & a glass of wine does the trick! |
Of course we don't cheat all the time!
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| This was a 4600' climb to top of South Sister (10400') for an overnight stay .....couldn't cheat on this one!..... no ski lift! |
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| nice view from the top! |
While Darrel was supported by Richard and Rob / Rod and Nicola .... 'pick-up & 'drop-off'
use the opportunity to head back north to Vancouver for Karl & Bridget's annual BBQ
(and to see the grand kids of course)
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| "....these are for my baby!...." (Baby brother / sister to be) |
Luke and Nyla go nuts at the Water Park
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| Look at me Ma!!....Look at me! |
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| Me too Ma!!......Me too!! |
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| What ever you do!....never...ever.... leave your Rum & Coke alone for even a second! |
Dealing with grand kids can get very tiring!
I find my legs get really tired and heavy!.....
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| See what I mean! |
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| And we ran into another one of these very very hungry cats!! |
See you next post!
