Start – nr Jefferson Park (2025 m)
Finish – Rockpile Lake (1905 m)
Daily Distance – 36 km
Ascent – 1160 m
Descent – 1275 m
At camp this evening, everyone seems just very slightly hysterical, as if baking in the heat all day has melted a small part of our brains. I also nearly panic clubbed a dog during the course of the day.
The dog, I am glad to report, survived unscathed, although it was a close run thing for my underwear. Having overtaken two people and an old dog 5 minutes earlier, I wasn’t expecting a crashing through the undergrowth, a flash of brown fur running at me and a young dog to pop out onto the trail as I prepared to defend myself from: a sun bleached bear, a mountain lion, Sasquatch etc. Rubbing salt into the wound, he even had the temerity to look disappointed that I wasn’t something rather more interesting, before disappearing off and repeating the whole process again several minutes later. Not even a small recognition of how close he came to being brained by the handle of my trekking pole. Bloody ingrate.
Today, especially the morning, was actually really beautiful. Many NOBO hikers say that Oregon is boring and flat, with no views, but so far I am enjoying it. Mt Jefferson in the morning sun was particularly beautiful and a lovely introduction to the day. After 30km, a decent chunk of elevation, and unrelenting afternoon heat, I was very much counting the kilometres to camp by the end though.
Rockpile lake is the first water source for southbounders at the end of a 3-4 hour water carry, and conversely the last for northbounders, so it is a popular spot. The same folks as last night slowly drifted in, looking footsore and sun fried, minus Catnap who couldn’t make the distance and had to dry camp somewhere earlier. The SOBO group was joined by Green Man, a young, moustachiod man, so named because of his extensive knowledge of trees and lichens, a couple just out for a few days and approx 7 northbounders who turned up after dark in a line of headtorches like ducklings following their mother.
I am not honestly sure where they all fit, but as my bedtime becomes ever earlier following the dimming of the sun, I showed solidarity by appreciating even more the soft warmth of my quilt and trying to ignore the gentle throbbing of my feet and leg.
That blue sky looks hot. Even the dog looks hot. The countryside looks very dry and dusty.
So glad the dog came to no harm. The company sounds good. Pity it’s so hot.