Start – Cascade Locks (50 m)
Finish – Wahtum Lake (1200 m)
Daily Distance – ?
Ascent – ?
Descent – ?
A shortish day today, in order to warm the legs up again and tick off the big climb back to altitude from Cascade Locks.
The day began with goodbyes to Longhorn (a curmudgeonly, mid 40s englishman with an injured ankle as the result of occasional lymes disease symptoms) and Dream Crusher (a cheery, oriental looking chap who was actually from California). They have been my neighbours and good company throughout the previous days.
After several days of rest and food, the walking felt easy. By mid-morning, I caught up with Art, who had left a little earlier than me, so the rest of the day we walked at a greater or lesser distance depending on pace and faffing (e.g. changing into trousers for fear of the poison oak bushes).
This afternoon/evening has been devoted to washing clothes and selves in Wahtum Lake, where we are camping. It feels lovely to be (semi) clean again after my failures to secure a shower during the previous days. Unfortunately, the sun dips below the horizon ever earlier, so the washed clothes will have to continue drying tomorrow. I haven’t ever worked out a great spot to hang drying washing on my rucksack, but will do my best.
Clean again. A bit of hiking company must make the miles slip by quicker.
Some interesting trail names here. It would be interesting to know how everyone comes by their name.
Well done for managing to freshen up but I suppose the water was very cold. Nice when it’s over!