hitchiking the PCT

Hitchiking the PCT
On a dark and stormy morning we awoke at the base camp of crater lake. A 5 mi hike loomed before us if we wanted to see the natural wonder and the glassy water above. Our feet were winning us accolades among the through hiking community as our blisters were among the worst they had ever seen (gaping chunks of flesh were falling off our heels). We did not have it in us to shove our feet into our ill fitting hiking boots (I later found out that mine were 2.5 sizes too small...ouch!) So we decided to try our hand at hitchiking, which we have never done before just to set the record straight. Clad in flip flops we timidly stuck our thumbs out right before the ranger station. The first car pulled over immediately, and two kind airline pilots hopped out to lug our packs into their car. We gave them trail names on the way up: white gorilla and Air Force one (aka Ian and Casey). They were best friends from 7th grade and were out for an adventure after their flight to Japan was canceled. They had rented a car and driven to the redwoods and just happened to be headed to crater lake. They dropped us off at the top and I got their number in case we needed a ride elsewhere, although AT&T has no service in Oregon apparently. After attempting acro-yoga and taking fake chirstmas card photos we parted ways and just as the clouds let loose and the rain poured down. We sought shelter in the grand hotel, which was in stark contrast to our huge pack and grungy hiking clothes. Irish coffees boosted our mood instantly :) Due to unforeseen events and the kindness of 2 strangers giving us their empty room we decided to detour and stay the night at diamond lake, which we then had to figure out a way to reach our end destination (as we were in so much pain we could barely walk). As luck would have it Kylie's phone had roaming so we called our friendly airline pilots who 'had just left'. I said we were miserable as the rain had turned to snow and would it be possible for them to drive us anywhere north (apparently they got a kick out of that). An hour later they pulled up after apparently being lost, finding us on the side of the highway. We got to diamond lake, using airplane terminology to direct them and bought them dinner in an attempt to repay the kindness they showed us. They told us tales of all their failed hiking adventures, hang gliding, sailing, fishing and many other sports they have picked up. Apparently these guys were up for about anything. They saved the day for us. Thank you two so much, I hope you read this and contact us if you are ever in the Bay Area! And remember: bring water!

Fire! Oh no! We have just found out that the pct is closed for combined 80 miles , just above where we are! We are going to try to hike to big lake youth camp, pick up our resupply boxes and then-- who knows! Many of the hikers are hitchhiking to bend, then to timberline mountain lodge.

If so, that cuts about 6 days from our trip. We r bummed, and hoping that the trail will open up. We of course have no cell service. We will let u know.

Snow! 7/19 Today was probably the most beautiful day yet--hiking past the 3 sisters mountains, which were stunning in all their rocky, snowy beauty. It was like waking through enchanted forests, lush and woody, with brilliant sparking springs and creeks. We didn't even have to purify our water, as it came straight out of the mountain in places.

But today was also a day of crossing more snowfields than we could count. At first, we were a bit tentative, but soon we swerved and slided, trying to stay vertical with the help of our poles. But it was slow going, and tiring-- we made It only 15 miles and are now ready to conk out in our tent.... Beautiful sunset, beautiful day. And a hiker tan!

A new low! Apparently setting the bar at cheryl strayed ( wild)'s low level was not low enough for us. Somebody ( me) managed to forget...... Their boots in Eugene. How is this even possible? Probably the single most important item we could own. Sigh. We can only aspire to be like you, cheryl strayed.

The kindness of strangers We are continually humbled by the unexpected kindness of people we have met along the way. For examples:
1. The Hoffman's at shelter cove--Alex met us at the trail, Jeremy guided us to our campsite, this great family of hikers runners skiers and soccer studs gave us fruit, encouragement, great stories and a ride back to the trail.
2. The family we met at bj's restaurant who offered to drive is 1 1/2 hours back to the trail.
3. The lady who brought us quarters for each of us to take a shower, and another kind stranger who gave us shampoo
4. The united pilots who deserve and will get a page of their own
and Debby and Herb Moussa who helped us find the trail near Diamond Lake.
5 all the nice people at rei!
6 Everyone who has supported and sent us nice comments and encouragement along the way. Thank youuuuuuuu everyone!

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Bye to our blister sister 7/18-- Friday Today we continue with one less sister with blisters. Kylie had to leave us to go back to the Bay Area, so wednesday we hitchhiked 1 1/2 hours to Eugene Oregon, with an adventuresome kayaker coincidentally also named Eugene, who was on his way there to pick up action figures at toys r us:! He left us at a bj's restaurant, where we ordered salads ( veggie deprived), then we got a taxi to tour us around the u of o campus.

We got a welcome call from Tara my "niece") who kindly took us to her home,where we got to see Ryan, Ro and theo before we sadly dropped kylie off at the shuttle. (yes, tears were shed by all. We will miss her so much. Tara fixed us up with miracle salves for our blisters, and Ryan and Mikey(resident hiking experts!) helped us lighten our packs. We realized we needed the respite and Tara's wonderful care! Connor and I were so exhausted we could barely get a sentence out-- we crashed at midnight, slept till 9, then took a nap till 2pm. We didn't realize how tired we were.

We discovered that being in civilization is a hugggggge transition. So strange after the solitude and simplicity of the wilderness. As hard as the hike is , physically and mentally, it is truly an enlightening experience on the trail.:) So, back to it with renewed excitement!

We will misss our sister kylie:(((( And a huge thank you to Ian's friends bob and Kyle who kindly gave connor and I a ride back to the trail.

growth

We have grown so much! On our first day we almost died after a 9mi hike and now we are confident in our ability to hike 22mi and properly plan where & when to break, filter the right amount of water, and cross reference our maps. We now have individual and extremely varied philosophies about blister treatment and time/mileage updates. We can ration cliff bars and energy chews like champs. We can properly lace our shoes and have intelligent 40min conversations about socks and shoe fit. I can now close my pocket knife after opening it to get rid of unneeded grams of packaging. We can hike through the pain of blisters, corndog toes, sprained ankles and frozen IT bands, DEET in eyes, my 50 thousand mosquito bites, redneck sunburns, mud, rain, snow, bruised hips and collarbones, and missing toenails. And most impressively surviving the stench of our socks trapped in a tent overnight. We are so hardcore...... sometimes. Xoxox Kyliente