Days Four and Five

7.9.25 - I'm writing this from the comfort of my own kitchen table, having been driven home by trail angel Janet last night after we arrived in Sisters, OR. Oh my goodness what a different experience it was walking on the 242 rather than the 126!! But I'll get to that... first, I want to brag on the Super Duo, who walked 28.5 miles on day three and came into camp looking tired but so very happy.

Cheersing with "stranger beer" - a gift from a trail angel along the way!

That about summarizes how I have felt at the end of each day of walking: tired and happy.

Day four, we decided to get up even earlier in order to take advantage of the cool morning hours, so it was up at 4:30AM, and on the trail by 6:00AM. We were ferried by Libby and Matthew to the starting point - the junction of 126 and 242 - and our day began with a gentle uphill climb through the cool of the shade provided by the tree-cover and the early morning light, sun low in the sky. As we do each morning, we reminded eachother of the Way We Walk, and then we set out. Posted near the bottom of the 242 was a sign that directed bikers and pedestrians to stay to the right of the middle line on the old highway, and I felt enormously reassured by this obvious precedent - we are not the only ones who have walked this way! We are just another group of pilgrims on the path.

We walked in quiet contemplation for the first hour, and this time, I was contemplating how lucky I feel to be a part of this thing that is so much bigger than all of us. Part of the movement of the planet. Part of the creation of a way forward.

Bob in the green.

Only a thousand more to go!

This walk was delicious - so many sights and sounds to delight in: birds singing, butterflies winging their way from flower to flower, the steady tread of our foot-soles touching earth. I was delighted by the fact that by lunch, we'd averaged 3.5mph, a pace that felt impossible to me the day before, but today felt easy - having friends around you truly makes the difference. We did 10 by 10 (ten miles by 10 o'clock in the morning). Laughter and conversation came easily... one of the best things about moving at human speed is the way connection comes so naturally. Day four was my favorite.

Esther attempting to use the satellite phone to contact our driver... it worked! (Eventually!)

We made it to Scott Lake campground in the early afternoon, after walking 18 miles or so, and Esther and I immediately jumped into the lake to cool off. The water was cool and refreshing (with a silty bottom that she was less happy about, lol!) We were able to set up camp at a leisurely pace, get food for ourselves at a leisurely pace, and divvy up the next morning's tasks at a leisurely pace... you get the picture - it felt spacious and good!

Esther had only ever set her tent up once before, so this was a new-ish experience, and in fact, Bob had only ever set up his sleeping tarp once before, as well. They both managed just great - and it was pretty fun to witness. I can't say I didn't laugh, but hopefully they felt it was with them, not at them! Lol! I brought my husband's old backpacking tent for the journey, and since I've used it dozens of times, it wasn't much of an issue to set up - my main question was how to angle it so that I got a view of the lake and the stars once I was zipped up inside for the night. Also, as I am typing this, I'm recalling that the wind did pick it up at one point before I'd had a chance to stake it down, and I almost had myself a spot out ON the lake, which was also pretty dang funny to witness. We all had our issues! Lol!

After tent mayhem, it was just getting down to the business of resting well, and then the next moring, up again at 4:30 and on the trail by 6:00...

On day five, we started out being plagued by mosquitos, Even with our early start, the mosquitos were up and ready for their breakfast! And as the miles dropped away, we moved into the radiant heat from the lava fields. The landscape was stunning, and striking, too, in comparison to the verdant green of the forest we'd just left. We also walked through more burn areas - so many places where fire has ravaged these places that were once growing and green. We saw wildflowers and baby pines and spruce beginning to poke their heads through the ashes, which was reassuring, but wildflowers and baby trees don't provide much shade or oxygen, and the difference between the forested lands and those stretches impacted by burn was significant. Day five was 22.5 miles. We had a bit more of a climb to go before coming to the observatory, a project headed up by the CCC back in the 1930's, and a beautiful structure built of lava rock by able hands, and then heading back down the other side of the Cascades.

Mt. Washington as seen through the observatory window.

Bob with his makeshift mosquito switch at the junction of Hwy 242 and the Pacific Coast Trail (he's hiked it, too!)

By the time we reached the summit and started to come down the back side, the ecosystem changed again, and we saw more and more Ponderosa Pine, and more and more chipmunks chirped at us as we passed by. 22.5 miles is a big stretch of ground to cover when you're on foot, and we were so very grateful for Robin and Dave, who organized housing for us in Sisters. They offered us a shower almost as soon as we walked through their door, a gift to us, for sure, but probably also to them! I don't imagine we smelled too good! Lol!

We had sparkling water, fresh delicious snacks, and there was the promise of burgers for the team as I packed up and bid everyone adieu. My trail angel, Janet, gave me a ride home, and every place we passed by now had a memory for me - it was such a sweet and surreal experience to move through that same landscape in the space of two hours that we had covered by foot over the last five days. I cannot tell you how many people we were able to meet as a result of just walking - Zach and Shania and Shady and Carol and Ken and Tiffany and Angie and Nancy and Karen and Kim and Beth and... the list, of course, goes on and on, there are too many wonderful people we've met along the way for me to name them all... and we have only just begun.

There have, of course, been some tough things that have come up for each of us along the way... but isn't that part of community too? We are doing this thing, my friends, and I cannot wait to get back out on the trail, but that's it for me in terms of first-hand accounts, at least for the next week and a half or so. In the meantime, I will try to keep you posted as best I can from afar, and hopefully you are signed up for the newsletter where you can hear from Esther. If you're not, scroll to the bottom of the page and hit that subscribe button!

Ultreya!

❤️

Kate.