August 10.
Had an early start for once. I planned to do 40 miles because of the shorter day yesterday and because the elevation gain was less than 4k for about 40 miles which meant if there was a day to try for 40, it would be today.
I planned to wake up at 4 and set off by 5 but of course I ignored my alarm and woke up at 5. I was able to pack up and get going by 6 though which I was proud of.
I hiked around the Sisters and got an amazing sunset. Even got a nobo to take my picture. The kid and pigeon caught up to me and passed me of course. The kid is of course faster than me but so pigeon apparently.
Made it to the creek I had planned to make it the day before which I really wish I had made it to. Not only because it would have made today easier but because it was such a beautiful area. Lots of big open meadows with amazing views of the Sisters.
Kept hiking and made it to a “volcanic meadow” as pigeon put it. It was a long open desert like area that you could see in the distance for miles. I was glad to be doing it early in the morning but even then it was so dry and exposed I had to go full nerd sun mode.
Got to Sisters Mirror Lake which unfortunately didn’t have a view of the sisters in the lake because of the haze that had started to settle in. Could barely see the sisters and I think they’re in the distance now so won’t be seeing them again. Had an early lunch there because there was a dry section (or so I thought) of about 11 miles I was going to try to make it though in one go.
Like 6 miles later there was a little creek that was listed as a tentsite on guthooks. There were a lot of day/weekend backpackers out since it’s Friday. One woman was talking about her hike being hard but being glad she was doing. I tried to give her some words of encouragement, something like it’s not bad that, you got this and she said see he thinks I can do it. Yep I do. Get it girl. But maybe get a shakedown.
Had second lunch at the creek with the kid and pigeon. Met three other nobos there, 2 girls and and older man. One girl was named cheezy puffs I think. Forgot the other 2.
Pigeon, the kid, and I took off into the lakes area. Holy shit there were so many lakes and ponds. I lost count after 5 but there were at least a dozen, definitely more including ones that weren’t listed on guthooks.
I hadn’t decided on whether or not to actually try for 40 or stop at 36 at stormy lake. Hiked for ages through all the lakes. The elevation gain and loss was not bad at all and it was all mostly forested and also it wasn’t 90 degrees so it was all so much. At the creek my legs definitely felt tired and sore but resting them there for a few minutes helped. After another 4 hours of hiking though they definitely felt beat up again. Might be time to get new shoes.
Made it to Stormy Lake where I had dinner with pigeon. The kid was nowhere to be seen. He had passed me earlier and also passed pigeon, using that 17 year old energy to go ham on the trail. Probably made it to Irish lake proper.
After stuffing my face with all my dinner (stroganoff with ramen and a complete cookie), I decided to do another 2 miles to the next lake (well two lakes down) so I said good night to pigeon and took off. He decided to say there and just hike longer to Shelter Cove tomorrow.
The hike to the next lake more of the same, lots of forests and ponds/lakes, mostly downhill. I made it to Brahma Lake and realized it was 2.2 miles to the Irish Lake tentsite but less than that to make it 40 miles for the day. So I said fuck it and kept going. The trail went downhill and it got dark quick.
My shitty headlamp isn’t that bright, especially when it’s that in between being light our and totally dark, right in the gloam time. So everything was mostly gray shadows and silhouettes. Hiking in that time was a little unnerving but exciting. It definitely made me hike faster. I covered the 4 miles in about an hour and fifteen minutes, a than 3mph pace.
I kept checking guthooks and halfmile, hoping to make it to the 40 mile mark soon. I finally hit it and kept walking for a few minutes, a little too jazzed about hiking 40 miles in one day. I made it to 40.1 miles, just shy of the north shore of Irish lake.
I found a little spot next to the trail and set up my tent since there were quite a few mosquitoes. finally set up all my stuff and wrote this out. Still a little wound up and excited but I’ll definitely be sore tomorrow.
I now only have to do 24 miles in to Shelter Cove tomorrow which is nice. Only 24 miles is a thing I say now, especially in Oregon. Wish it was a little shorter day, especially after this 40 mile day but I’ll take it.
Plants Outside 