Miles Hiked 263.3
PCT Mile 505.5
Elevation 77 feet
Miles Hiked Today 12.8
I found hell. It’s like this. Hell is a trail going up and down and strewn with loose rocks and stones. That trail is the last ten miles to Bridge of the Gods and Cascade Locks, Oregon. Coupled with the two previous days of steep 2,000 foot plus elevation gains and that’s my hell.
After the blown down tree climbing and frequent 3,000 to 4,000 foot elevation gains of the northern Cascade mountains, Washington could not resist turning the screw one last time before leaving.
So, I contemplated what I thought would be an easy day as I packed up my campsite late. I was off a little after 8:00. The trail was easy at the beginning but then it went down hill (and uphill) after that. Numerous skree fields and just plain stone and rock strewn trail persisted into Cascade Locks. My feet were twisting, turning and rolling. My right foot was not happy.
The only highlight of the day was a large patch of wild raspberries. Just about every hiker on the trail (all of whom had passed me) were there eating away. I joined them for a bit.
Finally, my hell was ending as I approached The Bridge of the Gods. If you saw Cheryl Strayed’s movie, Wild, it was featured at the end. The bridge crossed over into Oregon. Goodbye Washington.
I have reservations at a hotel where I’ll stay a couple of days and try to recuperate before continuing south.
