Just lookin’ for an excuse…
I called the Grand Wilhelmina Lodge to see if they had any rooms available. Nothing. Nevertheless, I was going to head for the lodge anyway and get breakfast.
Here I am at the State Line shelter. It was a goal I set this morning and I arrived while it was still light out.
I made it to the Pashubbe Shelter. That was the goal that I set yesterday, but wasn’t very optimistic that I would make it due to the condition of the trail.
Here I am at Holson Valley Shelter. This was not the plan for the day.
Today I’m heading for Fort Smith Arkansas and finally the Ouachita Trail. I have wanted to try out this trail for sometime.
The Ouachita Trail is a 223-mile National Recreation Trail that runs through the Ouachita Mountains of Oklahoma and Arkansas.
My Washington hike was over, and mentally, I was ready for the over 400 miles hike through Oregon. In fact, I was anxiously looking forward to it.
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.
I had mistakenly tied my right shoe too tight to help traverse descending trails. Now that bad decision was coming back to haunt me and add to foot problems.
Some northbound hikers told Halloween and me about an alternate route for the PCT. We both decided to go ahead and try it.