Riding The Crest 2009

OREGON  Section D  Mt Thielsen

October 9 - October 10

Mt Thielsen at nearly 9000’ is cold with snow still on it from last week. The lower I got the patchier it got but there was plenty on the trail. Since it was only 10 miles to the Hwy 138 trailhead where our trailer is, Ech went with Cane and I for his first trail ride. (He did go on a brief one mile ride with William and I back in July at Bishop, CA.) Ech LOVED the snow. As he ran he kicked up snow or dirt. Cane and I endured it just to see his joy. The trail around the contour of Mt Thieslen was made more challenging by much of it having a snow drift. We just stayed to the high side. The views were great and I could see Diamond Lake’s boaters skimming across the blue. On the south side of the mountain we dipped back into a pine forest that gently sloped downhill and Cane made great time with Ech running ahead and then back again in excitement. (He was one tired puppy that night!) At the bottom was North Crater Trailhead where we were camping. The three of us had a wonderful day together and I dropped Ech off before starting Section C around Crater Lake.

OREGON  Section C Crater Lake

From Highway 138 the trail is level through mostly forest with a lot of deadfall. I crossed Hwy 138 and shortly came to the Crater Lake National Park PCTrail Register. I signed in, using the back of a page as many others had. For a short time I read the signatures of those who had come through recognizing many of the names. I was no longer seeing any hikers on the PCT. I was alone with my thoughts and memories. And Cane was helping me carry home better ones. There no obstacles on the trail that we could not step across. A few places were narrow with small pines growing into the trail. This is forest so there were no views. The trail was marked exceptionally well. I heard an animal partway through the ride and thought it was a bear but never saw it. I enjoy seeing the animals and their tracks. I feel that we are sharing the beauty of the forest. One of the tracks I saw was like a child’s bare foot with four toes and no claws. Another print was a print with just the ball of the foot and claws. I imagine many more eyes saw me than my eyes saw. About 5 ½ miles from Hwy 138 we went along the edge of Pumice Desert before climbing a bit onto a hill. There were some campsites here and grass on the north end but no water. Just as we were crossing the park road, West Rim Drive, Ralph was coming down it and pulled into the trailhead as Cane and I did. What timing! We loaded up and headed back to camp for a cup of hot tea, my afternoon enjoyment. Cane ate his bucket of feed and two flakes of hay. We ate cube steaks with mashed potatoes, onions and gravy and a salad. We called it an early night at 9:30 as I wanted to be in the saddle from the trailhead at 8am the next morning.

Saturday, October 10, 2009       Crater Lake North Trailhead to Hwy 62      22 miles   8:15a-3:27p     Last day on the Trail

Ralph just pulled to the side of West Rim Drive and let me out at the trailhead. After goodbyes I rode down the trail. There were prayer clothes on a line at the trail opening. I thought that very appropriate for my last day on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. The majority of the trail was level and sandy today. Another perfect day with blue skies and a great trail - a walk in the park! For the first and only time on the trail is really was a walk in the park. We walked through a pine forest with lots of wood on the ground and a lot across the trail. I never used the saw I carried as everything was passable. (Late in the day we encountered a large log high across the trail on a slope. The log ended at the outer edge of the trail but I could see many hikers went around it that way. After judging it, and since we were without packs, I decided to pass it the same way as it would have taken a couple of hours to cut through. Cane did it well.) At 9:45 we came to Red Cone Spring and its great campsites, great grass and some water. Because there had been rain and snow, the trail was clear of human tracks and covered in only recent animal tracks, lots of deer and elk. And I finally saw elk. Before I stopped for lunch I saw a large one leaving the trail to us. Then we came upon a lovely large meadow where they had bedded down and there was lots of scat. At 1pm I arrived at the Lightening Spring Trail junction and Cane got a drink. The birdsong at that spring was wonderful. We saw another elk (the most I saw on the trail). There was a burn on the left and a forest on the right. When we rode past a sign saying there was only .6 miles to Highway 62 I got to thinking this was my final moments on the Pacific Crest Trail. My thoughts immediately went to all that had transpired and the most momentous being my loss of Jur and Harmony. The tears readily started and flowed as I thought of them traveling with me so far and yet not being here at the end. They gave so much and so much was taken. Still if I were asked if I regretted the journey I could not say so. Jur and Harmony blessed me with being able to do this and gave me so many joys. But the memories still touch a raw hurt and I cried all the way to the road. We arrived at Hwy 62 at 3:27 with me drying my eyes. I waited for some cars to pass so I could cross. One more truck appeared but rather than pass me it slowed to a stop and the passenger rolled down her window to take my picture and thanked me before driving off. I sometimes thought I must be the most photographed person on the PCT this year! Now I thought, whoever she was, she had taken the last picture of Pepperoni on the PCT! And she appeared pleased to have gotten it. I hope she does not notice the tearstains. I hope she saw a rider who had challenged much and was blessed to live to tell about it. Ralph arrived about 8 minutes later and when he got out of the truck immediately noticed the track of tears. He hugged me hard as I wept uncontrollably in his arms. I wept for all I had gained and all I’d lost. 

NEXT:  Home Again!

So many trails - So little time!

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