Monday, July 29
After five days, we finally escaped the camp vortex, hefting packs filled with a seven-day supply of food to meet the enu inspired by two legs of unmet hiker hunger, as well as water to get us through 14 miles to the next water source. HEAVY. Our ride to the trail fell through, so we had an extra 5 miles tacked on at the start (not until 12:15pm). The trail was dusty and sandy, the sun hot, the burn area offering little shade. BUT there were wide patches of huckleberry bushes and wild strawberries, which I gorged myself on (as much as you can gorge on tiny wild berries), then used a Bethani-phone-break to fill my 1 pint eating container for breakfast tomorrow. Yummy!The sand and heavy packs made for sore feet, so we took a scenic break just 5 hours in to make supper before moseying on – enchilada stew with peppers and onions, cheddar cheese (!), and tortillas. So gourmet!! But our packs still weighed a lot afterward. 🤷‍♀️
The early supper worked, similar to the half an almond for the Target Lady (research may be required to catch that reference). It also helps that we crossed out of the burn area into green forest, with regular vistas of the mountains behind us; Washington, Broken Top, North and Middle Sisters. We continued on our trend of daily mountain crushes – today’s eligible peak was Three Fingered Jack, which we spent the golden hour circling. 😍 We were hoping to press on to a pond water source before setting up camp, but the sun was sinking, and we liked the idea of keeping Jack in view for sunrise. 8:15 pm; our latest tent pitch yet!Tuesday, July 30
I woke up for the sunrise; WORTH IT, as always.After a gourmet breakfast of a cinnamon bagel with cream cheese and fresh mountain huckleberries (would highly recommend), we hit the trail by 8:00, hitting the pond for water by 10.My pack feels lighter today; Bethani’s does not. ‘Tis the strange status of the trail, as I did not drop more weight than she. Gravity is a tricky thing, and definitely most noticeable on uphills; this is unfortunate, because most water and food supplies are in valleys.
Lunch was fettuccine alfredo at the side of Rockpile Lake. We ascended Rockpile Mountain as I flirted with Mt Jefferson through glimpses in the trees, moving from our Mountain Crush Monday with Three Fingered Jack to our featured Tuesday peak. I smiled as I walked along with floating butterflies of white, yellow, blue, and orange, all flitting between large expanses of indigo lupine, red columbine, yellow arnica, magenta mountain paintbrush, and purple penstemon. If the scent of the flowers weren’t enough, the smell of blueberry muffins wafted up from the grouse whortleberries as well; a full sensory palate!
We paused at Shale Lake for some foot care, sad to note that mosquitoes had returned. Some curry for supper, then bedtime (and camera phone charging) in anticipation of Jefferson Park tomorrow!Wednesday, July 31
I saw the stars for the first time last night! Not because we haven’t had clear skies; just because we’re always in need when it’s dark. 😉
The first four miles of the day were a descent along long switchbacks, into the land of pipsissewa and rhododendron. We stopped at Milk Creek to cook an oatmeal brunch (the end of my huckleberry stash), then managed our first swiftwater creek crossing; thankful for strategically fallen logs! We began an uphill chug into another burn area, as well as a second swiftwater crossing via rock hopping at Russell Creek. We finally reached Jefferson Park around 2 pm, and my camera shutter barely paused for a breath. Wildflowers galore coating dozens of small, idyllic mountain meadows, all with the mighty Mt Jefferson as a backdrop.A handful of crystalline blue lakes also dotted this beautiful landscape, and we took a break to dip dusty get into one of them, vowing to return for an overnight someday.
The 1.5 miles through Jefferson Park took us nearly 3 hours to complete as we gawked our way through. Eventually, we meandered over multiple snowmelt creeks and up out of the Park, looking over our shoulder at majestic Jefferson (and stumbling over rocks as we did so). We scrambled over rocky trail up, up, up to the ridge, where we caught our first glimpse of Mt Hood – I may have squealed with delight. We enjoyed the 360 view with Jefferson looming large and close to the south, and Hood floating above a haze to the north.We picked our way carefully down the lava rock into a lovely forest sprinkled with tiny snowmelt ponds, working our way ever downward. The miles here stretched on foreverrrrr, as the shadows grew long and or stomachs grumbled. Finally, we found our tent site alongside a small lake at a little after 8pm. By the time we finished camp setup and supper, it was dark – first time for everything!