Off the Trail

Here's the short version: I'm off the trail for this year.

Here's the longer version. While I was still enjoying myself, I found it harder and harder to make the miles I used to make, and need to make to stay on schedule. I was simply out of gas. Previously, I would be on the trail by 6 or 6:30, and by 10 I would have made 9 or 10 miles. Now I found I was making 5 miles in that time, and I wasn't enjoying myself. This happened day after day after day - simply out of gas.

Central Oregon had been a great break from the trail. I spent two days (two rainy days!) with Dory, and then a third rainy day with an old climbing pal. He dropped me off on the trail, I walked a day and a half past the Three Sisters (10,000' + volcanic peaks where I used to climb and explore) amongst absolutely beautiful scenery, and was picked up by another old friend who lives in the town of Sisters. Together he and I slack packed (hiked without packs) from McKenzie Pass to Santiam Pass, with both evenings spent at his very comfortable house. I got plenty of rest in Central Oregon.

After I started hiking North from Santiam Pass I had a hard time keeping going. Conditions were fine, the trail was nice, but I had no energy for hiking. By the time I got beyond Jefferson Park, I was thinking about bailing out. At Highway 26 I managed to sweet talk my way into a ride into Portland.

I'm not sure what or why this happened. I have lost more than 30 pounds, and while I was in great physical shape I'm pretty sure I am not in good nutritional shape. Maybe nutrition played a bigger role for me than I had expected.

Over the course of 3 months I had walked just over 1400 miles. Due to snow I skipped ( and want to return and complete) the high Sierras. I skipped the 220 miles from Old Station to Etna (Hat Creek Rim and the area around Shasta) when I left to attend a wedding. I hiked most of Oregon, only missing the final 60+ miles to Bridge of the Gods. And of course, I've missed all of Washington.

I like the idea of becoming a section hiker, and am looking forward to spending 3 or 4 weeks in the coming few  years doing these missing sections. In a way, it's like being able to continue my relationship with the trail and the trail community a bit longer.

Three Finger Jack from the south

wildflower and rotting tree

Camp in Jefferson Park

Mt Jefferson from above Jeff Park

Wildflower

Mt Hood

Hot - and cold, July 10

The last section I completed, with Kit, was hot, and as I resumed hiking solo it remained hot. As in 85-100 deg F. That kind of heat really sapped my energy, and it wasn't easier with big miles I needed to clock. 

I made plans to meet dad at Willamette Pass on July 8, not figuring until later that this entailed 183 miles in 8 days. So I had to make 3 days with 27+ miles per day. This really sapped my energy and I found myself wondering why I was killing myself out here.  After Crater Lake I slowed down to 20 mpd, and this was better, but it's been a rough patch of trail for Papa Razi!

In crater lake I saw two girls I remembered  from earlier. They didn't recognize me until I said my trail name. 'You know Papa Razi?' They asked. 'I AM Papa Razi' I responded, and they hadn't recognized me at all. 

On July 10 I made the 20 miles into Elk Lake in 8 hours in pouring rain. Not pleasant. I'm recuperating in bend for a few days with her and thinking "why don't I just go home now?" But I have more of Oregon I need to see so I'll keep soldiering on. 

Trail south of McLoughlan

My Theilson

Rosary lakes

My camp 

Coffee in Bend during rain storm