Back on track

Day 106, Mile 1882.9---After 6 miles on the side trail we hit the PCT this morning at mile 1864.0. We had discussed alternative routes in the morning as we packed up which included renting horses, or trying to still get to the hot springs. I decided i just wanted to get on the PCT and go north as usual. The terrain was fairly flat today with some moderate climbs here and there. We crossed the high point of the Oregon/Washington section today at a whopping 7,560 ft. It was a saddle surrounded by trees with no view at all. Figuratively speaking i would not call it a "high point". One interesting thing about that area was that there were a ton of monarch butterflies going southbound. We had seen a similar vein of monarchs coming past the crater rim at one point. Must be some sort of migratory channel. There were two water sources the entire day. The first was a creek; flowing well, with nice cold water. The second was a fairly stagnant pond with warm milky tasting water. There was also a ton of mosquitoes at the pond. As i pumped away with my filter sucking up the water, they attacked, sucking up my blood. I pumped faster and then i thought all this vigorous movement is just increasing my blood pressure and probably making it easier for them. I only got about a liter before i couldn't take it anymore. Turns out the water tastes terrible anyway and there is only a few more miles in the morning to better water, so no prob. One last interesting thing today was these tiny huckleberry-like plants. They put an aroma in the air that smelled like rainbow sherbet, amazingly good. It made me want a sherbet float of some sort. Working out my schedule to get to Cascade Locks on the night of the 28th. I think i might try and take a zero in Bend. We saw only 3 other people all day. One section hiker at the nasty water source, and then two true southbounders at camp. The southbounders said there are some good sushi places in Bend. Since i missed that in Ashland, and i need to take at least one zero to make the 28th, it sounds like a plan. Wow, just saw a shooting star. I am going to lay here and wait for another one and fall asleep in the process. Thought of the day; be conscious of your energy use, no not the green movement, i mean your actual energy that you produce and use. Song of the day; All my life by KC and JoJo - i was relaying the story to Icebag of how Lucy and i danced to that after i requested it from the DJ in 8th grade and i thought i was so cool for doing that, wow baaaack in the day. Craving of the day; the ice cream i had at the Heitmans that i churned myself, and all types of quality and not so quality Chinese food.

JWC on the PCT