PCT Day 15: Home for “halftime”

Date: Aug. 5 Location: Elk Lake, west of Mt. Bachelor on Cascade Lakes Highway Elev. 4,884 ft. Days hiked: 15 Days left on first segment: 0 Miles hiked today: 21 Miles hiked total: 259 Avg. Per day: 17.3 Percent of trip completed at end of Phase I: 56.9%.

Arrived at Elk Lake at 5.30 pm Friday, a day earlier than originally scheduled, to complete the first of two phases to walk the 459-mile Oregon portion of the Pacific Crest Trail.

I walked all but the last mile alone because I had blistered feet and left nearly an hour before hiking partner Glenn Petersen and a couple we teamed up with on the trail, Roadrunner and Cisco. It was an evocative hike as many of the dozens of lakes in the Mink Lake Basin were fished by my father — and a few by me and pals Jay Locey and John Woodman on a trip we took the week before Sally and I married in 1975.

At the rustic Elk Lake Lodge — very cool and unpretentious place — RR and Cisco bought dinner for all four of us, Sally and Glenn’s wife Ann having met us at the trailhead. Speaking of whom, a huge shoutout to the two of them for making four trips involving us and resupplies. And thanks, too, for reading the blog and for your prayers and encouragement.

Part II is Aug. 26-Sept. 9 — Elk Lake to Cascade Locks. I will write about Part I in a three-part Register-Guard series Aug. 21, 23 and 25. At this point, not sure if the blog will be here on my home site or something through the RG. Will let you know. Now, time to Mend some blisters.

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