Day 116,     30 miles

Gifford Pinchot National Forest

I’m feeling so good.  I feel strong and healthy.  I am really happy I’ve made it this far. The trail feels so easy.  I’m just gliding along with my earphones in, listening to my favourite tunes.

The forest opened up to a picnic area off a dirt road.  There was a car with it’s back hatch open.  I saw coolers….I saw a grill…could it be?…YES!  Trail Magic!   Señor Whiskers hiked the pct last year.  He has made lunch for us thru hikers coming by.  Salad, root beer, and chili dogs.  Thx Señor Whiskers.

All day long the trail went up.  Never ending hill.  False summit after false summit.  I liked it.  It’s a perfect, warm temperature.  There are sunny skies and a cool breeze.  The trail is clear of debris and there are no mosquitoes.  There is a view of Mount Adams in the distance to the north.  I’ll be there tomorrow.  I’m loving Washington.

The berries are out and ripe.  Huckleberries, blueberries, and blackberries.  I’ve tried them all.

I’ve ditched my water filter.  I am so over filtering.  It takes too much time.  I’m drinking straight from the streams.  I think I am immune to giardia.  I have a teeny eye dropper of bleach for pond or any other questionable water sources.  I have my new shoes since Sisters.  So much better to hike in shoes with tread and without huge holes.  I have a stove again.  My morale is better when I have hot meals at the end of the day and coffee in the morning.

This evening we hiked past pretty Blue Lake and we’re camped on a sandy, treed peninsula on Bear Lake.