Food - that has been my top priority today. I've eaten well and plan to spend the night at the Red Lion Inn. Enjoyed visiting with a friend, Patrick, from Indiana. We have known Pat since he was very young. He and his wife Kelly live and work in Bend. They had me over to their house for a great American meal. It was a happy evening catching up on old times.
Some not so good news today! The spring snows have not melted as quickly as anticipated. I am ahead of the bulk of northbound thru-hikers and it is not unusual to encounter snowpack at higher elevations. I've been told by the locals, that the PCT is impassable above 4,500 ft. elevation, literally from Elk Lake (mile 1,958.3) to Santiam Pass at 2,008 mile mark. And, McKenzie Pass is closed due to repair and road maintenance.
Thanks to Loyd, trail angel from Bend, OR. Loyd picked me up at Elk Lake, drove me into Bend today, the post office and has offered to pick me up in the morning and drive me to Highway 20 where I will hike north toward Mt. Hood. It is my plan to hike on the trail that is passable and then go back once the snowmelt diminishes, and hike the miles I had to skip. This section of Oregon is supposed to be a mountain wonderland. I don't want to miss any of it.
Shirley will be here on Saturday. I'm looking forward to seeing her. She will be driving from trailhead to trailhead to support and replenish my supplies. I've lost more weight - my medium size trail shorts are getting quite loose. I'm sure this is partly because of the mosquito vampires.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard
