ONLY 506 MILES TO GO - Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008

Shirley dropped me off this morning at the trailhead
to the left of this bridge. I am day hiking with snacks
water and gatorade. Will meet up with her in 30 miles.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard

DAY 101, Weds.,Aug 6., 31.7 miles: TOTAL 2155.1

GOODBYE OREGON - HELLO WASHINGTON - ONLY 508.4 MILES TO GO!

Started out this morning from Lolo Pass 18 miles north of Mt. Hood. Coordinates: 45 deg 25'592" N, 121 deg 47'744" W.

Hiked all day with a light daypack (thanks to the car support from my sweet wife). I'm meeting her at the Bridge of the Gods on the Washington side of the Columbia River. The route that I am taking is on the Eagle Creek Trail (the same number of miles of the PCT) but it is a famous hike through the Columbia Gorge area and I am excited about the upcoming views.

And what views! The Eagle Creek trail is one beautiful hike. The trail winds down to Indian Springs fork of the creek and traverses up and around Tunnel Falls - a 150 foot drop (photo #2) into the pool below. I walked through a tunnel BEHIND (photo #3) the falls - the tunnel was blasted out to make way for the trail. Then there is a bridge over Eagle Creek to an overlook and Punch Bowl Falls. This was worth taking the altenate route.

Photo # 4: I'm walking over the Bridge of the Gods, between Oregon and Washington, over the Columbia River. Canada - here I come.

Keep hiking,

Greybeard

DAY 100: Tues., Aug. 5: 20.7 mi. Making up lost miles.

Today marks my 100th day of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Yesterday and today I hiked through the Three Sisters Wilderness to catch up on the 50 miles I skipped because of deep, impassable snow. The hike has been just beautiful through the volcanic range named after the three volcanic mountains, the North, Middle and South Sisters. Each one is over 10,000 ft elevation. The trail winds around the base and climbs up in areas that afford a spectacular view of the trail ahead of me. I am glad I came back to hike through this area.

I just passed through a section covered with Obsidian rocks. This is the result of lava that cools very quickly on the surface. It is actually glass and is very sharp. In fact, one of the hikers I talked with just leaned against one of the huge rock formations and cut his hand. It is a good thing that the trail has been built through this area - no one could walk on this for very long.

I only have 30 miles left of hiking in Oregon. Shirley and I will drive north to Lolo Pass today and camp out at the trailhead so I can get an early start day hiking from Lolo Pass to the Oregon / Washington state line. Here are the coordinates where I am camping tonight: 44 deg.10'747" N, 121 deg.49'.045" W.

Keep hiking,

Greybeard