Stats

Start: Bend – Mile 2,000.9
End: Cascade Locks – Mile 2,147.6
Elevation Max: 5,937
Elevation Min: 331
Elevation Change: 28,978 up & down
Walking Time: 29 hrs 9 minutes
Date: 8/4/2022 – 8/9/2022

The Walk

Day 124 – Bend zero (Hitch to Ollallie to pass trail closure)
Day 125 – Ollalie Lake to Tentsite (2,046.6 – 2,058.5)
Day 126 – Tentsite to Little crater lake (2,058.5 – 2,083.1)
Day 127 – Little crater lake to tentsite (2,083.1 – 2,102.9)
Day 128 – Tentsite to lost creek (2,102.9 – 2,128)
Day 129 – Tentsite to Cascade Locks (2,128 – 2,147.6)

Only 150 miles of Oregon left! A 45 mile stretch of trail was closed north of Bend. Normally that would be an easy hitch. An hour or two max. But the trail wasn’t easily accessible. The 45 miles through the forest = a 6 hour roundabout car trip down logging roads!

But the trail provided. Devilfish who spends all season on trail helping hikers ran daily shuttles in his truck. We texted him a week before to line up a ride. He packed 5 hikers into his cab and another 3 in the truck bed and we left Bend on a 6 hour trip to Ollallie Lake.

I felt fortunate to meet Devilfish and thanked him for the trail saw I picked up at his water cache a few days ago. I’d already cleared 10 dead branches blocking the trail!

He got a kick out of my name and we played Baby Shark in Italian for the car to hear (It became a theme song for the rest of the hike).

The last 2 hours of the trip was on logging roads. I was in the front middle seat and could see all of the dips and holes in the road coming. Poor people who were riding in the truck bed! They had a bumpy ride.

Ollallie lake is clear and beautiful with Mt. Washington rising majestically to the south. Sadly the forest around was burnt. The burn happened a few years ago and is the reason for the trail closure.

I knew one day I’d be back to hike the closed section. I wanted to jump in the clear water, but swimming wasn’t allowed. The locals drink the lake water and don’t want people’s deodorant and sunscreen to pollute the crisp, clear lake.

I grabbed a few snacks from the tiny store and walked north.

I was relieved that all the fires were south of us. It felt nice to be walking without worrying about fires. A storm could start new fires any day. But we’re okay for now.

The next few days the stories about Oregon’s mosquitos became my reality. I hiked in long pants and long sleeve shirt every morning and evening. I even put on a raincoat everytime I stopped for a break or the bathroom. These mosquitos were relentless.

Swarms of 20 would follow me as I hiked and anytime I slowed down they would attack. One afternoon I was hiking in shorts and felt the mosquitos picking up. I didn’t feel like opening my backpack so I decided to wait a mile before I got my long pants out. And that was a mistake.

The whole mile was a mix of jogging and swatting my legs as I scurried down the trail. Eventually I got to a lake which I thought would have a great view for a break. But it didn’t have a view. Only thousands more mosquitos. It was the thickest swarm I’ve seen.

I dropped my pack and ran around in circles. Literally hundreds of mosquitos swarmed my backpack. I did a few passes to unbuckle the top, then grab my pants out. I hopped around and slid my pants on then grabbed my backpack and started running.

A few hours later I checked the backs of my legs. My skin was bubble wrap. Luckily only 1 out of every 20 bites itched. No idea why.

I packed my mosquito gear is an easier to reach place the rest of Oregon! I enjoyed the rest of Oregon and the easy terrain.

Walking into Cascade Locks felt surreal. Another state down. I’m so excited to get back into the mountains! Oregon was cool, but being one step closer to Canada feels great! I’ll stay a night in Cascade Locks then head out tomorrow to start the last state! Washington is supposed to be the hardest section and my body is tired.

Day 124 – 127

Day 128 – 129