PCT 2022| OREGON | DAYS 1-8 Ashland to DEVILS PEAK mm 1798.4 … and back to fish lake
Much like the last many posts, I did not end up writing anything down in the moment. To be honest, I started this section in a sour mood (for reasons that will be left unwritten). I was eager to get back on the trail after a month and a half off, but I was ahead of the NOBO bubble. The most hikers I saw in a day was maybe six. That is until I turned around on day 7. Nothing usually goes as planned on a long-distance hike. When I started this hike, I was expecting a journey similar to my JMT hikes. It didn’t end up being the experience I dreamt about. It took me ending my hike after 500+ miles to realize that.
To be honest…I don’t remember much of anything from this section. Day 1, I pushed miles until I reached the Hyatt Lake Campground, hoping to find people. I saw four people on Day 1 (aside from a few day hikers). I had been off trail for over a month, and yet I hiked my biggest day on trail. Ever, actually. I camped with a few other hikers (thru-hikers and a section hikers). The next day we road walked to the Hyatt Restaurant for breakfast and then I hiked another short 7.7 miles to an empty Klum Campground. I was joined by one other hiker at sunset. I slowly made my way to Fish Lake, seeing 1-2 other hikers each day. Spirits were lifted on Day 3 with trail magic BBQ. Then off to Fish Lake for a 4th of July Zero!
DAY 5: 4th of JULY ZERO DAY IN FISH LAKE
Miles Hiked: 0
DAY 6: FISH LAKE TO 1789.4
Miles Hiked: 16.0 miles
DAY 7: 1789.4 TO DEVILS PEAK (1798.4) TO 1792.0
Miles Hiked: 15.4 miles
DAY 8: MM1792.0 TO FISH LAKE
Miles Hiked: 18.6 miles
DAY 1: ASHLAND TO HYATT LAKE
Miles Hiked: 23.5 miles
DAY 2: HYATT LAKE TO KLUM CAMPGROUND
Miles Hiked: 10.5 miles
DAY 3: KLUM CAMPGROUND TO MM1767.2
Miles Hiked: 16.8 miles
DAY 4: MM1767.2 TO FISH LAKE
Miles Hiked: 7.9 miles
After Fish Lake, I was introduced to Oregon MOSQUITOS! By far the worst I have experience on trail. Covered in DEET (because it is the only thing that slightly helps), rain gear, and a headnet, I kept a steady pace in hope of avoiding being eaten alive. The moment I stopped: the feast began. Up and down, the miles were easy with little climbing aside from downed trees. As soon as I got to camp, I jumped in my tent. Eating a few snacks before calling it a night. I wanted to eat dinner, not be dinner. No cooked food tonight. The next morning, I left camp early to try and make it to Devil’s Peak as early as possible. The snow was supposed to start just before here.
Little did I know…
…this was going to be the end of my hike for the year. It was almost a SOS call.
The snow leading up to this descent was no problem. It was mostly flat and easy to traverse with spikes. Then I got to the top of the slide. I had never glissaded before. I planned to take a snow course when I was on a travel assignment a few hours from Mt Hood, but my schedule didn’t work with the courses. Aside from SOBO section hikers, I had only seen two other hikers that day. One I passed while she was on a break. The other, I assumed was ahead of me (it tuns out he took a wrong trail at a fork and was behind me). The group of SOBO section hikers I saw a few miles back had suggested using their steps to work my way down if I did not want to glissade. It wasn’t until I was standing at the top of the descent that I realized…I’m not really a fan of heights when snow is involved.
(the rest of this post is from “Failing the Pacific Crest Trail“)
Then: injury. It was nearing noon when I reached the top of Devil’s Peak. I’ve never glissaded before and I had only seen two other NOBO hikers today. My plan was to use the path of the people that had just hiked up. This ended up being a bad plan. The snow was too soft. I was forced to my butt after two steps. I try scooting on my butt. Nope. I started sliding. Then my right foot slips, pulling my knee and ankle behind my body. I hear a loud POP in my right leg, as if something had snapped or was out of the socket. I stopped myself on some rocks to my right, then slowly climbed the 30-40 feet back to the top.
This hike was over. I narrowly escaped having to press my SOS, still able to bare weight and make it back to Fish Lake.
Getting off trail this time was not as easy.
I tried to tell myself that I was okay with the decision.
I tried to brush off being told I failed, quit, bombed out…I had been planning this for so long.
I know that.
I thought I was okay with it. “I’ll just hike in sections; I like it better that way.” “I can hike more next year.” “I hiked more this year than I ever have.”
But here I am a month later. I regret quitting back in May every single day. Hikers are finishing their hikes. The people I started with on day 1 are in Oregon and maneuvering around the McKinney Fire and other closures. I find myself thinking: “this is probably where I would be if I had kept hiking.”
This is where I should be. Yes, I am happy with what I have accomplished this year. I hiked 500 miles.
…but I also have that thought that keeps coming back and back and back. This is where I should be.
I may have failed this year, but I need to try again.