150 Homes, Part 10: Oregon!

Miles 1715 to 2144

Our flip-flop of California concluded, we drove a rental car from Lone Pine up to Ashland to continue our trek North. Oregon is in a sad state this year: much of the trail was on fire when we got there, and more would close behind us. We ended up skipping over 100 miles of this beautiful state, and the majority of our time was spend wading through thick smoke.

Our camp sites were usually deep in the woods. Oregon is known as the “green tunnel” of the PCT; conifers and lakes make up most of the scenery. Some excellent town stops (Bend, Portland) ensured that the repetitive forests didn’t become annoying.

View this post on Instagram

Night 125, mile 1715.2: Just a murder tunnel, nothing to see here. This tunnel runs right by Callahan's Lodge, where we spent the night on the lawn after arriving at 12:30am, having driven for 10 hours from Lone Pine. Cal snuck around the back and stole water from a hose because he had no idea about the dedicated hiker bathroom 50 feet from the tent. #pctclassof2017 #pct2017 #150homes

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on Aug 31, 2017 at 3:36pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Night 126, mile 1725.6: A sweet little camp spot on our first night out of Ashland. Arry and Cal were hiking with Badass and Leeloo, the others either being ahead or behind. Water is scarce again, so we set up in a pretty meadow next to a small seeping spring. Our brand new Platypus Gravityworks filtered four liters in a matter of seconds. This means a lot when you have to filter every drop of water you drink or cook with. #pct2017 #pctclassof2017 #150homes

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on Aug 31, 2017 at 3:39pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Night 127, mile 1748.6: We found a hidden spot in the trees by a dirt road servicing a weird little aqueduct. The water was an odd blue colour, and we had been warned off drinking it due to unspecified chemicals. Luckily there was a stream nearby. We made friends with a father-and-son team who were hiking the next 60 miles. He was an ex cop, and his son was a salesman. They told us about a hidden cache of beer up ahead, so that kept up our motivation the next day. #pct2017 #pctclassof2017 #150homes

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on Aug 31, 2017 at 3:43pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Night 128, mile 1771.3: After being given free cans of IPA by father-and-son section hikers, we got sleepy and decided on a short day (a mere 23 miles). We set up next to a river and found an empty can of Budweiser Chelada which someone had apparently managed to drink without vomiting it up again. Why does that drink exist. #pctclassof2017 #pct2017 #150homes

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on Aug 31, 2017 at 3:51pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Night 129, mile 1796.7: The smoke turns the sun a deep red in the evening, which does make for some beautiful sunsets. This well-groomed camp site came at the end of a surprisingly difficult climb; Oregon is known for its welcome flatness, so this 1500-foot ascent felt like a betrayal. A little stream ran behind our tents, and the dew fell heavy during the night. #pct2017#pctclassof2017 #150homes

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on Aug 31, 2017 at 4:07pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Night 130, mile 1818.4: The Mazama campground is a major camping spot for Crater Lake. We hitched there at lunchtime and took a much-needed nero. The store sold all-local beers, so we treated our hitch hosts to some frosty brews before sorting out our food and laundry. Cal had come down with a cold, the first on trail, so he crawled into bed early. #150homes #pctclassof2017 #pct2017

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on Aug 31, 2017 at 4:10pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Night 131, mile 1836.7: Ten miles after Crater Lake, we stopped at a large tent site with many firepits. The gang is currently split in two, with Rescue Bird, Woodstock and Mayor a day ahead. The rest of us tented here along with a guy in a camouflaged tent, because that's definitely helpful when you get up for a piss at 2am. #pctclassof2017 #pct2017 #150homes

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on Aug 31, 2017 at 4:14pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Night 132, mile 1863.4: Maidu Lake was almost a mile off trail, but it was the only water for several miles in both directions. We shared our tent site with hundreds of tiny frogs. Cal tried to swim and failed, since the whole lake seemed to be about six inches deep. #pctclassof2017 #pct2017 #150homes

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on Aug 31, 2017 at 4:17pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Night 133, mile 1888.2: We did a 25-mile day and ended up at the beautiful Summit Lake, where we enjoyed a well-deserved swim. We're making the most of these balmy days and warm lakes while we have them. #pct2017 #pctclassof2017

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on Aug 31, 2017 at 4:21pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Night 134, Mile 1909: This was a hidden campsite on the far side of Middle Rosary Lake, discovered thanks to a clue someone left on Guthook. You can't see the site from the trail, or from the main (also beautiful) tent site adjacent to it. Arry had a cold and skipped a couple of days, so Cal set up here, taking a little skinny dip before bed. All was peaceful until a bear started sniffing around the tent after midnight. A hidden campsite can make you feel very alone. Luckily the bear lost interest and snuffled off. #pctclassof2017 #pct2017 #150homes

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on Sep 1, 2017 at 9:32am PDT

View this post on Instagram

Night 135, mile 1950.1: The Longest Day, Part 4. Cal finally made it to Elk Lake Lodge at 9:30pm, only to discover that the evacuation had been downgraded and no one was going anywhere. Still, the trail had now been closed behind him, so the 42-mile hike was worth it. #pctclassof2017 #pct2017 #150homes

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on Sep 1, 2017 at 10:00am PDT

View this post on Instagram

Nights 136 and 137, mile 1981.2: The billboard outside our Bend motel. It's really thoughtful of ClearAlliance to inform weed dealers of potential untapped markets. #pctclassof2017 #pct2017 #150homes

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on Sep 1, 2017 at 10:07am PDT

View this post on Instagram

Night 138, mile 2094.4: Our tent site just behind the Timberline Lodge, which served as the exterior of the Overlook Hotel in The Shining. There was a little grove of trees in which all the hikers clustered, venturing into the hotel for evening beers and a truly stunning breakfast buffet. #150homes #pct2017 #pctclassof2017

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on Sep 6, 2017 at 10:10am PDT

View this post on Instagram

Night 139, mile 2111.7: Camping at Lolo Pass, an intersection of weirdly busy gravel roads. There was very little water in this section, so Cal hiked a mile to fill the bladder while Arry made friends with a lovely German / American family. Their precocious 8-year-old daughter helped us to set up our new tent, and she did a pretty decent job. Not perfect: a solid 7 out of 10. #pct2017 #pctclassof2017 #150homes

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on Sep 6, 2017 at 10:24am PDT

View this post on Instagram

Night 140, mile 2111.7 (but really Portland): We hiked 6 miles out of Lolo Pass and then 6 miles right back into it as the trail in front of us burst into flames. We all hitched into Portland and stayed with a very accommodating friend of Dad Jokes until we figured out what to do. We tented in the back garden, kept awake by the incredible city noise. #150homes #pctclassof2017 #pct2017

A post shared by Betty And Tim Cameron (@bettytimhikes) on Sep 6, 2017 at 10:27am PDT

Advertisement