I made it to Washington State!! And what an adventure crossing over the Bridge of the Gods' bridge!! What was supposed to be a half a day finality for the PCT hike...took 10 hours with all the photos.  A perfect ending.

 On the Way to Mt. Hood September 11, 2014

Mt. Hood is over 11,000 ft high

 Doing fine in Oregon and avoiding the fire zones.  Bill & Betty are back on the trail with me.  58 miles south of Mt. Hood.  Enjoying it all.  No rain but good chilly weather.

Heading to Warm Springs to make camp.  Temps in the 20's this morning. Now in the 40's and clear and windy.

This CA state park is home to the Burney Falls and near the trail so it was a good resupply option.  Hearing the Falls and being in the mist was most refreshing! The Falls appear to be seeping out of the cliffs and coming over the top.

These 130 feet high Falls are quite unique and known as California's "most voluminous waterfall" for eight month of the year. (Vernal and Nevada falls - in Yosemite are the rivals the other four months.)

This is what the Iniguez family uses to haul their camping gear. Of course it was the mustache that got my attention first! Leave it to a creative General Contractor from Benicia California to have made such a classy rig!

 Victor and Rachelle with their delightful daughters; Amber(white shirt) and Meadow. Many thanks for all your kindness! I so very much enjoyed getting to know you and hope we stay in touch. You are an inspiring family!

 

 Lake Britton Dam

The sterno worked to boil water!! Due to the fire crews needs for cooking fuel in the Burney area...there was no blend fuel canisters at any nearby store. Thus, I faced getting back on trail without any replacement for my stove. So you can imagine my delight when Victor gave me this sterno! It's hard to rehydrate food with boiling water. 

 Hobbits house on trail in Shasta National Forest

 

My personal Christmas Tree

Different Terrain Looking North

Evening views 8/12

Mt. Shasta

August 13 Evening View of Grizzly Peak

 Using the trail dryer

 

 It was unbelievable and absolutely fun to have this young mule deer as a hiking buddy. I didn't feed her...but I have to wonder if some hiker did??! (The words of a younger Clare Sweeney for this situation might have been...."a follower is a dyer"!

 Making it fit......oops..busted...I didn't know anyone heard me say that!!

 

This was an afternoon of mostly shady forest hiking among the white firs and Douglas-firs. Which was a welcomed relief after spending he morning traversing the steep, sun baked slopes around Grizzly Peak.

8/14

McCloud River volume flowing

 

8/16-  Bridge over Squaw Valley Creek

snow on Mt. Shasta

Forest Logging Road

At the base of this sign a "trail angel" had left Gatorade and chip ahoy cookies! I was coming into town (Castella) on empty...so it was indeed a magical find! The last spring where I filtered water had been the day before...so I was rationing that too.

The expression "trail magic" is what hikers refer to as unexpected acts of kindness. Like other acts of random kindness it brightens and renews my spirit.😀

 PCT Volunteer Trail Crew

Thanks for the ride Amber.  In Oregon

 

My Oregonians hiking buddies.  What great trail friends that I will miss.

July 4th

Loved the John Muir Trail section of the PCT.

 Loving Oregon

 Let's hope the Bears obey them too!

July 27- August 1

This was another favorite lake of mine on the TRT (Tahoe Rim Trail). Walking along side was a real thrill. I felt one with the scenery!

 

 These are the kinds of notes hikers leave for each other....I did wonder for a minute if perhaps they wanted a private lake campsite...

 

I met up with Sophia and Dave (he is taking the picture) at Lake Fontanillis the day before - and then again that morning and shared with them that my air mattress no longer held any air. Thus, I had not slept well. So when we met up at Lake Richardson later this day...they insisted that I take one of their air mattress/pad that was functional. I was very moved by their selfless act. They said; "we have only 5 more days on the trail...and you have months!" It made all the difference to my sleep and spirit! (Hope you made it back safely to Canada and I hear from you again!)

Heading into greener terrain-
Trails of enclosing wildflowers

 

My favorite wildflower on the TRT

Looks like mini Tiger lilies? 

 Good bye Lake Tahoe

Twin peaks in Granite Chief Wilderness- Easy to see why it got that name!

Trail Terrain

 

Storm is Brewing: 

Approaching Squaw Valley on TRT section of the PCT 

Hiking the Squaw Valley Slopes.  It is always a thrill for me to hike under the ski chair lifts. I recall thinking two thoughts. First, they must get a lot of snow depth here to cover these rocks.  And second, this the closest I will ever be to a black diamond run!

 July 31

This tent picture and the ones that follow are from the night before I crossed Donner Summit. I purposely selected this high saddle for the view...and because I heard what had to be a bear shaking a tree in the forested area below me. 

There a bear story that some of you may have heard that goes with these views...but it will have to wait to be told in person!  Just know I was never really in harm's way!

July 31 

 sunset in the trees...still hearing the bear! 

August 1:   I opened the tent flap to this!!

August 1st Morning View: