[pct-l] hikers we met in Oregon - best evening on the trail

[yogihikes at sbcglobal.net (yogi)]

Hey Ajax!  Good to hear you enjoyed your trip.  I smiled when I read what you wrote about Crater Lake in 2003 your "best evening on the trail ever".  When I visited Troll & Laffy Taffy in Seattle before hiking the CDT last year, they also talked about what a great evening that was.  I think everyone felt the same way!  The day started out very quiet and then it just kept building and building!  What a great memory!  Here's how I remembered it:
 
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August 13, 2003-----1830 miles. They look scared. And I don?t blame them. Reluctantly, they set up a table for 16. We all know what?s about to happen. Goof, Billygoat & Meadow Mary, Troll & Laffey Taffey, Shiver & Dawn Treader, Tuna & Numbrrs, Ajax, Sandsmurf, Bergfisch, Walkdad, Squatch, and I are about to destroy the all-you-can-eat buffet at Crater Lake. Sandsmurf likened the food to dorm food, and he?s right. But we don?t care. It?s not a lipton, and I don?t have to cook it on an alcohol stove. That?s all that matters. I sit across the table from Bergfisch, who inhales three piled-high plates of food. And that?s just the main course. That doesn?t even count his soup, salad, and desserts. 

Squatch is working on a documentary about the PCT. He?s been following the pack up the trail, showing up at trail towns to interview hikers about their trail experiences. After dinner, we all go out to the Rim. It?s a GORGEOUS evening. Perfect temperature, not a cloud in the sky, everyone is laughing, smiling, and happy to be here. Squatch interviews us as we stand on the Rim, with the lake and Wizard Island in the background. Laffey Taffey keeps spontaneously bursting into laughter. And it?s contagious. Remember when everyone questioned WHY I would do this again? If I had to pick one moment on the trail to describe why, tonight is the night. There is a magnetic feeling in the air. It?s like our group is one being. The sense of belonging is overwhelming. We?re proud of our accomplishments, and for the first time, I think we all realize that we ARE going to finish. There?s no stopping us now. I sure hope Squatch is able to capture this on film. 

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yogi
www.pcthandbook.com
 
 
 
 


Matt Ripperton <matt_ripperton@yahoo.com> wrote:
Just thought I'd write a bit about my recent trip with my fiancee Sarah to hike the 2003 B&B fire section. We went southbound, from Olallie to McKenzie Pass, so we met many of the 2005 thru's. We had beautiful weather, and some spectacular trail. I had heard that this section, missed by many of the 2003 hikers, was one of the highlights of the trail, and I'm glad I went back to see it. The burned section was a little hot & depressing, but only made me appreciate the rest all the more.

Many thanks first to Steel-Eye, who was kind enough to drive us from one end to the other!!

Here are the hikers we met, in order of appearance as we moved north (9/4) to south (9/8):
Lost (Todd)
DOT and Bob
Nabor J and Chowder
Hidalgo (who was trying to pull a 50 miler into Olallie - ouch!)
Aramas and Athos
Toaster
Batteries Included, Pepper Jack, and Bearcan't
Choo Choo (section hiker southbound)
Cookie Monster and Bloody Knuckles (who hiked in 2003 as Baby Swiss)
Donna and Gruevy 
Hombre, Razz, Salty Dog, and Liz (met these 4 on a day trip to Crater Lake on 9/9)

We were hoping to climb Thielsen, but Sarah's blisters and deteriorating weather steered us to Crater Lake instead, where I was able to menatlly revisit maybe my best evening on the trail ever.

With this section I have completed all of California and Oregon. Now I just have to figure out when I can get back out there for Washington!!

Good luck to all the 2005 hikers!
Ajax 




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