July 3, Sun.–20.6 miles–Oregon F Ollalie Lake

Sunday, July 3rd, 2005

Sun. July 3     Miles today: 20.6      Total so far: 918             Oregon Section F

Ollalie Lake, a fisherman, and Mt. Jeff--classic!

Ollalie Lake, a fisherman, and Mt. Jeff--classic!

We slept in a bit this morning, to be sure the Ollalie Lake store would be open when we got there.  We walked the couple of miles, and it turned out that the store is a busy place–even though it was early, people were already lining up to rent both boats and cabins.  Only “human-pwered” boats are allowed on the lake, and no swimming or even wading, so Ollalie Lake is very pure, and the fish grow BIG!  Needless to say, there were plenty of fishermen!

We really enjoyed the store at Ollalie. It’s small, but VERY well-organized,with friendly, helpful, hiker-savvy staff.  We went through our resupply box while drinking the tasty coffee and eating giant muffins.  I have to say this: the coffee in Oregon is awesome!  Every place we have been so far in this state has really good coffee.  Can’t say that of California!  

 To add to the fun, we were eating, drinking and doing resupply while sitting on the cozy store porch with a great view of the lake and Mt. Jefferson shining in the morning sun.  I wanted to make a phone call home, but it turned out that Ollalie Lake resort has no phone. They have a radio for emergencies, but that’s it.  I finished up some journal writing at a picnic table by the lake.  It was really beautiful, and another moment when I wished we didn’t have to be worried about “making miles.”  I would have loved to just hang out there for hours!  But the trail was calling. 

We're glad to be on the PCT!

We're glad to be on the PCT!

Shortly after we got back on the PCT again, we met another SOBO, named “Highlander”–and well he deserves it–a classic, tall, strong Scotchman with a delightful accent.  We took pictures of each other and had a great chat.  Highlander started at Campo in the beginning of April.  From Kennedy Meadows he skipped up to Canada, and now he was headed south.  He’s one tough, but very nice guy.

Rhodies!  We really ARE in Oregon.

Rhodies! We really ARE in Oregon.

From there the trail went nicely contouring around the mountains and we began to get some fine views of Mt. Hood with a long plume of cloud streaming from its top.  The wild rhododendrons were more and more numerous and lovely, so the trail was lined with pink blooms.  And the forest itself is changing color–every tree is putting out new green growth on every twig tip, so the result is the forest takes on a sort of shimmering, iridescent green look. 

 We refilled our water bottles at Lemiti Creek, which had an old wooden bridge for hikers and a ford for horses.  We did meet one horse and rider on the trail today, plus several weekend backpackers.

 

Tree farm "patchwork quilt"

Tree farm "patchwork quilt"

The PCT in this area is actually travelling through an Indian reservation, and we were pleased to see that the reservation folks are really using their forests and caring for them, not just leaving them untouched and full of dead branches.  We went through one logged area that looked great.  All the big trees were gone, and there were stumps left, plus a few burn piles–but LOTS of healthy new growth of a variety of trees, plus of course wildflowers and rhodies.  From a distance, these logged /regrowing areas looked like a pretty patchwork quilt.  I think it’s great–so much better than the Mordor-dead look of the burned forests we’ve been through, where the blind, foolish, environmentalist, “just-let-nature-happen” mentality is the rule.  What a horrible way to treat a forest!  Those areas will remain devastated for years, instead of quickly regrowing healthy and green.

Tonight we camped in the forest about two miles from the Warm Springs River.  Finding a campsite was not easy–there’s so much undergrowth here!  It was a clear night, so we dispensed with the tarp, and no mosquitoes, so we dispensed with the net tent.  It is WONDERFUL to be out under the stars again–I have really missed it.  I love to lie in my sleeping bag and look up at all the beauty of the night sky, and talk to God about all the things that happened during the day, and ask Him to watch over our family and friends back at home.

Leave a Reply