To PCT mile 2058 (stats here).
I slept late in order to give the leg a rest. It was stiff and hurt during the night, so I did not have my hopes up. I got up 6:30am and started walking 7:45am. Pain was there and I needed to go slowly and avoid twisting the ankle.
Terrain was downhill so it was hard. Walking on even ground or uphill was easier. It was 6 miles to Lake Olallie Resort, an off the beaten path place where you can rent cabins. No electricity or phones, but probably enough customers so that you could try to get a ride from people going back home. The pain was so bad that I was ready to get off the trail to rest.
There are a lot of south bounding hikers now. When people ask the basic "how are you doing", I gave an honest answer. One hiker stopped properly and offered to help. She said that it really sounds like I have shin splints and gave me ibuprofein. I actually did not have any and then with the help of her friend, they made an ankle wrapping for me. Thanks Griz and Dorothy!
I arrived to the resort after 3.5h. I was able to pull of a 2 mph pace. I was resolved to get off the trail. I went to the general store and asked the shop keeper about my options. He flatly said that the only chance is to get a ride from people visiting the place.
I stroke a conversation with a lady doing shopping. It is easy to start a conversation with Americans as people usually always greet you and do it by saying "how are you". Her family was about to head home either the next or the next next day. She said that I could get a ride to Portland. Wonderfull! It would be totally fine to rest at by the lake, doing nothing. I could then continue to Corvallis at Mikko's and Susanna's.
I went to sit at the picnic table. Other hikers arrived. Among them was Early Bird who I last saw way back in Independence. She had skipped some few hundred miles because of the smoke. People donated me more ibuprofein and shared some tips how to deal with shin splits. Some even said that they had walked through the pain. I am surprised. At least without painkillers, I could not do it.
I looked around if I could see other resort guests with cars. I stroke a conversation with one couple, and they told that they were heading back home in four hours time. They promised to give me a ride to Portland. Even better! Makes my heart melt how people are helpful.
Now that I had basically secured a ride away from the trail, I started thinking forward. I got a half bag of ice that somebody had left for the leg, and the painkillers started to work. I realised that it would be quite a lot trouble of getting to Corvallis, and then getting back on trail, especially to this remote location. It was 50 miles to Timberlane Lodge, which was close to a highway. If I could get there, then resuming trail would be that much easier.
I put some food to soak and had a chocolate coffee in order to give myself time to mull my options over. I walked around a bit with my backpack on. A former army fellow from Arkansas adviced to just get off trail and not to play with your health. In the end, as the break, ice and ibuprofein pushed the pain away, I decided to be stupid and continue. Only 50 miles. In this terrain, if you were troublefree, you could do that in a day.
I continued hiking around 3pm. If I could do 10 more miles today, and 20 on each of the following two, then I could rest as long as it would take. Gamble on. Actually, the pain felt manageable with the medicine. After hiking a total of 15 miles, I came to tentsite that had a nearby spring. Most of the hikers I met at the resort were there. Early Bird was worried to see me there. I am taken that people care!
As I was feeling relatively good and wanted to leave less miles for the coming days, I decided to continue yet another 3 miles. I stopped hiking after it was already dark around 9:30pm. The site was good and there were no other hikers. I felt good about the decision to continue as it was now 39 miles to Timberlane. Also, the excessive amount of food that I had came into use.
I slept late in order to give the leg a rest. It was stiff and hurt during the night, so I did not have my hopes up. I got up 6:30am and started walking 7:45am. Pain was there and I needed to go slowly and avoid twisting the ankle.
Terrain was downhill so it was hard. Walking on even ground or uphill was easier. It was 6 miles to Lake Olallie Resort, an off the beaten path place where you can rent cabins. No electricity or phones, but probably enough customers so that you could try to get a ride from people going back home. The pain was so bad that I was ready to get off the trail to rest.
 |
| Lake Olallie Resort General Store. Not in the grid. |
There are a lot of south bounding hikers now. When people ask the basic "how are you doing", I gave an honest answer. One hiker stopped properly and offered to help. She said that it really sounds like I have shin splints and gave me ibuprofein. I actually did not have any and then with the help of her friend, they made an ankle wrapping for me. Thanks Griz and Dorothy!
I arrived to the resort after 3.5h. I was able to pull of a 2 mph pace. I was resolved to get off the trail. I went to the general store and asked the shop keeper about my options. He flatly said that the only chance is to get a ride from people visiting the place.
I stroke a conversation with a lady doing shopping. It is easy to start a conversation with Americans as people usually always greet you and do it by saying "how are you". Her family was about to head home either the next or the next next day. She said that I could get a ride to Portland. Wonderfull! It would be totally fine to rest at by the lake, doing nothing. I could then continue to Corvallis at Mikko's and Susanna's.
I went to sit at the picnic table. Other hikers arrived. Among them was Early Bird who I last saw way back in Independence. She had skipped some few hundred miles because of the smoke. People donated me more ibuprofein and shared some tips how to deal with shin splits. Some even said that they had walked through the pain. I am surprised. At least without painkillers, I could not do it.
I looked around if I could see other resort guests with cars. I stroke a conversation with one couple, and they told that they were heading back home in four hours time. They promised to give me a ride to Portland. Even better! Makes my heart melt how people are helpful.
Now that I had basically secured a ride away from the trail, I started thinking forward. I got a half bag of ice that somebody had left for the leg, and the painkillers started to work. I realised that it would be quite a lot trouble of getting to Corvallis, and then getting back on trail, especially to this remote location. It was 50 miles to Timberlane Lodge, which was close to a highway. If I could get there, then resuming trail would be that much easier.
I put some food to soak and had a chocolate coffee in order to give myself time to mull my options over. I walked around a bit with my backpack on. A former army fellow from Arkansas adviced to just get off trail and not to play with your health. In the end, as the break, ice and ibuprofein pushed the pain away, I decided to be stupid and continue. Only 50 miles. In this terrain, if you were troublefree, you could do that in a day.
 |
| The trail is a lot like this now. You could fly. |
I continued hiking around 3pm. If I could do 10 more miles today, and 20 on each of the following two, then I could rest as long as it would take. Gamble on. Actually, the pain felt manageable with the medicine. After hiking a total of 15 miles, I came to tentsite that had a nearby spring. Most of the hikers I met at the resort were there. Early Bird was worried to see me there. I am taken that people care!
 |
| A crowded tent site. Good to socialise, not good to sleep. |
As I was feeling relatively good and wanted to leave less miles for the coming days, I decided to continue yet another 3 miles. I stopped hiking after it was already dark around 9:30pm. The site was good and there were no other hikers. I felt good about the decision to continue as it was now 39 miles to Timberlane. Also, the excessive amount of food that I had came into use.
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