So below are some more pics from Joel. I (Natalia) have had them in my possession for awhile and I've been slow in posting them. Sorry blog faithful!
There are pics of various scenery, pretty sunsets, a volcano field, remnants of a forest fire, and Mt Shasta, as well as a few pics of Joel crossing the border, and his icky feet. :)
Enjoy!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Oregon at last
Greetings supportive blog readers!
I am currently in Bend at the home of Brian and Lindsey. Brian is a fellow hiker who was unfortunately forced off the trail due to injury, but who invited me to come stay with him when I got near Bend. I've had a shower, slept in a real bed, and ate dinner last night at a dining room table. Being in a real house while in town instead of at a motel has been wonderful.
Northern California was pretty rough on me. It was hot, there were lots of bugs, the terrain was not terribly interesting, and I'd been hiking for three months and was still in the same state. Many other hikers had an equally difficult time, and I know a handful who just couldn't take it anymore and quit. However, the good news is that I'm now in Oregon! I got a pretty big mental and emotional lift crossing the border out of California - it's amazing what an arbitrary invisible line drawn by polititians hundreds of years ago can do to lift your spirits.
So far I've enjoyed Oregon quite a bit. There have been more mosquitos, rain, and cold than I was anticipating, but the scenery has been beautiful. Crater Lake was breathtaking, and the whole Three Sisters Wilderness was great as well with lots of mountain meadows, wildflowers, small streams, and majestic trees.
This afternoon Brian is bringing me back to the trail, and then in just two days my friends Sam and Natalia (who are maintaining this blog site) and Tom and Andrea are picking me up and bringing me to Portland to meet Amy! I'll be off trail for three or four days while she's here, so if you don't see the SPOT icons update that's why.
Also, I just crossed the 2000 mile mark! I'm at mile 2007, which means that I have less than 700 miles to go. If all goes well, I should be finishing the trail the third or fourth week in September.
Thanks a lot for all your comments of encouragement. I read them all, and once even called Amy and had her read the new ones to me over the phone. It really means a lot to me to have so many friends back home cheering me on.
Joel
I am currently in Bend at the home of Brian and Lindsey. Brian is a fellow hiker who was unfortunately forced off the trail due to injury, but who invited me to come stay with him when I got near Bend. I've had a shower, slept in a real bed, and ate dinner last night at a dining room table. Being in a real house while in town instead of at a motel has been wonderful.
Northern California was pretty rough on me. It was hot, there were lots of bugs, the terrain was not terribly interesting, and I'd been hiking for three months and was still in the same state. Many other hikers had an equally difficult time, and I know a handful who just couldn't take it anymore and quit. However, the good news is that I'm now in Oregon! I got a pretty big mental and emotional lift crossing the border out of California - it's amazing what an arbitrary invisible line drawn by polititians hundreds of years ago can do to lift your spirits.
So far I've enjoyed Oregon quite a bit. There have been more mosquitos, rain, and cold than I was anticipating, but the scenery has been beautiful. Crater Lake was breathtaking, and the whole Three Sisters Wilderness was great as well with lots of mountain meadows, wildflowers, small streams, and majestic trees.
This afternoon Brian is bringing me back to the trail, and then in just two days my friends Sam and Natalia (who are maintaining this blog site) and Tom and Andrea are picking me up and bringing me to Portland to meet Amy! I'll be off trail for three or four days while she's here, so if you don't see the SPOT icons update that's why.
Also, I just crossed the 2000 mile mark! I'm at mile 2007, which means that I have less than 700 miles to go. If all goes well, I should be finishing the trail the third or fourth week in September.
Thanks a lot for all your comments of encouragement. I read them all, and once even called Amy and had her read the new ones to me over the phone. It really means a lot to me to have so many friends back home cheering me on.
Joel
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Update from Amy
A couple weeks ago, Joel was hiking just North of the Lake Tahoe area and through the Desolation Wilderness. He really enjoyed hiking in this section of the Sierras. The several sets of photos that I'll email you are from those areas. I'll also send a short video that you can post, if possible.
About a week ago, after completing the more mountainous terrain of the Sierras - he began hiking in densely forested areas of Northern CA. Some sections in the area have been very challenging due to overgrown poison oak (some as tall as 5 ft. high!). Since the trail is now more level - he's also been pounding out a lot of miles (25-30 a day). Between the big miles, the hot & humid weather, the poison oak obstacle course, and being confined in forests that limit his view of the surrounding scenery - Joel's been finding this part of the PCT to be much less enjoyable. He's also beginning to feel sore (especially his knees, feet, & shoulders) and has a nagging thorn in his hand & pain in a toe. So, he would really appreciate prayers for perseverance & the cooperation of his body while he's on the "home stretch" in CA and begins hiking in Oregon this week.
About a week ago, after completing the more mountainous terrain of the Sierras - he began hiking in densely forested areas of Northern CA. Some sections in the area have been very challenging due to overgrown poison oak (some as tall as 5 ft. high!). Since the trail is now more level - he's also been pounding out a lot of miles (25-30 a day). Between the big miles, the hot & humid weather, the poison oak obstacle course, and being confined in forests that limit his view of the surrounding scenery - Joel's been finding this part of the PCT to be much less enjoyable. He's also beginning to feel sore (especially his knees, feet, & shoulders) and has a nagging thorn in his hand & pain in a toe. So, he would really appreciate prayers for perseverance & the cooperation of his body while he's on the "home stretch" in CA and begins hiking in Oregon this week.
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