Monday, August 29, 2016

Day 117- Land O' Lakes

Aug 27, 2016 
Lower Rosary Lake(1908.4) to Horseshoe Lake(1940.9) 32.5 miles 
Total up/down: +3,322/-4,002 total 

For some reason I did not get a good nights sleep last night. I kept waking up every twenty to thirty minutes thinking that it was time to get up. Of course when it was time to get up I didn't hear my alarm go off. I wanted to be on the trail by 5:45. I looked at the elevation profile before going to bed and I thought it was possible to hike forty miles today. I would really like to get a forty mile day in before the end of the trail. I finally woke up around six and was hiking by six forty-five. 
Rosary Lakes barely visible through the trees 

Soon after I began hiking it became very clear that I would not reach my goal of forty miles. Every few miles I hiked past pristine beautiful lakes. Once the temperature warmed up I knew that I had to stop and smell the roses(or feel the sand on my toes). I have been working so hard lately to give myself some breathing room in my schedule. Some days it feels more like a job than a joyful experience. I decided it was time to slow down and enjoy myself. 

I hiked really hard until around eleven thirty. I heard that Charlton Lake was a great spot to stop for lunch. It was about fifteen miles away from where I started this morning. I didn't take a single break until I hit the lake. I collected and treated water and cleaned my feet. I also washed out my socks. Then I took my lunch down to the waters edge. There was a nice cool breeze and I soaked my feet while I ate lunch. It was just chilly enough out, due to the breeze, that I decided against swimming. 
Charlton Lake

I took an entire hour off from hiking for my lunch break. I had almost forgotten how nice it is to take a proper break. Between Charlton Lake and my campsite tonight I passed by ten more lakes. They were all right next to the trail. 
Irish Lake

Irish Lake was about six miles away from Charlton. I didn't really need another break so soon, but it was too pretty for me not to stop. I changed socks again, washing out the dirty pair and I soaked my feet again. I mixed up some Gatorade and enjoyed the afternoon sunshine. 

Two miles later I hit Brahma Lake. It was also a nice lake, but it has been loved a little too much. There was trash all around the lakeside campsites. It infuriates me when people throw their trash into fire pits. It would be one thing if they actually started a fire and burned the trash. Some people seem to think that fire pits are trash cans and just leave trash for other people to take care of. 
I packed out as much as I could(my trash bag was bursting at the seams)  

Around mid afternoon I crossed into the Three Sisters Wilderness. I'm really looking forward to this section of Oregon. I was hoping to get a glimpse of South Sister today, but I had no such luck. 
Three Sister

The last big lake that I passed by before reaching camp was Stormy Lake. It was beautiful. I had just decided to go for a swim when I spotted two people already swimming. The woman didn't have any clothes on and the guy asked me if I could keep going. Ok, message received loud and clear. I kept hiking on, but I did have to chuckle. At least they were enjoying the lake. I did however take a picture of the lake, but I made sure to not include them. 
Stormy Lake

I was hoping that the lake I was going to camp at would be as nice as the others, but it was more of a pond than a proper lake. I setup camp as the sunset and ate dinner in the dark. Just as I was getting ready to go to sleep a deer prowling through camp scared the crap out of me. I swear it sounded like a giant bear. 

I didn't get in my forty miles today, but I still managed to hike over thirty miles and have a very enjoyable day. Usually my thirty plus mile days aren't this enjoyable. 

"Just imagine becoming the way you used to be as a very young child, before you understood the meaning of any word, before opinions took over your mind. The real you is loving, joyful, and free. The real you is just like a flower, just like the wind, just like the ocean, just like the sun." 
-Don Miguel Ruiz

10 comments:

  1. I like the title of today. It fits the day and it's my home town, but you already know that. Enjoy seeing and reading about your experiences. You going to be able to meet up with Stacy? Hope so. Keep it up!

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  2. "The real you" did indeed have a very enjoyable day with beautiful lakes and clean socks! :)

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  3. Glad you had a day full of rose perfume and sunshine. The swimmers don't know what they missed by not getting to know you a bit. Alas, their loss. Super pics and really good mileage....walk on, into more days like today. GO YODA!

    Double G

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  4. I would love to see the Oregon that you are passing through. The part Hannibal & I saw was awesome, but your view is even more so. Glad you had a little time to sit and enjoy your surroundings. And, to wash socks. Funny you were asked to move on!! The day's quote made me a little misty eyed, loved it. Thanks for taking time to write a daily blog. I know you are very tired some nights, but you get them done for your followers. LY

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  5. Yay for slowing down and smelling the roses! I would not have liked to be asked to move on, I would have just innocently told them I'm European and nudity doesn't bother me, heh. And grrrr to litter bugs.

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  6. Loved the quote too! "loving, joyful, free" and much more! Glad you're enjoying Oregon and the lakes. Think you'll enjoy the Sisters area a lot too! And thanks so much for so skillfully taking us along with you! The general is right. You're tired at night, but you still think of your followers! We look forward to our journeys with you! Continue to relish the beauty, Yoda! Happy Trails!

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  7. Best quote! So, so glad you enjoyed your day and didn't push yourself. ( Ha! 32 miles isn't pushing yourself?)

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  8. The General and Uncle Tom expressed my thoughts exactly - you are appreciated!! I'm super glad that you took it a little slower today...40 miles..REALLY?!? Your poor body is going to protest!!! You're moving along at an incredible pace as it is!

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  9. Keep it moving Yoda, nothing here to see. Too funny!!

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  10. Great to see ur going so well - good idea to enjoy it too - 40 miles is big and runs injury risks I reckon.....and that might in long run slow things down

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