The Walking Dom

Mile 1845/ KM 2969
Etna to Seiad Valley to San Francisco to Seiad Valley to Ashland to Crater Lake to Diamond Lake

Song of my day: "When I was young" by Lucero.
Podcast of my day: "Design Details" Episode 129, with Claudio Guglieri. Super inspiring and funny interview.
I miss: Dancing through the night with my home boy Wolfgang.

I don't really know where to start with this one... So much has happened in the past two weeks. Hiked out of Etna which feels like an eternity ago, and road walked into a gleaming hot Seiad Valley a couple of days later, where an old trail friend of mine picked me up for some down time in San Francisco. Granted, going from seeing 7 people a day to a baseball stadium full of people was maybe a bit much, but we don't get ball games at home so I have to take every opportunity I get to see one while I'm here! An other highlight was seeing the Alabama Shakes play at the Greek, which is one of the most badass venues I've ever been to, right in the heart of Berkley. I honestly wasn't quite sure what to expect of going to a big city for the first time in 3 months. At first I felt happy being able to get whatever food and drink I wanted whenever I wanted it. I stepped into an Urban Outfitter and it was awesome! I got to wear jeans! Real pants! And a bra, not a sports bra, a bra. After 3 days though, I started missing the trail and the quiet that comes with it. I missed moving and I felt like I was gaining weight by the hour. I never realized how much we consume when we're in a city environment and looking back I pretty much had some kind of beverage in my hand at all times. Just the amount of plastic that I used during the day was ridiculous in comparison to what I use on trail. Definitely something I want to change in the future. But don't get me wrong. I'm not going to be all hippie when I get home. I loved San Francisco and I miss Zurich. I'm looking forward to coming home. I miss my friends, the small side streets, the lamps dangling in the wind before a storm rolls in, fall weather, the parties, my bike, my laptop, my short commute to work in the morning and the inspiring people that are around me. Can't wait to see you guys.

-Little side note. I am sitting by the docks at Diamond Lake while writing this and the guy in charge of the boat rentals just came over and gave me his number saying: "I'm Dean. I don't do this all to often (Really???), but I want to give you my number since you seem like a really cool girl. Give me a call." Oh sweet sweet rental Dean... Thank you. But I think I'm ok.

Due to my little SanFran-Vaca I'm a couple of days behind the gang that I used to hike with, which has been challenging for me. The whole week felt like I was in between two hiker bubbles. Too fast to stick with the people behind me, but too slow to catch up with the gang ahead of me. I didn't talk to almost anyone for 4 days and being alone for that long has been a really intense mental experience. I'm still such a wimp when it comes to camping alone in the woods and I wonder if other ladies are comfortable out there on their own. I don't think I'll ever be. My mind just goes crazy as soon as it gets dark and I get severe bearanoia. Same thing when we talk about mileage. There are girls out there doing 45 miles days and I still feel like Rocky on the top the stairs when I manage to complete a 32 miles day. Oh well... I'll get there eventually. Or not.

K so back in Seiad Valley. A town that consists of a small store, a run down RV park, a Post Office and a Restaurant that closes at 2pm. The climb out of the valley is super intense. I was mentally getting ready for it until I heard that locals were giving out rides up to the top of the hill on ATVs. Heck yeah! That definitely sounded like much more fun than 10 miles of exposed up hill on foot in 35 degrees. Once on top I camped with Rainbow, Spoon Train and Dirty B. Next stop was Ashland! Oregon! Finally. I had been looking forward to that town for so long. The town is a short hitch away from the trail head. I put my thumb out on Highway 5 and it didn't take long until a car pulled over and I got to meet Gary and Kathy and their dog Sultan, who took me for lunch to a lovely Café in Ashland. Just because. Isn't that awesome? I was so stoked. They gave me a ride to the Hostel too, where I ran into some people I hadn't seen since the Sierras. I hiked out the next day and that's where my lonely journey began.

Oregon has been a little underwhelming so far. I was expecting the coast but it's obviously not at all like the coast down here. It's pretty and green, but I miss the big views. Just before Crater Lake there's a blown down area which was really tough to get through. Thousands of trees had fallen down and blocked the trail. It was hard to see it at all at times and climbing over huge logs all day took so much out of me that I was yelling at the trees by the end of the day. But I made it. I reached Crater Lake. A huge milestone on the PCT. I remember looking at a map 4 months ago and this place seamed so far away and now I'm here. Pretty cool. Crater Lake is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. The blue of the lake is breath taking. Go see it!