Total Miles This Hike: 65.0
PCT Miles Covered: 1764.8
Sleep was difficult last night as I seem to be developing a head cold of some kind. I was coughing all night and when I sat up this morning had head congestion, a slight sore throat and a bit of post nasal drip. I must have picked up something in town the last couple days before I started hiking. The good news is I was headed to some semblance of civilization today at Elk Lake Resort. Everything I read says their camp store is minimal, but hopefully they have some dayquil or nyquil equivalent. The other good news is that after a small up, most of the rest of the day is down so it won’t be too strenuous.
The lure of real food and drinks is there already as I was able to be out of camp by 7:30AM. Hiking is so much better in the cool morning air before the bugs get too prevelant. But by 10AM they were back in droves and my headnet stayed on for most of the rest of the day. During the ascent, I had about a 2 mile stretch through an open meadow where you could see the trail about a mile ahead.
Around 11:30 I hit a great breaking spot at the top of my last ascent overlooking Mt. Bachelor before it was all down for the next 4 miles to the Elk Lake junction. I stopped for another break there around 1PM at which point I was swarmed in butterflies. A few grew attached to the salt on my pack to the point I had to physically shoo them off of it when I got up to leave.
Another mile and a half and I was into the Elk Lake Resort. Your classic touristy lake resort with boat launch, mini marina, a campgrounds, and a lodge with a small store and restaurant.
Miraculously the store had 2 bottles of dayquil left. Would have only bought one but I think the clerk mischarged me for only $3, so I bought the second one too. I got a camping spot, then came back and sat in the restaurant drinking Mr. Pibb and eating a ceaser salad and an order of wings. Kind of an odd craving as far as food goes but it worked. I was able to charge my phone and charger a little bit before I called home. Unfortunately cell coverage was still only 2 bars and I couldn’t upload blog posts. Anybody actually reading these are going to be hit with a giant dump of posts when I get enough service.
Around 6:45 I headed back to the campground to turn in early and pump myself full of more dayquil. Hopefully I feel a bit better tomorrow. I don’t want to zero already, but will if I think its my best move to getting better.
Keep on keeping on,
- Patch
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