So the day begins normally. Lenora and I get up at normal time and go down to breakfast at the hotel. Then get on the road and about 2 hours later are at the location where the PCT crosses Hwy 138. We pray and I start out.
After just one half mile I crossed Forest Road 961 and there was a huge water cache. I started at Hwy 132 rather than Hwy 26 because it was basically a waterless area between the two. Add that the next water is 8 miles from 132 and you basically have 34 miles without water. That is why some very kind soul put the water cache here. I can imagine everyone finds it an amazing gift. I had drank 2 liters of water before I started and so did not need any. You can see in the picture below the number of 5 gallon water jugs that someone left here and probably maintains the entire season. Amazing generosity!!
I had noticed two other hikers that seemed to be going south back at the 138 but within a mile both of them passed me without saying a word heading north. Both young and fast.
After a little more than a mile I pass into the Mount Thielsen Wilderness in the Umpqua National Forest. The spell checker does not like either Thielsen or Umpqua but they are spelling correctly.
Umpqua National Forest, in southern Oregon Cascade Range, covers an area of 983,129 acres. Ancestors of the Umpqua, Southern Molala, Yoncalla, and Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians lived here before Mount Mazama erupted forming Crater Lake nearly 7,000 years ago. The Indians were moved to reservations in 1856. As Europeans bought reservation lands, the tribes further fragmented to become farmers and ranchers in the Umpqua Valley. Two translations of the word “umpqua” are “thundering waters” and “across the waters”. The Umpqua National Forest was created by the United States Congress on July 2, 1907 (Theodore Roosevelt). For more information see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umpqua_National_Forest
The Mount Thielsen Wilderness is a wilderness area located on and around Mount Thielsen in the southern Cascade Range of Oregon in the United States. It is located within the Deschutes, Umpqua, and Fremont–Winema national forests. It was established by the United States Congress in 1984 (Ronald Reagan) and comprises 55,100 acres. For more information see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Thielsen_Wilderness
About noon I get a good view of Mount Thielsen. Look at that!! Lucky me. Such beauty.
3 more hours of hiking and I make it to Thielson Creek. I stop here for awhile and load up on water and just look around. The water is wonderfully cold and I use my lifestraw to suck water right out of the creek.
I walk on another two miles to a good camp site. I want to get in at least 10 miles on the first day. I am sore a bit but my feet are in good shape. There is however an ominous sign. I have no desire to eat. Worse that no desire, the thought of eating what I have makes me nauseous. I have two Carnation Instant Breakfasts which gives me some energy and set up camp. While I am setting up I am surprised by another hiker who comes in and starts to set up camp as well. He is German and in his 50’s. He is a thru hiker and started on the Mexico border on April 4th. He is making great time. He said he weighted 190 at the start and nows weighs 140. We do not talk much because he has had a long day and is tired and I am just terribly out of shape and am tired. I did 10 miles, he did 25.
Iphone health app says I did 12 miles and 31310 steps. Not bad for day 1 I think. I thank God for giving me the ability to do this.
Lenora’s Story:
Just another day on the PCT. We’ve been doing this a while and it feels so familiar. The excitement, the anxiety about the late start, anticipation and dread. The element of fear is always a part of the send-off. I get the week 1 picture and we pray together. The send off prayer is something I treasure. Knowing I am calling on God to protect this precious human creates for me a sure confidence in the outcome.
The drive back to the hotel is beautiful and I spare a little twinge of regret that I am on the highway while Don is out in all this wonder.
While Don is not eating, something I’m glad I did not know at the start, I am very hungry. All my anxiety channels into a desire for food and sleep. Funny human nature. He needs to eat and can’t and I don’t need extra but have it anyway.
I am so ready to spend a lot of time beading and stitching that I do not delay in getting to the first of my projects. My many breaks are taken to stretch, to snack and to check Don’s progress. It is looking good to me.