One of the problems of using a hammock is that there is no covered place to put my pack.  Doing some internet research last weekend I found out that most people just leave their pack on the ground under the rain fly and with all the pockets open.   The pockets are left open because the critters will get into your pack if they want to and if you leave it open then no damage will be done as they eat or tear though the fabric.  The pack can also be hung from the ridge line of the hammock or tied to a tree.  Does not basically change the issue with critters.  I just left it on the ground and did not seem to have any  issues.

So I brought this high tech spork and it came with a carabiner to attach to the pack.  Normally I would keep the spork in the top part of my pack and safe BUT I said, they gave me a carabiner so I will use it.  Problem is when I take off my pack to rest I just let the pack fall to the ground and roll where it will and then I will typically lean on it while I have a snack and/or just rest.  Apparently one of those times it caught the ground just right and bent the working part of the spork back into the handle.  When I tried to bend it back, it broke.  So the picture below is my attempt to use duck tape to put it back together.  It worked to stir up my Carnation Instant Breakfast but later when stirring a freeze dried meal it came part and the spork got buried down in the pouch of food.

Picture of the lake where I spent the night.  Not bad huh?

In this section of the trail there is a nice lake about every half mile.  Really amazing.  For every good lake (for drinking water purposes) there are probably 2 stagnant lakes that could be used if necessary.

There are plenty of logs down on the trail.  Most of which you can just step over or go around.  For this one I had to remove the pack and crawl under.  Not bad so far this year.

Still on course.

When I starting hiking this morning I was surprised by how sore I was.  Something that I had not noticed the day before.  But each step, either going up or going down caused a little stab of pain in my hips and gluts.   Lasted about half the day and then everything was ok again.  I did not think I was making very good progress.  Stopped by a lake and had something to eat and multiple times to have a snack or just to rest.

At one point a through hiker came by and asked me if I knew anything about shin splints.  Yes, I know something.  They hurt and probably won’t go away without ice and rest.  Right he says and indicates he needs to get to Elk Lodge today and get off the trail, get to Redmond or Bend and rest.  I indicate we could give him a ride BUT I was not going to be able to make it that far today.  He felt he had to.   His trail name was Ranger, because he was one once, and he had been stationed in Dahlonega, GA.  Such a small world.  We talk for awhile and he said he has had to come off the trail 3 times already.  Once early on because his blisters where really bad and he had to wait for them to heal.  Once because his leg got swollen and he thought he had a blood clot (something he had earlier in his life) and went off for 2 weeks.  Once because he was feeling really weak and it turns out his body was eating his muscle because he had lost so much weight.  So he had to get fattened up again before going back on trail.  He did not want to go off again but felt he had to.  He was in a lot of pain (and yet faster than me!!).

He took off.  I followed a little later.  Never saw him again.

I just kept plugging along and realized I was actually pretty close to Elk Lodge and I could probably make it.  So on a day when I thought I was being slow, I actually ended up doing 18 miles.  Lenora notices I am almost there and leaves to pick me up while I have 1/2 mile away. She has an hour drive.  I get there about 10 minutes before she does. Just enough time to have a cold glass of water and a cold diet coke.  There is a lot of water in this part of Oregon and it is all warm!  Looked for Ranger at the Elk Lodge but he was not to be found.  There were lots of people about and I’m sure he got a ride into Redmond.

 

Iphone says:  18.4 miles.  49178 steps.  13 floors

Lenora’s Story:

Thank goodness for the inreach and the computer.  If I were not able to track Don’s progress I would not have known that he was able to make it to Elk Lodge until it was too late to leave to pick him up.  I leave when he is about 1/2 mile from the lodge and arrive in about an hour.  When I get there I see the familiar blue pack and find a place to park.  When I head to the pack I don’t see Don but the pack is upright on the ground and looks as if it had exploded with bags and gear spread all around.  No sign of my husband so I sit on a rock by the pack and send him a text.  Then looking around I notice a porch looking area with people sitting at tables and I head for that building.  Before I reach the porch I see an entry way and stepping inside I see Don paying for his drink.  Another successful reunion.  When we get out to the pack I can tell how completely spent he is.  He is so tired and done in.  I am ready to drive back and it is an indication of his fatigue that he is willing to let me drive.  We have an easy drive back on the Scenic Highway that surely lives up to its name.  It is more beautiful around every turn of the road of the road.  I am really enjoying this section of Oregon.

I have continued to work today and the Christmas Tree is now  finished.