At mile 2014.8. Hiked 19.7 miles today. Having eaten 2 meals at Big Lake Youth Camp I was still carrying most of the food from my resupply and my pack was heavy. I  had a very late start so I was hiking during the hottest part of the day on a hot day. Not only that, I had also started late the day and hiked through exposed burns and lava fields, so this was the 2nd day in a row of intense heat. Shortly after crossing Hwy 20 at Santiago...

At mile 1995.1. Hiked 11.4 miles today. Breweries are a big deal in Bend, OR.. I stayed at the Bunk and Brew Hostel with first beer included. At Safeway I was offered a beer sample while shopping. I checked out barber shops and the first two I pulled up included beer with a haircut. Here I am in the barber chair with my 7 AM IPA.  Had to cross lava flows. Looking back were great views of Sisters. Here is the trail going through lava that made hiking difficult. A view of...

At mile 1972. Hiked 21.8 miles today. I hiked through woods wearing raincoat and headnet against mosquitoes until I couldn’t stand the heat. After a climb I came out in this mosquito-free paradise. Time for photos and a rest break. This is South Sister, the 2nd highest mountain in Oregon. Here are a sampling of the flowers I saw. I had not seen this flower before. The petals have hairlike growth. More flowers. And this Indian Paintbrush just feet from my tent. Here is South Sister. This is a nice meadow enclosed by a lava...