Welcome

We are currently on another long distance hike, and the third leg of our "triple crown", the Continental Divide Trail (the "CDT"). Come along with us if you can - if not in person then by following our grand adventure via our "posts from the trail".  Check out our Flickr Photos, which we'll update periodically, and see it through our eyes!

Our Credo...

"Success: To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!" ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

August 17th

The nights are turning cooler and cooler each day, making it harder and harder to get up, into damp clothes and out of the tent. Still, we were on the trail and hiking by 7:15 with Ruth and Toek. We would see them at breaks throughout the day. Occasional day hikers also came out near the trailhead.

The smell of smoke was thick in the air most of morning, drifting in from some distant fire, perhaps the one still burning in Crater Lake NP, or perhaps another that is near Lakeview OR. Smoke can travel great distances and in this the season of forest fires smoke haze is not unusual. As far as we can tell the smoke is not coming from anywhere near the trail ahead. Still, it reduces visibility and irritates the eyes and throat.

We pass lots of lakes and lots more mossies. These are not the mossies of Oregon legend. We’re too late in the season for that. These are persistent, tenacious, late mossies. What they lack in numbers they make up for in determination. They are out for blood. Fortunately there are few enough of them that most are easily swatted dead.

My left heel hurts, either a deep blister beneath the callous, which was recently removed or a bruise. After each break/rest it seems so sore that it affects the stride, as if I am sub-consciously favoring it. After about 30 minutes of walking it will loosen up, or more accurately, the pain will deaden, go numb. So, for now, the solution seems to be to hike through the pain to the point it no longer hurts. I think that at some time most hikers experience this phenomenon – to continue means to ignore a constant pain until it seems to go away. Using this strategy we manage to get in a little over 28 miles today.

Toward then end of the day, at dusk, we surprise 4 elk grazing at a small pond. One cow spooks and she incites the other two cows and a trophy size bull to rush off into the woods.

We camp at Tadpole Pond, a small pond typical of this area, fed by snowmelt. Gradually over the summer it drops in elevation as the water evaporates or percolates down through the volcanic soil, Tonight we have more “Ruth” food, a Chinese “take away” of dried rice, mixed veggies and pork.

We eat under the starlight, not even ay moonlight and hear the faint sound of slow, deliberate movement and munching. Something is grazing in the dark – deer or elk or hungry hikers……..

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Clicking on any of these photos will take you to that specific photo on our Flickr Stream, where you can view these and many, many more photos from our latest adventure....or use this shortcut to all photos.....we hope you enjoy them!

People Shots

CDT20101_NMWCWMCDT2010_TheTrailCDT2010_NMWC-1Carrot After a Trail BathCarrot Stream Crossing #3,768Carrot on the Trail stillCarrot takes a Trail BathCarrot Stream Crossing #5.875Carrot on the TrailCliff Dwelling SignCarrot takes a PhotoCarrot Stream Crossing # 2,115

Scenic Shots

CDT2010-valleyCDT2010_yellowflowersCarrot on the Trail 3ScenicPotty BreakScenicCliff Dwelling Stream Vast DesertPrickly Pear 2Prickly PearPlateau at Sunset

Flora & Fauna

CDT2010_treesCDT2010_yellowflowersCDT2010-purpleflowersAngry MarmotFlora 3FloraBeaverButterfly 2FloraButterfly