Four Needles Later

8:35 AM

Now, after breaking four needles, I’ve hopefully repaired the backpack well enough for the next three days. In three days I’ll arrive in Ashland, where I’ve had a new backpack shipped. New shoes are waiting for me there as well, because these are completely worn out.

On to Ashland!

First a quick lunch and refilling everything. When I turn around in the restaurant, I suddenly see LightPull, the Korean hiker, sitting behind me. Maybe it’s actually safer to continue together 🤔

12:35 PM

Strange terrain: piles of rocks, alternating with patches of forest where fallen bombs are still lying around.

1:07 PM

Fallen tree: is there a way around it?
No 😡, then you have to climb over it.

1:40 PM

Multiply this kind of tree-climbing by 100, and you’ll know what a day of hiking in Oregon is like. Meanwhile, I also have to be careful, because if all the stitching on my backpack comes apart, I’m really in trouble.

4:37 PM

I’m taking it easy. Because I can’t use the hip belt of my backpack anymore, the full weight is hanging on my shoulders. So casually walking 40 km isn’t an option anymore—unless I start cutting gear.

There’s a hut here and a water source. I average about 4 km per hour, and the next water point is 20 km away. If I keep going now, I’d arrive around 8:00 PM, and that’s too late for me.

6:42 PM

The Korean hiker, LightPull, passes by and I help him pump water. Holding a bottle and pumping at the same time just doesn’t work. He continues on to the next water source. “See you tomorrow, sleep well.”

Total: 19.65 km in 5:38 hours
442 m ascent
240 m descent