PCT: Day 130

PCT Oregon

Miles today: 19

Trail miles sum: 1243.3

Trail location: 1925.6

Elevation: 5811

Spinning on the turntable: Yann Tiersen: EUSA

PCT Views

sun through the trees

Today was a low mileage day to wrap up my week. The lower miles allowed Noelle and I to meet in the afternoon and spend the night in the van.

I really enjoyed hiking next to the lakes this morning. It feels like home!

Lakeside reflections

Lakeside reflections

The lakes today were everything that the lakes yesterday were not.

I made a mental note to return to these lakes with Noelle for some relaxed camping and fishing.

There were lots of tents near the lakes and a mix of thru-hikers and weekend hikers. Well this is my assumption based on the fires burning at some sites and the smell of frying bacon in the air.

I snapped a bunch of pictures and moved on. I like the steam rising from the water.

PCT Oregon

Lake views

I pondered why I enjoyed the hike today more than the hike yesterday. I think I prefer the taller trees and soft trail of today. The trail yesterday was a lot of sand. The lakes today were gorgeous. The lakes yesterday (3 of 4) looked like large cattle watering zones (to me).

I stopped at a ski cabin that was built and currently maintained by volunteers.

PCT Cabin

Winter ski cabin

In the winter snow skiers, snowmobiles, etc can use the cabin for free.

PCT Cabin

Warming space

I signed the logbook and ate a banana. I like all the hangers hanging from the rafters. I can imagine this cabin in the dead of winter with the stove roaring and jackets hanging to dry.

I saw this bird sitting in a tree.

PCT Animals

Spruce Grouse

It may be a Spruce Grouse. It was the size of a medium turkey, about 8lbs to my eye. Any birders know definitively what this breed might be?

I stopped for a early lunch near Bobby lake and this little bird decided that it wanted my sandwich. This is the first time I’ve experienced a bird quite this aggressive about stealing food.

PCT Animals

Give me your lunch!

I’m guessing that folks are rewarding the aggressive behavior with treats and reinforcing the aggressive behavior. Aggressive or not, I enjoyed it immensely.

PCT Animals

Waiting for leftovers

Two more birds hovered on a tree above my head while I continued to eat.

I hiked back to the van and arrived by 2:30. I promptly took a two hour nap. Tomorrow I’m going to knock out 27 miles so the extra sleep is a good thing.

4 Comments

  1. Paul Carone

    Hay Steve amazing what you have accomplished you will have great memories. Joyce and I would like to see you when you complete your journey. PAUL

    Reply
    • mcgarveysan

      Hi Paul! Thanks for following our journey! I’ll touch base with you when we wrap up this hike. Steve

      Reply
  2. VFat

    Did you reward the bird’s aggressive behavior?

    Reply
    • mcgarveysan

      After it pecked at my sandwich I gave it the the piece of break it had beaked. Then, when it was busy eating my sandwich I captured it, plucked all its feathers and set it free.

      Reply

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