Day 120 – 8/25/11 – 30 miles (2003)

After a night of ongoing thunderstorms, we were surprisingly dry. We walked through volcano country, passing through a few miles of shimmering obsidian. I resisted the temptation to add some of the glassy rocks to my pack as souvenirs, but I’m not sure I don’t regret that decision. We’r heard rumors of trail magic a the Lava camp ground near McKenzie Pass and were not disappointed. Lost and Found and The Hiking Fools provided a great little oasis for our lunch. Not only was there food and beverages, but also chairs set up in a netting enclosed canopy for a much appreciated respite from the mosquitos.
After lunch we labored over lava rock around Mt Washington. We made it just in time, or so we thought, for dinner at the Big Lake Youth Camp, a Seventh Day Adventist summer camp just off the PCT that welcomes hikers to stop by for dinner and showers. It turns out we were late, and the meal was already over, but the very kind staff pulled out leftovers and fixed us plates anyway. Two meals with fresh vegetables in one day! We were also able to get some desperately needed showers; our last shower was at Crater Lake, where we had no soap and cold water.
We walked slowly, so as not to sweat and ruin our illusion of cleanliness, about a mile to get back to the trail where we set up camp. Tomorrow should be a quick walk to the highway for our hitch into Bend.