[Apologies for keeping you all in suspense. I finished the trail and real life is busy]

Day 32 – 9/25/19
27.2 miles / 700 total

I made myself get up in the dark and walked the first mile or so by headlamp. With 27 miles left, I knew I could easily finish today, but my hope was to finish with enough time/energy to drive home to Portland tonight so I could ride with Allgood tomorrow to the ALDHA-West Gathering in Nevada City, CA instead of having to drive there myself.

The descent from Pine Mountain was on an OHV trail, and once the trees thinned out enough, I could see Mt Hood and Mt Jefferson – my first view of the Cascades this entire hike! Seeing these familiar mountains felt like coming home. The Sisters appeared shortly thereafter and it made me pretty giddy.

I was back in the sagebrush on OHV trails most of the morning, with a few little cross country bits to skirt private property. This was very much inhabited private property, with lots of structures and no trespassing signs. Yep, definitely getting closer to Bend.

I crossed Highway 20 and retrieved my last water cache by the Flat Iron Rock Trailhead for the final 9 miles. I also texted my ETA to She-Ra, who had generously offered to pick me up at the finish. I was quite paranoid about being on time and not making my ride wait, so I turned on the jets once again, probably to the point where I will have a hiker hobble tomorrow.

The final 9 miles were interesting in that they were actual “trail”, which I think was all just old road that has been designated as trail now. The first and last few miles by the trailheads were in good shape and easy to follow. The middle section was quite sandy, and not as well defined or easy to follow. But by this point on the ODT, it very much felt like luxury grade trail.

The last half mile followed a canal (water, so exotic) and as I neared the trailhead about 10 minutes early, I saw some movement. She-Ra was waiting with a freshly made sagebrush crown for me. We celebrated and took the obligatory finish photos before heading to her car where she had a whole pizza (pineapple and bacon!), cold beverages (beer and bubbly water!), and cookies (from Sparrow bakery!) waiting for me. We talked trail while I stuffed my face. It was a really great, low-key ending.

Now off to the Gathering!!

Thanks to everyone who supported me on this hike. Special shout-outs to She-Ra, Allgood, Condor, Bubbles, Marmot, Gabriel, my employer, and of course Dan.