The MONDO MAGIC cache..!

Now that's what I called a well stocked & full of choice cache... & that's just the first cooler!

Welcome to Oregon!!

Yes, we have finally made it to our second state... We crossed into Oregon at around 0900 this morning at about the 1700 mile mark. There was some trail magic just beforehand, but unfortunately, the cache was about 3 weeks old and long gone... Bummer. However, 15 miles or so later, we found the cache to end all caches... MONDO MAGIC!!
So Tom & I sat & thoroughly enjoyed a cold soda before heading on towards Ashland, where we will be taking a near-o & a zero, & I will be uploading a full web update for y'all soon!
Cheers!
RWK.
Refreshed.

Mountains in the mist

This was the view we got this morning as we crested a ridge... Awesome!

Cool campsite sunset.

After the wet first day, we have been luckier with the weather & the trail. Our second day started a bit damp but by 10 am we had enough sun that we were back walking in shorts & by lunchtime, we were sat eating with all our gear spread out around us drying out in the suns warm rays.
As we've experienced a few times already, finding a flat spot to camp for the night has been a challenge... The 2nd night took an extra miles of walking & some peering through the pines, but we found a sweet level patch big enough for both of us... Last night though, it was easy with a good saddle giving us both good spots to pitch, & a great view over the mountains, valleys & the sunset... And another bug-free dinner to boot. Sweet!

Cranking the Crags...

It was quite a wet day... We left our resupply & near-o stop of Dunsmuir & were back on the trail by 0900, climbing all the way from 2000 ft up to 6800. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't the best we've had so far and although the first 4 miles or so weren't too bad, as we got higher, we entered the low clouds that were rumbling. Not long after that, the fine mist became a steady rain so lunch was a 20 minute hurried affair under a giant pine before we carried on upwards into more wet.
The views of Castle Crags through the must were pretty cool, and I managed to get a few pix without soaking my camera.
Once we were high up above the tree line, the rain eventually stopped, but the trail was choked with saturated bushes so we actually got even wetter as we pushed through!
After what seemed like an age, tired wet feet pounding along not so fun rocky trails, we crossed the Trinity Divide and began dropping down towards Gumboot Lake where we stopped for the night. Our tents were barely up and taut when it decided to rain on us again, but luckily for only 20 minutes or so.
Sitting down for dinner on our foam sit-pads on a rock each, although everything around us was wet, it was a good feed as the cold wet snap we'd been walking through all day had killed off all the bugs! Thank goodness for small mercies!!
RWK
Out!

Chocolate at the creek...

Here's Tom enjoying his favourite chocolatey treat as we relaxed for lunch at a great cold creek.

Billowing forest fires.

After the previous thunderstorms, the lighting had left it's mark!