PCT: OR Section G - Cascade Locks to Timberline (SOBO)
Day 161 - 10/14/25 - Tunnel Falls Over
Distance: 16.8
Mile Start / End: 505.6 - 522.4
Weather: Sunny, windy
End Location: Wahtum Lake
Lessons Learned:
Woke up around 9am
Honeybun breaky
Packed up and walked over to the Bridge of the Gods Diner
They gave me the wrong food
Was surprised because there weren’t many people there😅
When I got what I ordered, it was just ok, nothing to call home about
Jordan texted me that he was down to hike Eagle Creek with us and told me he was on his way
Cooooool
Greenhorn and I left to go walk the Bridge of the Gods
Even though we hadn’t crossed over to Oregon on foot, we still wanted the experience
It was windy up there
And although I never felt unsafe, it was still a frightening experience
The bridge is basically a giant metal grate so you can see the underneath the entire time
If you have a fear of heights, I would not recommend 😂
I told Jordan to meet us at the diner so we walked back over there
Jordan pulled up and his girlfriend was driving, she seemed nice
She drove us the 2 miles to Eagle Creek, thanks 😌
We started hiking at 11:40am
Tune in, Smurf out
6 miles to Tunnel Falls
I’ve done this hike 3 times before but never made it all the way to Tunnel Falls
The first time, the water was to high to cross safely (now with my new skills, I definitely could’ve done it)
Another time it was raining and miserable and we still couldn’t cross safely
The last time, my friends were strapped for time and we just went to punchbowl falls
Regardless of whether I had “succeeded” in the past, it’s always been one of my favorite hikes - there’s so many waterfalls 😌
It felt weird having a full pack on though
It was crisp and the autumn colors stunning
Hiked past Punch Bowl Falls
Along the precarious edges
Another waterfall
Saw Greenhorn and Jordan up ahead, they were going fast
Or maybe I was just slow
Crossed the creek that had stopped me before but it was practically dry now
I guess fall was the best time to do this hike 🤷🏼♂️
After the creek, I was in uncharted territory
Only 1 more mile to Tunnel Falls
I heard the rushing water before I saw it
I turned a corner and saw the beautiful waterfall
Wowwwww
I pulled my phone out and got a video as I walked through
So cool
When I popped out the other side, I heard yelling
It was Greenhorn and Jordan, they were at the bottom of the falls back on the other side
I was about to walk back over to them but a girl had her boyfriend taking photos for her so I waited my turn
Sorry chap
Walked back through the tunnel and down to Greenhorn and Jordan
they had made a new friend, a trail runner named Neon, had hiked the PCT previously
He ran past me earlier hahaha
Jordan had made some Yerba and offered me some, yum
It was my first true Yerba experience, what a great start 😂
With the mist and shade, it was cold down there so we all agreed to keep moving
Neon even said he would join us on our hike to Wahtum Lake
We left around 3pm
Passed another waterfall, very cool
The others sped ahead but I took my time
Switchbacks up
I took a late lunch break and ate some tuna and laid out like a fat cat
I noticed a spider’s web glistening in the sun and watched as time drifted
I felt emotional about the journey coming to an end and was afraid about losing my appreciation for the little things when I returned to “reality”
I wrote a poem:
I hope I still find reasons
to stop and stare
at a spider’s web
and appreciate the seasons,
or to find an excuse
To sit and listen
To creek flow by
And trickle for a bit;
I hope I don’t lose
That timeless attitude
and gratitude
for the seconds
spent doing what I love;
I hope it’s not replaced
With some petty chase
of things that don’t truly matter
And scatter my mind once more;
I hope I stay who I am now,
different than the person I hoped for
but stronger than who I was before
I left around 4pm and continued hiking up
At the junction for Indian Spring I decided to take a shortcut to Wahtum Lake
I thought some more
We don’t forget our experiences
Each instance influences who we become, we just have to chose how to spend our time and on what we experience
Time is the most important resource in the world
As I hiked, I thought of another poem:
To hold each second
As sweetly
As a drop of dew
On a blade of grass
Is a feeling
I hope will never pass
But as the worlds spins on
And I hike on,
The encore plays last
And goes by
Just a little too fast
The forest got dark and I felt like it would be a good area for mushrooms
So I kept a watchful eye
No way…
Matsutake!
So fragile and shy,
One white cap popped up from the moss
And I knew immediately
Apparently they have a very distinct scent like cinnamon and sweaty socks, so I took a big whiff
So funky, smelled kind of like Brie cheese, didn’t really get the cinnamon notes😂
I passed Neon and said goodbye, cool dude
Kept hiking
Made it to the lake around 5:30pm
Greenhorn was set up at the West end of the Lake in some young pine trees
The wind was atrocious
He was basically a wind tunnel
He said that this was the best spot he found after surveying the lake
I felt like there had to be better spots 😅
I said I was gonna take a look lol
Found better spots almost immediately…
Continued the PTC N trail and there was a lil turn off spot right on the water
Kushhhhh
Set up and then walked back over to Greenhorn to chat and see if he wanted to join
He didn’t want to pack up again
I told him I wanted to keep going to Timberline
I wanted to keep playing the game of FarOut
I’d figure out the package after the trail
I wasn’t out here for slippers, no matter how soft and cozy (that’s what was in the package🤣)
I’m sure I could get them shipped to my buddies house and I could go pick them up sometime next week
Ending at timberline just seemed so much better
It’s what I had been planning on doing since I flipped
He wasn’t sold on the idea
I told him to sleep on it and we could discuss in the morning
I went back to my camp and made dinner in the dark
I sliced up some of the matsutake
This would be my first time trying the delicate mushroom
I was now getting notes of expo marker from the unique scent😅
Boiled lightly with oil then added the water
Brought to boil and then added ramen
The mushrooms were droopy and slurpy in a playful way
I really enjoyed the taste they have
So light and unique
Like an umami marshmallow
Watched Geordie Shore and went to bed around 11pm
Day 162 - 10/15/25 - Last Full Day
Distance: 21.3
Mile Start / End: 522.4 - 543.7
Weather: Sunny, cold
End Location: Muddy Fork
Lessons Learned: you can never go wrong with trying
Woke up just before 7am
Dirty chai for a dirty boi
Melancholy feelings, this will be the last full day of the PCT
Left just before 8:30am
Goal is Ramona Falls 23 mi away
Quick detour to latrine at trailhead
I don’t think the Matsutake agreed with me
Or my filter was fucked from the cold weather
Either way I was glad there was a toilet
Checked in with Greenhorn
His pants zipper broke and he was ready to be done
He told me he wouldn’t be joining me on my journey to Timberline
I was sad to see him go but it felt right to finish the trail how I had started it, alone
I gave him a hug and wished him the best
Hopefully I would see him in Portland
Started the trail around 9am
Up and through the shade
It was cold but thankfully it wasn’t not snowing or raining
Cauliflower mushroom, did not collect
View of hood
Coming for you 😤
Then got a view of the other mountains
Mt St Helen looked pretty
Mt Adam’s looked handsome
Mt Rainier looked smaller than before
Passed Indian Mountain, no side quest
Put on some Podcasts
Took a break just before 12pm
Great view of hood
Pretty simple hiking, nothing too exciting - especially compared to all the waterfalls from yesterday
Put on LOTR
Hood got closer and closer
Rhododendron bushes began popping up again, haven’t seen them in a while
Paved road 4pm
Talked to a guy, didn’t know about the Lolo Pass Hut
Walked road, might as well try, if it’s locked then I’ll just take diff trail to intersect back with PCT
Quick ride from gal who asked about a lake
Cute gal with red hair named Jordan
Another Jordan helping me out😂
She dropped me of at the trailhead
Hiked up and bushwacked to the hut
The hut wasn’t locked… because there wasn’t a hut at all😅
Just a dirt road and a cool view of Hood
Back to trail
McGee Creek to Bald Mtn
Pretty steep incline
Took scenic way
Stunning view of mt hood and sunset,
I suppose it made up for no hut 🥲
Resumed PCT around 5:40pm
Golden chanterelles!
Kind of surprised, it’s pretty late in the season for them
Grabbed some for dinner
I don’t think it was the matsutake but my stomach was still feeling off
So did not want to eat the matsutake again tonight just in case
Arrived at camp around dusk at 6:30pm
Filled water
Set up tent
Made dinner
Flash boiled the chanterelles, accidentally knocked them over
But just picked them back off the ground
They came from the ground anyways, a little more dirt wouldn’t hurt lol 😂
Ramen bomb with Thai tuna
Golden chanterelles are my favorite, felt nice to have them for my last meal on trail
Geordie shore
Bed around 9pm
Day 163 - 10/16/25 - Season Finale
Distance: 12.3 miles
Mile Start / End: 543.7 - 556
Weather: Sunny, cold
End Location: Timberline Lodge
Lessons Learned: just because you reach the destination doesn’t mean the journey is over
Woke up around 7:30am
Cold
Last dirty chai in bed
Protein bar
Packed up
Timberline in 12 mi, Ramona Falls in 2
Can’t believe this journey is almost over 🥲
Took the blue blaze
Beautiful hike along a quiet creek
Moss and mist from dew
Mushrooms all about
Many red and orange amanita muscaria
Reached Ramona Falls around 10:30am
Dunked my head for a proper “Shower in Waterfall”
Was going to eat but too cold
Found nice spot in sun a little bit down trail
Hippy tortilla
Timberline in 10 mi, 4000ft elevation gain😅
Should get there around 3pm
Up
Pragmatic playlist
“Driftin” by GRiZ
Kate bushed it, one last time 😤
Reached snow around noon
7.6 more miles
Pass 2 guys with ginormous bags by Rushing Water Creek
I stopped to let them pass and the guy in front asked me, “How many night have you been out here?”
I looked at him and thought about how to respond
It was kind of a subjective question…
I replied, “163”
(Hahaha kind of an asshole response but he caught me off guard 😅)
He stared back confused
I broke the silence, “I’m sorry, what do you want to know?”
“Does it get any easier?”
Fuck, another subjective question
I clarified, they were doing the 40 mile Timberline Loop and trying to complete it in 2 days
The guy in front was wearing sperry boots
I explained that the snow goes away in a mile or so and that Bald Mountain is really cool but warned them about the weather, they looked rather unprepared
They passed and I continued on
6 mi to go
Took the wrong trail for a little
Followed the paw prints of a dog that seemed to be having a grand ol time in the snow
Cool to track and trace its excitement
Back on the right trail, I descended zig zag canyon
Cool waterfall and view
Climbed up and out of the canyon
Was getting hungry and was out of water but wanted to wait until the lodge
Hungry overcame me and I a break after climbing out of zig zag canyon
I found a nice spot to lay with an incredible view of Mt Hood
Saved the best for last 😌
The final feast
Some would say… a fancy feast
Ranch tuna packet with mayo and seasoning paired nicely with my crushed up cool ranch Doritos
Also ate the rest of my cheddar cheese
Last time I’d get to be a fat cat in the woods for a while and honestly what a way to end it
Truly a stunning view of Mt Hood
Started to get emotional
Decided to do the last 2.3 miles with no music
I didn’t want to distract myself from my final moments on trail 🥲
Snowy
Quick water fill up at spring - the last fill up
Passed comms tower
Didn’t follow tracks for a second and post holed a bit
Back to the tracks😅
Around 3:40pm, I popped over a hill and saw the Timberline Lodge
I couldn’t believe it
So much excitement
As I walked closer my emotions shifted from joy to sadness
This journey was actually coming to an end…
Mt Jefferson was beautiful in the distance
My eyes started to water
I took a second to sit on a rock and process my feelings
I looked out at the view, the Cascade Range and the Pacific Crest
Holy fuck, I’ve walked all of that…
It’s incredible what you can do with shitty junk food and a dream
A few tears fell and put my face in my hands for a second and stared at the snow
It’s really over…
I looked up at the mountains and the trees and whispered, “Thank you”
I received no response but the sound of the cold, howling mountain breeze
Or maybe that was a response…
I probably would’ve got more emotional but a little girl and her mom popped over the hill
So I sucked it up and grabbed my bag
It’s also hard to linger (do you have to?) when you feet are cold and soaked 😅
But I don’t think that will be too much of a problem anymore
I walked down the road past a group of tattooed dudes
Looked like they were taking the hardest album cover shot of the year
But I didn’t pry
My emotions shifted back to joy, and I briskly jogged down the paved road to the lodge
There were a lot of people around but I didn’t care
I took a deep breath and let out one last, “YAHOO”
People’s heads turned and look at me with confusion
As I approached the lodge, I collapsed my poles and had a huge smile that wouldn’t go away
There was a group sitting on chair watching Mt Hood
“Excuse me?” One girl asked, “Do you know how far it is to the top”
“7 miles round trip” I told her
“Wowww we were way off” she said, “is this that what you just did?”
“Noo, I uh, just finished the Pacific Crest Trail” I replied with a grin
I chatted with them for a bit and then went into the Lodge to book a room
I walked down the old wooden stairs and down to the lobby
“Are you checking in?” The receptionist asked me
With a smile on my face, I said, “Yeah… something like that” and booked a room for the night
