Days 124-125, August 19-20: PCT Trail Days in Cascade Locks
PCT Trail Days was a fun diversion from hiking and a chance to see many friends I have made on trail but hadn’t seen in anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. The event included sponsor booths giving away lots of free gear and doing raffles, a beer garden, interesting talks about trail life and beyond, and more. It’s a fun yearly event to check out even if you’re not a thru-hiker, but just curious about the PCT or hiking in general. I had a great time!
Day 124, August 19: Eagle Creek Alternate to Mile 2148/Cascade Locks + PCT Trail Days
Start: Eagle Creek Alternate - Mile 2140.0ish
End: Cascade Locks - Mile 2147.8
Miles: 7.8
Ascent: 390 | Descent: 725
I woke up early and hiked in a few miles to Cascade Locks. I was stoked to see the Bridge of the Gods, which crosses from Oregon to Washington over the Columbia River (and is the infamous stopping point for Cheryl Strayed, who wrote Wild).
I figured I would get breakfast, but first wandered to a motel in town because I had read that they had laundry. And lo and behold, Chip Trick/Frankie was sitting on the porch of one of the rooms! She had been with the crew early on but had gotten off trail in Bishop due to injury, but had rejoined the group recently and planned to hike Washington with us. It was great to see her again! And the whole group was in the room, and they offered me the use of their shower while I did laundry in the motel. Heavenly.
The group was planning to check out of the room and move to the camping area for Trail Days, but we all discussed it and decided to stay an extra two nights. I was very happy to have a roof over my head and a bed to sleep in.
After getting clean, we wandered to get some food and then over to the main event. From there, the day was full of reunions with new and old hiker friends, some of which I met in the first 100 miles or had only just met on the coast. I didn’t take too many pictures, but I had a great time.
Day 125, August 20: PCT Trail Days in Cascade Locks cont.
Start: Cascade Locks - Mile 2147.8
End: Cascade Locks - Mile 2147.8
Miles: 0.0
Ascent: 0 | Descent: 0
Day 2 of Trail Days was much of the same- wandering around the sponsor booths, catching up with friends, and generally running amok. I listened to a fascinating talk by Gillian Larson, who is completing her third thru-ride of the PCT on horseback. My friends and I sat through a raffle led by an emcee who was super cringey and unfunny.
One of my favorite moments of the weekend was getting coordinate pee rags with Liz- I got one of her posing with “Shithead Steve,” a deer from earlier on in the trail who eats pee, and she got one of my face from the Oregon Coast Trail. They’re like friendship bracelets, but friendship pee rags.
All in all a fun day!
