Sorry we weren't able to get to a computer while staying in Mt. Shasta so I wasn't able to post our next maildrop address, as promised. But our ETA for that box will be about August 17th, so there is still time if you'd like to send something our way. Make sure to put the ETA on it as well as "Hold for PCT hikers!"
Here is the address:
c/o Crater Lake Camp Store
Mazama Village
Crater Lake, OR 97604
Crater Lake National Park has long been on my list of places to visit so we are super pumped to get there & we hope to spend some time there swimming/exploring/staring in awe at the beauty. We have been walking through smoke from nearby wildfires for the past 120+ miles & apparently that will continue until we reach Crater Lake, in 200 miles. Some of the smoke traveled from as far up as Oregon. There has been rumor that parts of the trail might close but as of this morning, the trail is open & we will continue on until we hear otherwise. It's nice to have other hikers around so we can all keep each other informed & keep an eye out for each other.
The road coming down to Etna was open but going in the other direction is closed due to the wildfires. We met Zero Gravity & Marshall last night, section-hiking southbound & after a short conversation, they decided they trusted us enough to give us the key to their car to take down to Etna! They needed the car dropped off here anyway & we needed a ride so it worked out beautifully for both of us. A Subaru Outback, just like ours, but this one was a stick shift. Unicroc felt he had enough experience from driving a stick-shift dumptruck at his last job as a landscaper & luckily, he remembered how to do it, so we made it safely to town. So amazing to meet someone so trusting of strangers to do such a thing - yet another reminder of how we can all help each other out, if we are willing.
Last night, we also met the first in the pack of thru-hiking southbounders, Bobcat, who started at the Canadian border on June 24th. He plans to get to Mexico at the same time we'll hopefully be arriving in Canada. He must be going faaaast. He was enthusiastic to talk to us & surprisingly not sick of talking to passing northbounders yet!
So this town of Etna is adorable, it actually quite reminds us of parts of Virginia we've traveled to, near Shenandoah National Park. The land is really starting to change as we travel north. Unfortunately, though, they've been dealing with these crazy wildfires & as we were eating the most delicious breakfast at Bob's this morning, we learned that one of the oldest houses right downtown burnt down in the middle of the night as well & a man & his cat died in the fire. This has been quite devastating to the town & you can just feel the vibes of sadness floating around. It's a very small town, it seems everybody knows everybody. Yet they are still smiling & super friendly toward us hikers. As soon as we arrived in town, I started to fall in love but now my heart is a little broken for what they are going through. But people are resilient & it's amazing how life always continues on.
| Trail Angel Lyndi very kindly took our picture (& emailed it to us so I could post it on here) after dropping us off from Mt. Shasta: Belgian Red (from Belgium), Simon (from England) & Us |
Much love to all y'all!
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