Miles: 1994.7 to 2026

Mileage: 31.3

Day: 96

The alarm went off at 5:30 and 6. Nope. Too early. Richard reset it for 6:30 a.m. Not a huge difference, but enough to make us feel better about getting up.

Despite the direct sun, things took a little while to warm up. The lava walking continued for a few more miles and eventually we got into live trees.

In the afternoon we started hiking up into the Mount Jefferson Wilderness. We had lovely views from the ridge lines down onto lakes.

It was very windy again and I was glad to drop down over to the east side and out of the direct gale.

About four miles from our planned campsite, we got water at Rockpile Lake. Then it was back into the wind. I spent the four-mile walk hoping that our tentsite wouldn’t be on the west face of the ridge.

Just north of Rockpile Lake, we saw a small forest fire. It was below us and west a couple of miles, but still nerve racking. The wind was strong and steady. That is not good for fires.

We passed a southbound hiker who said he’s been seeing spot fires all through Washington and Oregon.

Our campsite was sheltered enough but still up on a ridge. We made mac and cheese and ate as the clouds rolled in.