August 31

End: top of a ridge in live trees!
Daily: 21.5
End: 2011

We walked down to the coffee shop with Kevin today and said our goodbyes before getting picked up by Lloyd Gust's nephew in law, also named Lloyd. Lloyd Gust is the premier trail angel in central Oregon. Anyway, Lloyd the younger took us up to the pass, where we started the long slow push to Santiam Pass. 

Today was mostly either on lava or in a burn area. It would suck on a hot day, but I wore my jacket and rain pants all day to stay warm. 

We wanted to camp after Santiam Pass but there was burn that looked like it went on forever. We don't like to camp in burns because those trees usually have burnt or rotting roots and are prone to falling over, especially in windy conditions. And surprise, it's really windy today. 

So we passed up a few flat spots, hoping the ridge would somehow be better. It was! As soon as we got up here the trail dipped slightly to the leeward side and there were live trees instead of ominously creaking dead ones. We even found a real campsite with a fire ring. 

It is so damn cold. I'm glad, since it will kill the mozzies and it's supposed to get better, but man! Haven't had a night this cold since before the Sierra. We really have hiked all summer.