A Little Smoke = Empty Woods

To expand Saturday’s PCT hike from Willamette Pass to Bobby Lake, yesterday was the PCT from Bobby Lake NOBO to Charlton Lake and back with a pass up The Twins. The woods were basically empty – literally. I saw maybe 10 PCTers and 1 local hiker the entire time. Animals and birds were scarce as well.

For the first 30-45 minutes to Bobby Lake were with headlamp, and at Bobby Lake one PCTer was breaking camp to start out. The smoke made for an odd predawn view of the lake.

As the sun rose above the ridges, the smoke lingering in the woods reminded me of those mist-heavy mornings when it’s water reflecting the sun … not today.

Surprisingly there were several ‘dirty ponds’ in this section compared to the Bobby Lake to Pass section. As my buddy Jeff says, “dirty water depends on how thirsty you are”. I didn’t drink any pond water this time.

The Twins are a decent detour off to the east and up 2,000 or so. The Twins are nearly identical geology to Maiden Peak to the south. I only climbed the shorter one to save time for Charlton Lake. This looks to the taller one in the south with blue skies.

But looking to the Northeast and the direction of the closest fires was completely different around Three Sisters and looking across the valley to Diamond Peak.

The smoke seemed to hug the valley floors more than the entire atmosphere.

I was getting tired arriving at Charlton Lake for lunch, rest and new water. The smoke wasn’t much better, and looking south back to the Twins left no doubt.

This section of the PCT is a walk in the woods – no exceptions other than lakes and ponds. The trail is fast, soft and perfect for walking meditation … the silence hit for hours in the early morning as everyone seemed waiting for the smoke to lift – it didn’t. While the smoke and heat made for a cautious day, the solitude and quiet made for an immensely peaceful day. I hiked these same two hikes last year and remember the same ‘after hike feeling’ … such a boring hike from a vista perspective, but such inward rewarding hike. I keep going back + it’s a short drive.

The Route

Started at the Bobby Lake TH off Waldo Lake Road and then NOBO on PCT to Twins cut off. From Twins back NOBO on PCT to Charlton Lake. Turn around and SOBO on PCT to Twins cut off and that to Betty Lake Trail to Car (cut off the last southern section of PCT)

Trail conditions outside of the smoke and heat were perfect – literally. Not a step over blowdown and soft, soft trail coverings. Very fast too. Human traffic was very limited and mostly NOBO PCTers with a couple SOBO peeps. Animals were few- sounds or sights.

Data Geek Cellar

• Shoes: Altra Timp 6 WP Books – Currex Insole, T-Form insole pad
• Pack: Gossamer Gear Grit
• Upper Layers: PFG Sun hoody (Columbia)
• Upper shell: none
• Trekking Poles: Gossamer Gear
• Approximate Times: 05:30-14:00
• Carbon ratio: -.67 hours (3 hours driving: hours outdoors 8.3); YTD = 174.46 hours banked
• Miles hiked YTD: 891
• Notes:
  • Smoke and heat posed challenging conditions