Posted by 27.2 miles
It was a warm night and a joy to pack up a dry camp. No rain. No condensation. The sun was just peaking over the hills as I hit the trail for the day. I was half way up a climb started at the end of yesterday so that was a bonus. It would be a few miles up hill and then back down to a valley floor.
Stopping on a high point for a rest I found I had some cell signal in the middle of nowhere and replied to a few emails relating to the prospective new jobs on returning home.
Once back down the trail was relatively flat with long sections having just a slight and gradual incline, my preferred grade. Steep up hill is hard for the effort required. Steep downhill is hard on the knees. Flat is ok but a gradual climb perfect.
Along the way I came across a bunch of bushes that I thought were blueberries but in fact turned out to be Oregon Berries. Popping one in my mouth it was extremely bitter and had to be spat back out. I was told later that these are usually made inti jams with a crap load of sugar added but no good to eat straight off the bush. No kidding.
Late on the day I completed the final climb of the day and had around 6.5 miles to reach my goal campsite for the day on the banks of Straight Creek.
This was a long and tough haul all through burnt country. Entire hillsides had been annihilated by past fires. Dead skeletons of trees still standing told the story with a mass of with dead and downed logs littering the ground. Little tree regrowth was appearing through the grassy understory. I’ve hiked through so much of this type of forest that it was becoming depressing. I hated walking through it.
I would have stopped to camp earlier however the sheer volume of dead standing trees made it impossible. Far too dangerous. I pressed on reaching the banks of Straight River right on 7pm. The trail crossed over the river to a protected camp site in a small grove of trees unaffected by fire.
Shoes came off as there was no way I was getting them wet right at the end of the day. I was keen to dip the feet anyway to feel out the water temperature and hanging for a swim or at least a dip to wash the days sweat away. The perfect deep and crystal clear swimming hoke was right there but it was just too cold. My feet were numb after the 20ft wide crossing.
It was the perfect camp site for the night. Smoke haze still clung to the mountain tops but made for another great sunset.
Mick Beckers 