Lava Rocks, Hot Roads & River Dreams

Daily miles: ~35 | Total miles: 5,595.96

My alarm rang at 4am, but my body said no. It took me a good 40 minutes to actually crawl out of my tent, prepare a coffee, eat a bagel, and get my buggy packed and ready. I finally set off just before 6am, right into a long uphill. No chance to run, so I took it as a warm-up hike in the early, cool air—savoring what I knew would be one of the last comfortable moments of the day.

After a bit of a downhill, the road angled back up again, winding steadily toward Santiam Pass at 4,817 feet. To my left stood Mt. Washington, its dramatic, snow-covered peak cutting sharply into the sky. The sun was already beating down by then. I felt it. Hard.

Thankfully, Don appeared with cold water and snacks. The buggy had my reserve stash, but today was a thirsty one right from the start. Don’s AC is broken, so I kept urging him to park only in the shade—no use both of us overheating.

The road was a rolling one—up and down, winding through surreal terrain. I passed fields of black lava rock, deep red gravel lining the shoulders, and forests of towering pine trees. In some areas, scorched hillsides still bore the scars of wildfires. Then, a special moment: I crossed the Pacific Crest Trail. I paused at the access point, took a photo, and felt memories of my 2023 thru-hike swell up in me. South to North… and now East to West. I’m almost there. Full circle.

As the heat soared, so did my thirst. Today became one of those “just keep going” days. One foot in front of the other. Stay upright. Run straight. Don’t stop. My mind narrowed to focus only on finishing.

The final stretch was tough—a construction zone with traffic queueing up behind me—but just after 3pm I turned off into the shade of the woods. A peaceful campground nestled by the McKenzie River, trees all around, and Don pulling in just behind me.

We picked a site right by the water, tucked into the greenery. I took a much-needed dip in the river, sat to recover, took care of my feet, and now… Don is cooking spaghetti with tomato sauce (legend). Tent’s already pitched. I’m dreaming of lying down and letting this day wash off me.

It’s so close now. A few more days. The Pacific is calling. Let’s go.