Between Two Pinheads

Day 23. July 17.

We were within 45 minutes of our stated start time. A normal day. We camped next to a “honey hole” which is what fishermen call a productive spot on the water. These fishermen were about 20 feet offshore and pretty excited about catching their limits so early.

We zipped back to a special site we passed the evening before. It is called Little Crater Lake. Basically a large chunk of rock dropped 45 feet allowing an aquifer to release clear, cold water. However, the pressure was not enough to push the water out. The water is too cold for most aquatic life. The result is a bluish pond that is deep and clear. On the one hand it is beautiful. On the other hand it is neither a lake nor a crater, so the name is a bit deceptive.

We returned to camp, shouldered our bags, and commenced the day’s hike.

Josh and I met a guy just a bit older than me who was going north. He had some crazy talk about snow fields and how we would need our ice axes in Oregon. We both thought he was nuttier than a fruitcake.

It was not super interesting hiking. Without many vistas, the plant life garnered most of my attention. We walked through one section where the moss hanging from the trees made them seem like shaggy beasts.

Another unusual find was a tree that was essentially caving in on itself. Most trees seem to fall over, but this one just seemed to collapse.

Best of all were these lilies. They are not common, but they are visually stunning and smell amazing.

Our goal for the day was 20ish miles. That would put us near a known campsite between North and South Pinhead Buttes. They looked like pinheads, too. The last few miles were almost all uphill to get between the two buttes. I am definitely the laggard in our group when it comes to uphill. Josh and Brad are like machines. Cole and I take a more measured approach.

When we reached the campsite we each found individual spots. I cowboy camped for the first time. It was cold at first with the evening wind. But once that died down, it was perfect laying under a blanket of stars and being thankful I was at this place at this time.