Start: 1215 -Forest road 23 (from Trout Lake)
End:  1830 - Killen Creek
Miles (today): 16
Miles (cumulative): 2278 (2056 PCT, 149 alternate, 73 off)

What an absolutely beautiful hike today!  In fact, it was an absolutely beautiful day all around. :)

I slept well and didn't get up until after 0700.  Nick went downstairs to start our laundry and then we made our way to the cafe for breakfast.  Just before we walked into the cafe, I looked in the window, saw two people sitting at a table, and thought, "wait, is that..? No, it can't be."

As soon as we entered the cafe I looked again. The woman looked back at me said something like, "No way! What are you guys doing here?"  

I suppose I should know by now that running into people I haven't seen in forever is just what happens on the trail, but I'm always surprised when it does.  Sitting at the table was Jet Pack and Day Hike (now Tracker)!!!!!!  I fondly remember hiking with them and think about them a lot - and suddenly here they are!  We sat with them and started catching up.  I love Jet's friendly energy- it's contagious!  It wasn't long before Dirt Squirrel and her brother walked in, too.  How awesome!!!  We all sat together and it was wonderful.  It was a great breakfast (and the food was good, too).

After breakfast, Jet and Tracker got a ride to the trail, Dirt Squirrel and her brother went exploring, and Nick and I went back to our room at the store to pack up and charge our phones.

It took us a while to get everything sorted and for our phones to charge (there was only one outlet in the room and last night we charged our external batteries), but by 1100 we were finally ready.  Nick ran into a guy at the store who said he could give us a ride back to the trail (everyone we met in the town was so nice!) so we were all set.

Once back on the trail I felt a little sick (too much coffee) and my pack felt really heavy (I think I have way too much food), but the weather was perfect, my feet didn't hurt (too much), and the scenery was amazing.  All day I caught glimpses of Mt. Adams and another mountain (I'm not sure which one it is).   It was pretty hilly but I barely noticed- it was just so beautiful!  These new shoes really make a difference, too - it is so refreshing to be out of the cloud of pain so I can fully appreciate where I am and what I'm doing.  

Halfway through the afternoon I saw Roswell soaking up the sun in a meadow, so I stopped to chat with him for a bit.  It was just a typical hiker conversation about camping and the cold and what hurts, but after I resumed my hike I felt truly happy and content.  Roswell rocks!

Even though there was quite a bit of rocky downhill to get through, I made it to our planned campsite in decent time.  This campsite is such a beautiful place!!!  

To top off the day, Dirt Squirrel is camping with us.  Nick started a campfire (he loves his campfires) and the three of us sat on a log by the fire, enjoyed dinner, and talked.  

I'm so happy!  Why oh why didn't I get new shoes sooner?  LOL 

Along the trail: