Creeping Doubt
- Samuel Emigrant
- Nov 6, 2018
- 3 min read
Day 13 brought an overwhelming sense of doubt whether I would be able to continue on this hike. Yesterday was a tough day of hiking. I stepped awkwardly a number of times that returned a sharp pain in my arthritic left knee. Up to now the gel and cortisone injection seemed to be doing the job. I only had a problem if I twisted or hyper extended my knee, which was a semi regular occurrence. So far no swelling, but I was afraid deterioration was right around the corner. I sent a message home, today was to be the moment of truth and point of no return.
I knew the last major artery to civilization was coming up just a few miles ahead at Santium Pass on Highway 20. I was starting to doubt whether I could make today's climb. I started late, deciding to get morning coffee in the A-Frame kitchen and then a good breakfast at the youth camp, getting onto the trail around 9:30 a.m., three hours later than usual. I passed a very unusual site of a logging machine cutting and stacking trees (Pic 2).
I know the biggest hurdle for me to overcoming any obstacle is usually mental. I also know that if I just start, I usually persevere. I knew I had a significant climb ahead and the temperature was getting hot. I decided I would try today's hike and see how I felt in the morning. If the knee got worse I could hike back out to Highway 20 and hitchhike down into Bend Oregon, where I could surely find a bus ride back to the Bay Area.
I knocked out the first three relatively flat miles, reaching Santium Pass in short order. I was treated to a nice view of Mt Washington as I left the area (Pic 1). Highway 20 was wide and busy but I made it across, doing my best imitation of a scared rabbit. I made it to Mt Jefferson Wilderness (Pic 3) but I missed the the self-permit kiosk that was apparently in the parking lot I did not visit. I had also missed the kiosk for Mt Washington Wilderness, but so far hadn't run into any Forest Rangers.
From Santium Pass forward the hike went through another burned out area where there was little shade. I had a four mile climb with a 1300 ft elevation gain in the heat of the day. This didn't do much for my attitude or mental fortitude. However, the views were once again pretty amazing as I climbed and looked back at Three Sisters, Mt Washington and Big Lake (Pics 4 and 5). There was some new growth among what I called Ghost trees (Pic 6 and 8). I also caught a glimpse of what was to come over the next couple of days should I continue, Three Fingered Jack and Mt Jefferson (Pic 7 and 9).
I had a short diversion from a couple of day hikers on their way down the trail, who wanted to play a practical joke on the rest of their hiking party. I agreed to inform the party their car had been stolen and then subsequently comment on their friends tank top. I decided that joke was pretty lame and decided to use the fact I was sucking air to help their friends turn the tables. I told them about the joke and suggested the two ladies in the group rush into the parking lot and tell the jolly pranksters that I had collapsed and the other guys in the group were administering CPR and they needed them to hike back up and help carry me out. I'm not sure how it went but at least I was amused and it took my mind off the climb for a few minutes. :)
On the way to tonight's destination I had views of more lakes, Martin and Booth in front of a volcanic cone (Pic 10 and 11). I also had another view of one of tomorrow's landmarks, Three Fingered Jack (Pic 12). I finally made it to a dry campsite where I stayed alone for the night. It was a rough day but I made it and I decided to see how I felt in the morning before making the call to pass the point of no return, or head back and out. Stay tuned.
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