BPL 2000

BackpackingLight hike - Oregon 2000

On Sunday, I drove from McCall, Idaho to Sandy, Oregon. At the Best Western Motel I met with the three male members of our group. They were marvelous, Treadwell being the biggest surprise of all. Really tall, young, energetic with a great sense of humor. George Cole with that wonderful soft southern accent and Don Ladigan our trip planner who looked after all the many details.

At dinner time we met with Carolyn Eddy and her husband and a few of their friends. Another big surprise for me. I was sure I had met Carolyn and her goats on the PCT a few years back. I was expecting a very small lady instead here was this tall, redheaded marvelous lady.

We had a wonderful dinner and afterwards we went to the local park to have 'show and tell' and sharing. I think the hit of the show was George and his hammock, there were lots of trees in Oregon for him to tie up to. Also, Don showed us his Swiss Card and on my return home I stopped at REI and purchased a 'Swiss Card' to use instead of the heavy jack knife I carried.

Monday morning we were all set to hike, we had shuffled cars around on Sunday afternoon. The three guys set off in Dons truck to start their hike from Mt. Hood Lodge. I had previously hiked this part, so I decided to start with Carolyn at Lolo Pass and this would complete my hike of the State of Oregon.

My car had been taken to the trailhead where we will all come out, so we were all set. At this point, I will not write about the three guys, I am sure they will describe the early part of their hike.

I was picked up by Carolyn and her husband in a small truck with a box on the back, and as we drove to the trailhead at Lolo Pass, I was wondering where the goats were. The box on the back of the truck did not seem big enough to carry much, was I ever surprised, when out came three of the biggest goats I have ever seen, they were like small ponies.

Carolyn is a very competent and knowledgeable lady and in no time at all the goats were packed, and off we went. Now my indoctrination began. I was 'herded' by the goats and became part of the pack. We had Sunny, Packman, Festus and then me, all in a line behind Carolyn and the Dog.

These goats were constantly 'poop'in and pea'in' so I thought I would give them room and stay back a little. Well that is not the way it worked. Festus took a liking to me and if I got more than ten feet behind, then he stopped, turned his head with a look that said 'what's keeping you, get up here'.

Festus was my friend and wanted to be kissed ( I am not big on kissing goats) and when he was allowed loose in camp he made a beeline to me and chewed up any plastic bags I had left out.

We did 13 1/2 miles the first day and these remarkable animals were able to get over most of the six big blow downs we encountered. If they really could not get over them, Carolyn would unpack them, help get the goats over without the packs, and then repack on the other side. Most of the time it was just the big white goat Festus that needed the help. I was amazed, at how the goats could jump and balance on small roots etc.

Our first night camping was a disaster of sorts, but the water was there. It was really a dirty place, in fact it was a turn around for cars, on an old rock hard road. Carolyn discovered her tent had fallen off one of the goats some where along the trail, so she decided to sleep out. The wind was howling so bad I was having a hard time getting my tarp tent up, and there was no way you could put the stakes in the ground, so I used big rocks, but after one especially huge gust it all came down again for the tenth time, so I slept out also.

The next morning I could not believe how wet the tops of the sleeping bags were. Luckily we were not wet inside the bags. I think the 'big white cloud' over the Columbia river decided to blow its moisture on us.

We got started a little late this morning. We waited for the sun to help dry our gear. We did not have far to walk this morning as we were to meet the 'Hiking Machines' (the guys) at Wahtum Lake.

Don Ladigan, Carolyn and Festus, Marge (the old gal) George Cole

We settled into a great campground on Wahtum Lake. We thought the men might arrive in the evening or maybe the next morning. We were in the middle of a afternoon nap, the goats too, when Treadwell, George and Don arrived. They had done a 20 mile day the first day and a 18 mile on this second day. We had a fun time introducing them to the goats. And of course, a little celebration with the Southern Comfort followed. Treadwell had picked up Carolyn's tent, where it had fallen off the goats, and packed it in, she was happy about this.

The next two days were easy days, and we were in the most spectacular part of the Eagle Creek Trail, with loads of waterfalls, narrow canyons, walking under a waterfall on one portion of the trail. On the steep canyons, there was a cable drilled into the stone, so you had a hand grasp, if needed. There was lots of picture taking here.

Marge (the old gal) ready to walk the trail under the waterfall.

Carolyn and the goats could not come out this way, livestock was not allowed. She went over the Benson Plateau and came out on the PCT.

Once back in Sandy, we had a huge lunch and lots of good talking. I drove Don to get his car at Mt. Hood lodge and then came the goodbyes. We had great weather the entire time and wonderful company. It was a marvelous time.

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