Trout Lake to Cascade Locks

Trout Lake is so cute. So cute in fact that we decided to take a zero and hang out with our friends Katie and Josef! from Pullman.

We went to the Ice Caves and Natural Lava Bridges nearby, which were epic - we needed headlamps to explore the icy subterranean world of ice stalagmites and crumbled lava rock. So cool! We felt like kids again exploring tiny passages and hidden rooms. That night at Flying L Ranch in Glenwood. We made gumbo for dinner and hung out with other people staying there.

ice cave entrance

BFF love

natural lava bridge

G'pa Ferd

Our room at the Lodge

creeper

view of Mt. Adams from back of Lodge

Thanks Momma Turner for the package!!

The next day we had breakfast at the ranch then Josef and Katie dropped us off at the trailhead. Thanks guys for driving 6 hours to see us!!!!
We saw nearly 40 northbound thru-hikers. Woah! We are starting to see people we met in Kennedy Meadows-- so cool. We hiked about 15 miles and made camp in the woods.
We walked about 24 miles and ran into about 20 northbounders then made camp on top of a little knoll. While eating dinner we loaned up and saw a female elk walk out, see us and freak out. She ran away and then we saw that she wasn't alone- there was a male elk with her. It was so neat-- we're pretty sure we got to see them because it was so windy and they probably couldn't smell us as well. That evening we sat and listened to the elk bugling (if that's how its spelled)... They sound like velociraptors from Jurassic Park. :)
After hiking g about 7 miles the next morning, we breaked at the water source and saw Hex and Jex!! Yay for Team Eye Candy! We spent a good hour with them then continued on our journey. Ferd had some bad stomach cramps so we did a shorter day of 18 miles and made camp.

Our next day was windy and beautiful. Its so cool being able rocks watch the seasons change. We ran into Snaps... Another Team Eye Candy reunion. We continued on and finally made it to Cascade Locks but not after getting lost on the trail, hiking on a jeep road, picking apples and blackberries, finding our way to SR 14 and highway walking until we got a hitch to the Bridge of the Gods. We walked across.... Finally completing our first state!!!!!!!!!!!
Now we must feast! PCT Days is this weekend so we'll probably hang out. :) Life is so very good.

our road walk