July 31

2089-2109

Ten miles of climbing up onto the shoulder of Mt. Hood takes us up to Timberline Lodge. I tried to eat minimal calories in the morning so I could show up hungry, and my sweat reeks of ammonia as we arrive. It is a little disconcerting to smell like toilet bowl cleaner, but I try not to think about it too much. It is buffet time.

Timberline lodge is a massive structure built in the 1930s. Some of you may recognize it from the outside scenes shot in the movie the Shining.

Inside are tons of passageways and murals.

As we make our way to the buffet room, we see that the dining area is far more refined than I remembered. We are surrounded by families politely eating while on vacation, and all the wait staff wearing suits and ties. We feel like members of a Germanic tribe entering civilized Rome. We are the Visigoths soiling the Roman baths. I eat 5 plates of food- flank steaks, smoked trout, mixed greens, wild mushroom pasta, and fresh baked bread with disgusting amounts of butter slathered on top.

After lunch we pick up a box sent to us from our friends Zoë and John. They sent us a shockingly tremendous resupply.

I don’t think John was capable of this, so this must be the result of the extremely thoughtful and capable zoë.

We leave Timberline lodge with full stomachs and full hearts from the generosity of our friends.

In the distance we can see one of our home mountains- Mt. St. Helens.

At dusk we faced a glacial river crossing. We walk up and down the river looking for a log to cross on, but find no good options. The water looks like milk, so it is impossible to see where you step. This is dangerous milk. The water is moving so fast that boulders underneath the surface of the water bash into our legs. We get across safely, but get soaked in the process.