Made it to Crater Lake. Knee is holding up, I've now over 200 miles on it. Trail is very hot with not much views, but I found raspberries and huckleberries that made it all worthwhile.
On the way up here I stopped in Ashland, Oregon. That was a cool town with nice people, pourover coffee, and bumper stickers that said, "be weird." I swear the day hiker I met on trail spoke in NPR voice. Welcome to Oregon. Stayed at a hostel where I was bunk mates with Quick Change (Switzerland). She was shocked that I was this far behind the herd, since we crossed paths in the desert a few times where I was pretty brisk. Explained the injury and the off-trail time. She's trying to catch up with her hiking partner, I'm just trying to book it. Next morning I took off.
I've been looking at the trail registries and have noticed a lot of names absent, including many strong hikers. Overall with fewer people in the trail, it's gotten quieter and less idle. I'm pushing for high miles so I'm either walking, eating, peeing, or sleeping. It's a little less fun being rushed, but the earlier I get to Washington the more likely I'll avoid the waves of cold fog and rain. I miss my trail crew, but I'm foremost trying to complete the hike efficiently.
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