Day 116

Zero #1. Although it was my first fire detour on the trail, the constant thoughts of fire closures beginning in Northern California started to have some mental challenges on me. After a good rest at the Motel 6, I decided to get a rental car, do a few days of Zero in Bend, and skip the ongoing fire situation in central Oregon.

After picking up a rental car in Klamath Falls, I made my my way to Crater Lake. I decided on these extended zeroes I'll give back to my fellow thru hikers by doing a little trail magic. I swung by the detour road walk that I came down the previous day and saw five thru hikers desperately needing a ride to Crater Lake. I offered them ice cold beer, sodas, and chips, and they all crammed inside, along with their packs, in the little Kia Soul. It was a good feeling giving back to the trail. We all hung out outside the Annie Creek restaurant, where other thru hikers also gathered around. I gotta say we love the outdoors, the smell of fresh air, although a little smokey with all the fires around the park.

Bliss and his wife Meg then came in later that afternoon, along with Trailname, and we all had dinner together. The hiker camp at the Mazama Village campground was full that night. And another bubble has formed.