PCT 2018 Day 88, July 19, Thursday
Start campsite near Timberline Lodge, mile 2094.4
End mile 2116.2, Salvation Spring and campsite
Miles walked: 21.8
I go down to the lodge a little early, with pack because I will fill water and get a supply box shipment after breakfast. 
I enjoy these historic lodges, and must include at least a couple of photos of the interior. 
Hun and I get a larger table for the breakfast buffet in the Cascadia Room, so that other hikers can join us, and soon we meet Packing, Cans, and Boombox, with Kodak coming later. 
Lively conversation and good food are a fine start to the day. Afterwards I go down to the activity building and get my box and repack and organize. I do appreciate the fast wifi, and download my favorite podcasts.
Finally the trail resumes around 10AM. Skiers are on the glacier today. 
Hun starts after me but catches up. We take the side trail to Ramona Falls. The sun is just at a good angle to illuminate the water.
Hun needs to stop for a rest, afflicted with heel blisters. She may need different shoes, requiring a trip into Portland. She may not hike far today, but hopes to catch up with me tomorrow.
Down from the mountain, the forest has thriving undergrowth, with moss and fern, starting to appear like a rainforest. 
I thought I saw an Ewok, but was mistaken. Later, after a long climb up switchbacks, the air becomes quite cool. Has the weather changed suddenly? I get to my planned stopping place, not hiking very late today, and dress warmly for a cold night.
Trees often grow tall in Oregon. 
The route passes by large and popular Timothy Lake. 
A small detour reveals Little Crater Lake, deep and blue. 
Later I pass Amanita (mushroom) and Hun (likes putting honey on food, from Germany) pausing for lunch, and we chat.
Amanita had to leave for a music concert, but Hun and I hike together the rest of the day. She is quite fast, even though only starting hiking at Ashland. Horses come down the trail a couple of times. 
Hun’s friend Kodak has stopped on the trail to snack on cherries someone gave her, and offers us some. We get closer to the summit of Mount Hood, realizing it is mostly loose gray sand, not rock. Our path is on the same type of sand, tough to go uphill. 
Hun and I go to the parking lot where a hiker shower is provided from a converted port-a-potty. The water is cold, and you have to hold the faucet on with one hand while soaping up with the other. Hun and I take turns, then go visit the lodge briefly as newly clean hikers. 
While in the lodge, Hun greets Jocelyn and Braydon, who she met at Olallie. They have taken a room at the lodge. On the way back we meet Kodak, who just showered. She allows me to take a reaction shot. 
Kodak shows us a closer camping spot to the lodge, and we pitch tents to get ready for the morning feast.
