The Twelve Mile Circumnatigation of Fourmile Lake

Mt McLoughlin

Tuesday, it was back to Phase Two training after two town days. We were now camping at Fourmile Lake in the Sky Lakes Wilderness between Medford and Klamath Falls, Oregon. It was time from some speed work. Time to pick a relatively flat trail and cover it as fast as possible. From our tent site at Fourmile Lake it was easy to find just the right loop trail.

Leaving a little late (8:30am) we set off hiking east on the Badger Lake/Long Lake trail and soon ran into our first problem. The east side of Fourmile Lake has some awesome views across the lake to Mt. McLoughlin. It would ruin our time but we had to stop (often) and admire the perfect volcano form and view.

But we soon found more than adequate encouragement to keep a good hiking pace. Mosquitoes! Lots and lots of mosquitoes! At first it was only mildly annoying and S.D. started making jokes about 'our entourage' but when we tried to stop to admire Long Lake, or get a snack, they'd attack. The next four trail miles to the intersection of the Long Lake trail and the PCT flew by.

Once we were heading west on the PCT, and on higher and drier terrain, the entourage left. There were no hike-stopping views and we were able to make some serious time on the trail, stop at Christie's Spring, even chat with a southbound thru-hiker and stop to have lunch.

We were still making decent time and with five miles left to hike, our legs and lungs were feeling good. Our feet however, were starting to feel a bit different. One of the chores we did on town day was getting me a new pair of hiking shoes. So far on this hike there was no sign of any blisters but the ball of my foot was starting to burn. Meanwhile S.D. who has been hiking in a pair of five year old Merrill Moabs was starting to feel blisters forming, and toes bumping on his right foot.

The Tent Site on Fourmile Lake

At mile 10, we turned east off the PCT for the last stretch back to the tent site. Our mosquito entourage had returned to provide encouragement but as S.D. put it "our dogs were barking." My right foot was burning and his was blistering. We made it back to the tent in relatively good time by focusing on the cool swim we'd take and the thought of resting our dogs for the night.