For your viewing pleasure...

Lupine meadow in 3 Sisters Wilderness. If only this were a scratch-n-sniff photo, you'd be as blissed out as I was.

Lava field below Opie Dilldock Pass, literally a mile from the lush meadow of lupine. The mountains are (R-L) Washington, 3-Fingered Jack and Jefferson

The final stretch of my first 30-mile day. So grateful for the epic flat nature of this landscape.

One of many, MANY little lakes in 3 Sisters Wilderness. Beautiful, but birthplace to a gazillion mosquitos.

Name that plant! Found near a spring beside a dirt road in Deshutes Nat'l Forest.

The dreaded land jellyfish!! Or maybe just a freaky kind of fungus...felt like hard, cold velvet.

The PCT, marked old-school style.

Crater Lake and Wizard Island, delighting international tourists and thru-hikers alike.

I thought these flowers belonged in some Dr. Seuss story...the Who-Bloom!

More Crater Lake magic.

Believe it or not, the PCT is not wildly popular in some areas...

The bottom reads, "If you can read this, you are in range". Very inviting.

Even the trees have something to say about the trail. Something like, "Nom nom nom..."

Lima bean tree tumor!!

A welcome party at the Cali-Oregon border! Complete with party hats, noise makers, hot dogs and awesome company.

It is, really and truly, a party on the PCT. Thanks to Balls, Sunshine and Butterfly - the ultimate trail angel family.

One last glimpse of California...I'll be back, starting at the Mexico next time!

My birthday balloons cheered me up while resting on the trail for a good 24 hours. Giardia is NOT what I wanted for my birthday.

When my stomach finally accepted food, Shaggy prepared my birthday brownie...with all 30 candles.

It looks scary, but I swear we had lots of water standing by. Turning 30 is dangerous!

Happy birthday to me! Now to recuperate from stomach ailments by spending another three days in town...

Moonrise over Castle Crags on my birthday-eve.

Castle Crags near Mt. Shasta

My dry-erase hitchhiking sign, much classier than cardboard.

"Hmmm, I wonder if Michael Jordan will ever come looking for his shoes..."

Who needs a tanning booth when you can get a hiker tan? Dirt also functions as sunscreen and insect repellent.