I covered a large segment this week, about 150 miles. And there was so much to see– Columbia River gorge, Mt St Helens, Mt Adams, and Goat Rocks. Goat Rocks is probably my favorite day on trail so far, as its an amazing section of trail, the weather was clear, and I met many friendly local hikers, dogs, horses, and even saw some goats!
Day 124: (August 22nd)
We hiked out of Oregon and into Washington, over the iconic “Bridge of the Gods”. Its probably the most dangerous section of the entire PCT– its an old narrow bridge, and large trucks pass very close!
Walking across Bridge of the GodsWashington!The requisite border picThe Columbia river gorge has some cool ferns. I wonder what their name is?
Day 125: (August 23rd)
It's alot less smokey today!Trail magic!! Who knew oreos and gatorades could be so exciting.
Day 126: (August 24th)
Lake?!? Maybe this used to be a pond (at best), but its completely dry now. PaNW needs rain!Days are getting colderOnly 450 miles to go!They say bigfoot lives around hereThe PCTA is using child labor to make their signs now?Mt Adams is getting closer
Day 127: (August 25th)
Mt Adams. Those glaciers are noticeably smaller...Rainier in the distance. Highest peak in the Cascades, 14,411ftBecause Mom likes pictures of alpine wildflowers.That's the milkiest creek I've ever seen.My favorite spring on the entire PCT. Ice cold water flows right out of a pile of lava rocks!
Day 128: (August 26th)
Smokey day today. This is 10am, not sunrise!Goat rocks!Yup, its a ridgewalkCispus creek & waterfallsCairns! The small one is uniqueA snowfield?!? Well that's unexpectedIts only dangerous if you fall over the edge. Probably 3000ftWe are starting the "Knife edge" traverse of goat rocksThe ridge gets kinda narrow in a few spots. Not sure how I would pass a sobo hiker here...Now THAT is a nice-looking bergschrund!My zoom sucks, those specks on the ridge are goats.Horses! They are riding the trail south to Mt Adams. Even the Knife Edge
Day 129: (August 27th)
The act of posting a sign for these springs, makes the name kinda inaccurate!Rainier is lookin' fine!I'm torn...hike some bonus miles for a swim, or straight to town for ice cream??I can see the future...hiking across a ridge!Well this is a new one.Yup.Time for fried food & ice cream!
I spent the afternoon at White’s Pass, getting food, washing up, and charging my gear. After some procrastination, I got back on the trail at 6pm. Only 4 days to Snoqualmie Pass, and a week to Stevens Pass…I’m running out of trail!
-Recon
Last week in Oregon! Lots of pictures this week, as the trail stayed mostly on ridges and avoided the “green tunnel” effect. Also the weather was nice, and there wasn’t any nearby wildfire smoke.
Day 118: (August 16th)
Mt Jefferson at sunriseGetting closer...Its a cold morningA glacial creek coming down from Jefferson. The water looked like Yoohoo!
Day 119: (August 17th)
Old school trail markerTypical northern Oregon trailAn oddly grandiose trail entrance at a road crossingView from our (Sci-fi, NordicTrack & I) campsite at lake Timothy that night. The water was warm!
Day 120: (August 18th)
This bridge seems waaay over engineered for pedestriansBonus miles to a cool lake!The reflection makes it hard to see, but the lake is perfectly clear and 40ft deep!Yup. We need rain!Hikers and shenanigans go together like...bacon & sriachaTimberline lodge!
Day 121: (August 19th)
Ladies Man reserved a room at Timberline lodge, and 8 of us hiker-trash crowded into a 6-bunk room, with 2 on the floor. It was totally worth it, only $25/person, and included breakfast buffet, a hot tub, and laundry!
Breakfast buffet!I think we spent 3 hours eating.Finally hit the trail around noonRamona falls. Very cool detour, more bonus milesCrossing a raging glacial creek on a slippery log. The brittle cordelette handrail was mostly for show.Mt Hood in the setting sun
Day 122: (August 20th)
Getting an early 6am start!....and then the fog rolls in. D'Lux leads the wayDescending on the Eagle Creek trail into the Columbia river gorge. The vegetation is sooo different!Tunnel falls!Sci-fi leads the way behind the falls. Oregon reminds me of Ithaca.Bridge of the Gods!Welcome to Cascade Locks?We went to Shrek's Swamp, the home of a local trail angel
Day 123: (August 21st)
This was a zero day, to resupply food and mail it ahead to all the town stops in Washington. We also HAD to check out the Thunder Island brewery (they really expanded since last year) and the ice cream shop.
I bought food for all of Washington, about 21 days of hiking.
Oregon was beautiful, it quite a bit flatter/easier than CA, and it was surprisingly civilized– I don’t think I went more than 48 hours between towns or trailside resorts. I expect Washington is more remote, and I’m looking forward to the last 500 miles of trail in the evergreen state!
Shelter Cove resort (near Willamette pass) has a strong “vortex”, as it sucked in many hikers for an unplanned zero day. Fortunately, for me it was a planned zero day, awaiting some friends from back home, who are also hiking on the PCT, southbound. This is where our paths would cross!
Day 112: (August 10th)
No hiking today, and not many pictures from today, too busy talking & eating ice cream with these hikers…. 🙂
I crossed paths with some friends from home!! They are going Sobo.
Morning view of Odell LakeA VERY nice ski shelter, it had a woodstove, sleeping loft, and even coffee inside!There is a trail connecting the PCT directly to the city of Eugene. How cool, must be a pretty outdoors-y city.Three Sisters Wilderness is huge, it took me almost 3 days to hike thru.
Day 114: (August 12th)
Real live cowboys!
Day 115: (August 13th)
The trail leads around South Sister (10,358 ft)Obsidian falls. The rock is shiny & blackLots of obsidian rocksIts sooo shiny!Lava field, Sisters to the south in the background
Day 116: (August 14th)
Cool cloud / fog around a mountain. Only its tip is showing!And 2 hours later, I'm up in that fog
Later that day, I get a ride into Bend, from a couple of very nice ladies. Its about 40 miles from the trailhead to Bend, and with the traffic in the village of Sisters, we have a couple of hours to chat. As it turned out, the driver, Margaret, used to work for the forest service as a snow ranger! So we got to discuss fun avalanche stuff! Like depth hoar, unstable slabs, and snow crystals.
After she dropped me off at the REI in Bend, I picked up some badly-needed pants (mine were full of holes and too big for my shrinking waist) and socks.
Then, because I have some very lucky timing, I was in town during Bend’s annual brewfest! 70+ craft brewers, including the best pumpkin beer and best IPA I’ve ever had!
Hikers & locals gettin their groove on, at the annual Bend brewfest.
Day 117: (August 15th)
I picked up some groceries, and got a ride back to the trail thru a wonderful local network of trail angels, coordinated by Mr. Uber Ducky.
Back on the trail, looking south toward Santiam pass
Next week– Cascade Locks & Bridge of the Gods! Washington, I’m-a comin!
-R
I covered many miles this week, including some unplanned bonus miles up some nearby peaks. The hot weather seems to have been left behind in Norcal, and with the flatter terrain, its easy to do 25 miles daily, with an occasional 30-mile day.
Crater Lake was a special highlight, and I spent a half day just relaxing & napping on the crater rim.
Day 104: (August 2nd)
Cool dam on the walk to GreenSprings Inn (which had the best burger on the trail!)Pilot rock, popular with climbers. Its the same type of formation as Devils Tower in WY.
Day 105: (August 3rd)
Cool forest in the backgroundGetting closer...two-thirds done!Massive lava fields!
Day 106: (August 4th)
Burn areas are spooky looking.
Day 107: (August 5th)
Mile 1800!
Hikertrash loves hanging out by the store
Day 108: (August 6th)
Crater LakeThis is indeed a real picture.Highest trail elevation in OR!Wizard islandThe Watchman
Day 109: (August 7th)
Mt Thielsen from a distanceWe are almost at the summit, waiting for some roped climbers to clear the area View from the summit
Summit benchmark
Day 110: (August 8th)
I pass this sign an hour after I get a text from my cousin Kelsey. Creepy coincidence!Nice view.Fallen tree across the trail - "Did I make a sound?"
Day 111: (August 9th)
Diamond Peak panorama
I can’t believe Oregon is already half done! I’m waiting at Shelter Cove resort, near Willamette pass, for Kalmia & Victor to arrive tomorrow!
-Recon
This week flew by on the trail, there was much to see, and a few milestones were reached. The 4800-ft climb out of Seiad Valley was rough, but it also meant climbing up to higher elevation, cooler temps, and leaving behind the last of the poison Oak!
Several of the people who were hiking near me, I’ll probably never see again, as they are doing the “Oregon challenge”. This is hiking from CA border to WA border in 14 days, about 32 miles per day!
Day 97: (July 26th)
Yup, its a ridgewalkDEEP lake, home of Nessie?
Day 98: (July 27th)
It hailed alot last night!I think the bridge is out...its in 2 halves!Less than 1000mi to Canada!!
Day 99: (July 28th)
Hikers love food challenges!Bushtit starting the pancake challenge, you get 2 hours to finishThis horse followed me for a mile
Day 100: (July 29th)
Hobbes & Poli leading an epic ridgewalkMADE IT TO OREGON!Made it to Oregon! No dead oxen, broken wagons, or typhoid.I love the metric system. Can we just switch already?
Day 101: (July 30th)
First beer is free at Callahans! Liking Ashland already.
Day 102: (July 31st)
My seat-mate during my hitch into downtown Ashland
Ashland was a really cool city– organic grocers, used bookstores, outdoor theater, microbreweries, and bicycles and college students everywhere. Felt like home!
The organic grocery store had a new hybrid. And free samples!Picked up some reading material for the trailDowntownMany businesses put out water for dogsFun!Random outdoor free concertNightlife at the Brickroom tavern
Day 103: (August 1st)
No pictures today, had to recuperate from the evening’s activities and do town chores. More miles next week, and possibly crossing paths with Kalmia (“Bonus Miles”), my sobo friend from back home!
The week of exertion! I started up Mt Shasta on Monday evening, hiking 1.7 miles from the trailhead to Horse Camp, a Sierra Club outpost at 7900ft.
After a few mysterious events (I think the mountain is haunted or something), I went to bed early for a 3am start. I hiked up 2500ft to Helen Lake (a popular camping spot), where I switched into boots & crampons. The final 3700ft are up a steep snowfield, punctuated by the occasional rocky cleaver or cliff band. I stopped just below the summit to see the hot volcanic vents, then continued to the top by 8am. It was cold-ish, 40s and windy, so after some quick photos & summit logbook, I headed down. A 4-hour descent and a whole pizza completed the day.
But, I had killed 2.5 days around Mt Shasta, so I cruised some mileage the rest of the week. After three 30-mile days and 9 miles on Saturday, I was in Etna!
Day 91: (July 20th)
Farmers market in downtown Mt Shasta
Day 92: (July 21st)
Hiking up before sunriseTaking a break at 12kGuided party on the summitYup its cold up hereObligatory summit photo. 8amDescending thru the Red Band...then a 2000ft glissade!
Day 93: (July 22nd)
I suppose the red/blue I-5 shield would have looked out of placeCastle CragsImpressive work by a trail crewLunchtime!
Day 94: (July 23rd)
Sunrise & alpine lakesLeaves have many uses
Day 95: (July 24th)
So many colors. Must be the Kodak film.The herd is on the move. Also, a mounted cowboy & his herding dogOne is long distance, the other is local.Now its the trail's turn to hike me!
Day 96: (July 25th)
Happy face, its a town day!Received a birthday package from my favorite sister
This was a beautiful section, Castle Crags park and the Trinity Alps Wilderness. The cool temperatures, moderate terrain, and lack of mosquitoes & poison oak = my favorite section of NorCal.
The miles are really flying by now, with smoother & flatter trails, long daylight hours, & good company…it almost feels easy to do 24-25 miles per day!
The heat is intense, but that’s what early afternoon breaks & naps are for!
Day 83: (July 12th)
Day 84: (July 13th)
Day 85: (July 14th)
Day 86: (July 15th)
Day 87: (July 16th)
Day 88: (July 17th)
Day 89: (July 18th)
Day 90: (July 19th)
Gonna relax at a motel in Mt Shasta on Sunday, before renting gear and starting up the mountain on Monday! The Avalanche Gulch route is the plan, and hopefully “Misery Hill” doesn’t live up to it’s name!
This section was quite varied, and it completed the transition from the Sierras to Norcal. The trail begins to feel very different- wetter, lower elevation, hotter, and lots of poison oak. And I met a whole new group of people after leaving Sierra City!
Day 76: Sunday 7/05/2015, 8.0mi/12.9km
Day 77: Monday 7/06/2015, 24.0mi/38.6km
(Thanks Nomad, Milkshake & Stickybuns for the encouragement & photos!)
Day 78: Tuesday 7/07/2015, 24.7mi/39.8km
Day 79: Wednesday 7/08/2015, 25.4mi/40.9km
Just a few of the many “decorated” PCT markers between Bucks Lake and Chester…
Day 80: Thursday 7/09/2015, 20.5mi/33.0km
(And then we climbed 3800ft out of the Belden valley. Ouch)
Day 81: Friday 7/10/2015, 26.5mi/42.6km
The PCT halfway marker. Cue Bon Jovi’s “Livin on a Prayer”. Hiker-trash karaoke session!
Day 82: Saturday 7/11/2015, 7.2mi/11.6km
(Thanks Mr Buels!)
I spent a night in Chester to relax and get clean. Its a nice little friendly town, and it was easy to get rides to/from the trail. And it even has a microbrewery that just opened this summer!
Next, onto Mt Shasta & the rest of Nor-cal!
-Recon
What amazing scenery this week! The Desolation wilderness and Granite Chief Wilderness are spectacular, and I saw quite a few other hikers (on the Tahoe Rim Trail) enjoying it as well.
Day 70: Monday 6/29/2015, 13.3mi/21.4km
Day 71: Tuesday 6/30/2015, 20.0mi/32.2km
Day 72: Wednesday 7/01/2015, 26.2mi/42.2km
Day 73: Thursday 7/02/2015, 7.8mi/12.6km
Day 74: Friday 7/03/2015, 22.5mi/36.2km
Day 75: Saturday 7/04/2015, 17.0mi/27.4km
I celebrated the 4th of July in Sierra City, population 225. So…no fireworks. But I found a nice swimming hole, some kettle chips, and a free shower…life is good.
Another amazing week in the Sierra – even more alpine lakes & marmots, a little less altitude, and with some new characters – mosquitoes! Oh, and smoke from a nearby wildfire (california-speak for forest fire).
Day 56: Monday 6/15/2015, 16.9mi/27.2km
The “Mammoth” of Mammoth LakesRainbow FallsDevil’s PostpileClose-up of the hexagonal rocks…neat
Day 57: Tuesday 6/16/2015, 22.5mi/36.2km
Alpine Lake
Day 58: Wednesday 6/17/2015, 21.7mi/34.9km
Since the PCT and the JMT (John Muir Trail) are concurrent for 190 miles, I decided to hike the last 22 miles of the JMT from Tuolumne down to Yosemite valley. An “easy” day since it would descend from 8600 feet down to 4000….an easy 22 miles.
Soda Springs…CO2 bubbling from the groundCathedral Peak from the John Muir Trail
Apparently bears are also ninjas…scary.
Cute. On every cup in Yosemite valley
Day 59: Thursday 6/18/2015, 13.0mi/20.9km
Upper Yosemite falls. Its like 2,400 feet tall, one of the tallest in the world, I think.Yosemite falls from the top. Yes, there is a safety railing not pictured.Yosemite valley in the background.
Day 60: Friday 6/19/2015, 20.2mi/32.5km
The mountains are getting greener!
Day 61: Saturday 6/20/2015, 18.9mi/30.4km
Anti-mosquito force field, active.I would love to swim in this lake…if I wouldn’t be sucked dry by mosquitoes first.
Day 62: Sunday 6/21/2015, 19.5mi/31.4km
Mile 1,000!Cold but swimmable! I never liked 98.6F, anyway.A very creative 1,000 mile marker.
Day 63: Monday 6/22/2015, 21.1mi/34.0km
This is where the granite disappears, and volcanic ankle-turny rocks appear!
Day 64: Tuesday 6/23/2015, 30.7mi/49.4km
I didn’t get too many pictures today or tomorrow, I was too busy hiking 30+ miles each day, to put as much distance as possible between myself and a “small” forest fire near Markleeville CA, about 4 miles from the trail.
Probably the world’s largest cairn. Or in Northern-Sierra speak, “mountain”Smoke from a not-so-distant 13,000 acre wildfire
Day 65: Wednesday 6/24/2015, 23.4mi/37.7km
Early morning view of smoke in the valleysCarson pass visitor center. Some surprise trail magic, and some incredible people at the info center!
Day 66: Thursday 6/25/2015, 7.9mi/12.7km
I got off trail today, and went into South Lake Tahoe to meet up with my friends Jeremy and Kim (and get a shower/laundry, for their sake!)
Happy to be on the trail!Dogs playing tug of war. Spoiler alert – Lola (Kim’s dog) wins.
Day 67: Friday 6/26/2015, 0mi/0km
View from Big Chief, a sport climbing area near Lake Tahoe/TruckeeWarming up on a some sport 5.8 climb. Weird, sharp rock.Dinner is served. All 6 courses. (Tahoe City brewing co)
Day 68: Saturday 6/27/2015, 0mi/0km
No pictures from today, but I tried stand-up paddleboarding. It is pretty difficult, but also very awesome…I need to do it again.
Day 69: Sunday 6/28/2015, 0mi/0km
Jeremy, Kim, and I likely had a first ascent of a technical climbing route today. We got up at 4:30am, started hiking on the trail at 5am. Our bushwhack (manzanita-whack?) began before 8am, and by 10am we were at the base of our objective cliff. We had no idea if it was climbable, a choss-fest, or a 5.13d climb. It climbed some mostly nice granite, and 4 pitches later, we were at the top of the cliff! A short scramble over the ridge to the summit of Tallac Mt. (el. 9,700) completed the day. Well, the hike down and some burgers/beers completed it.
View of our intended climb from the start of the bushwhackView of our intended climb from the base of the scree/talus fieldView from the summit of Tallac Mt.
Tomorrow I get back on the trail, and I’m going to hike straight thru to Sierra City, then Chester CA– the halfway point of the PCT!
![IMG_20150615_124357_746[1]](https://i0.wp.com/ramblinrecon.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/img_20150615_124357_7461.jpg?ssl=1)
