I decided to take a zero today because of my cough and the bad haze and whatever correlation those two things might have. The men who were hanging out on the bench outside the general store (classic small town-style) told me that an air quality advisory had been issued. I went to the cafe for …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 75: Zero in Trout Lake
Monday, August 13, 2018 - 2.80 miles https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49516339607/in/dateposted-public/ When I walked the remaining few miles to the trailhead today, I found a trail angel dropping off coolers and a few hikers hanging around. I accepted the trail angel's offer of a ride into Trout Lake, during which he provided a thorough description of its services …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 74: A Thickshake Is a Proper Milkshake
Sunday, August 12, 2018 - 12.90 miles The mouse was wonderfully well-behaved last night and didn't chew through anything. I didn't hear it exploring either, though the tree was raining on my tent whenever the wind blew, generating pattering noises that could have masked mousy footsteps. Perhaps the mouse got a whiff of my socks …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 73: The Great Tragedy
Saturday, August 11, 2018 - 18.50 miles The weather turned 180 degrees today, becoming cold, cloudy and wet. In the morning I reached Crest Horse Camp, which contained no horses or evidence of horses, and cooked potatoes at one of the picnic tables. Across the road at the Indian Heaven Wilderness trailhead, a ranger was …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 72: Cute, but Yeah
Friday, August 10, 2018 - 13.20 miles https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49515589388/in/dateposted-public/ Finally a cooler day today! Which was good, since the first nine miles of the day were one long, steady uphill and I wasn't feeling inspired. I saw ants hollowing out tunnels in the end of a log and thought about how much effort it must have …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 71: Nine Miles of Climbing
Thursday, August 09, 2018 - 19.10 miles Today was another hot, muggy, hazy day and I'm over it. The last weather forecast I saw indicated that tomorrow should be cooler, so I'm here for tomorrow. Not today. The one relief of the past few days has been the trail being mostly in shade. With its …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 70: Most Useless Pump Ever
Wednesday, August 08, 2018 - 17.20 miles I left town at 6:30 AM because of the grim weather forecast. Crossing the Bridge of the Gods was neat, though it's hard to appreciate the view when big chunks of metal are hurtling in your direction. I heard that a pedestrian walkway is in the works, so …
Tuesday, August 07, 2018 I ended up taking two zeros in Cascade Locks. Did I have a good reason? Sort of (I at least have something to blame it on rather than me just wanting to muck around in a great town). The PCT suffers every year from fire closures, this year being no exception. …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 68: Cascade Locks
Sunday, August 05, 2018 - 10.70 miles I walked down, down, down into Cascade Locks today. https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49514389057/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49514388217/in/dateposted-public/ The drop in elevation caused a sharp rise in temperature, and I started getting cranky because I was hot and sweaty and needed to pee but day hikers kept popping up everywhere. https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49513648983/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49513649903/in/dateposted-public/ Eventually I reached …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 67: Arrival in Cascade Locks
Saturday, August 04, 2018 - 13.30 miles Forest walking in the morning with views of Mt. Hood and two other snowcapped volcanoes that I tentatively identified as Mt. Adams and Mt. Rainier. https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49514383627/in/dateposted-public/ Mt. Hood https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49514385602/in/dateposted-public/ Through a conversation with E., I had started thinking that the Eagle Creek alternate was open after the 2017 …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 66: Grider Canyon of Outhouses
Friday, August 03, 2018 - 14 miles It rained overnight, but no water infiltrated my tent through the tiny holes in the roof (there seems to be more every day). The morning was cold and misty and I lingered in my sleeping bag until realizing that I could escape the clouds by walking to a …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 65: Good Outcome, Bad Action
Thursday, August 02, 2018 - 6.30 miles The wind was strong all night. I love my Altaplex, but one downside of cuben fiber is that it's louder than nylon, and I can't wear earplugs because I can't put things in my ears. More on this later (why?). I slept restlessly and didn't wake up until …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 64: Hereeee’s Johnny
Wednesday, August 01, 2018 - 13.10 miles The morning was forest walking, with a spattering of day hikers like pilot fish signalling the approach of Timberline Lodge. I needed to dig a cathole in the early afternoon, so I left the trail and started bushwhacking uphill. Eventually I decided to drop my backpack and collect …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 63: The Feeling of a Distracted Parent
Tuesday, July 31, 2018 - 13.60 miles The hike to the Joe Graham Horse Campground trail junction was entirely downhill and I arrived in mid-morning. The campground has potable water, dumpsters and an outhouse. https://flic.kr/p/2ioRYQr I followed a series of trail magic signs, expecting another unattended cooler, and was surprised to find a row of …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 62: PCT Hikers Are Spoiled AF
Monday, July 30, 2018 - 15.70 miles A hot night was followed by a sweltering day. The sky was hazy but that's all right, because there were no views whatsoever, only forest walking. The dirt had a strange orange tint in the morning sunlight. I was cross with my phone and using paper maps (that'll …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 61: That’ll Show It
Sunday, July 29, 2018 - 15.80 miles During this hike, I've been thinking about little other than the trail - maybe on my other hikes my mind learned to be zen - but this morning my thoughts kept drifting to Fifty Shades of Grey. I've never read the books, but I did read the hilarious …
Saturday, July 28, 2018 - 12.30 miles Today felt like a long day, but in a satisfying manner rather than an exhausting one. The mosquitoes had vanished overnight. I walked to Milk Creek, which is glacial melt from Mt. Jefferson (silty, thus the name) and flowing strong. I'm more comfortable fording than rock hopping, but …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 59: With the Appearance of Death
Friday, July 27, 2018 - 14.20 miles This morning I stopped at a pond to filter water and eat potatoes. It must have been a popular break spot, since ground squirrels immediately popped up to beg for food. You're so cute with your shiny, garbage-fattened bodies and moist, emboldened, corrupted eyes, but I can't... https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49485440518/in/dateposted-public/ …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 58: For The Sake of Protecting Humanity
Thursday, July 26, 2018 - 7.70 miles The ride back to the PCT at 7:00 AM didn't happen today. I should have predicted that it wouldn't, since one of the unofficial (as of yet) laws of motion is that you can never get anywhere if the action relies on someone else getting up at 6:00 …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 57: In the Spirit of Being a Good Daughter
Wednesday, July 25, 2018 Ah Bend. I met a few other hikers who mentioned loving Bend. To me it was a hellish hellscape to get around in via walking or the limited public transportation system. In fact, the fifth circle of hell in my religion is one long, busy highway with a bus stop on …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 56: Fancy Chocolates
BANE OF THE TRAIL 