Thursday, March 07, 2019 https://flickr.com/photos/186593395@N08/49485370171/in/dateposted-public/ In keeping with my new hiking motto, 'Hike strategically', I've processed some lessons learned from PCT 2018. During that hike I spent a million hours (estimate) at every major resupply point trying to find certain items, mainly dehydrated vegetables and Knorr flavours I like, and that's madness in the age …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2019) Pre-Hike 2: Lessons Learned
Again this year I ended up battling for a long distance permit in the second batch. The PCTA changed the permit process this year, so that applicants are directed on release days to a third-party website that places everyone into an queue: https://www.flickr.com/photos/187104378@N07/49581987556/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/187104378@N07/49581987471/in/dateposted-public/ Once the event starts, you're shown your place in line thus: …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2019) Pre-Hike 1: Permit Day #2
Friday, March 01, 2019 In two weeks, I'll be starting a hike of the first 1130 km/702 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail (also known as the 'desert section'). In 2018, I spent four months hiking the second half-or-so of the PCT from Burney to Canada. The moon moves slowly, but it gets across the …
Tuesday, February 19, 2019 Pre-concluding thoughts, I'll note that my phone still works five months after falling into the stream. The external battery started working again too. Don't give up on your wet electronics! https://flic.kr/p/2ioRNBF Northern half of the PCT in general: It's a beautiful trail. I was impressed by the overall consistency of good …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018): Concluding Thoughts
Friday, September 21, 2018 https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49539770726/in/dateposted-public/ A short entry today about my exit: I got up early this morning, ready to tackle the Crowsnest Highway. While eating disgusting trail granola, I met an Uber/Lyft driver who offered to drive me to Vancouver for $100. Nope. He then offered to drive me to Hope for free, because …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 113: Goodbye PCT
Thursday, September 20, 2018 The northern monument marks the end of the PCT but not the end of hiking; I still had five miles to walk to Manning Park today. Along the way I met curious day hikers and PCT hikers heading to meet friends at the border after abandoning their own hikes. The fourth …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 112: Manning Park
Wednesday, September 19, 2018 - 18.90 miles Most of the Holman Fire detour was viewless, but the trail emerged from the trees a few times (sunlight! warmth!) before joining the PCT near beautiful Woody Pass. https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49539757766/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49539264648/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49539759361/in/dateposted-public/ Interesting conglomorate https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49539265733/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49539990727/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49539993107/in/dateposted-public/ On Lakeview Ridge, I encountered a hiker who I had first seen …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 111: Crossing the Border
Tuesday, September 18, 2018 - 17 miles I've felt colder overnight when camping (Heysen at the cow droppings campsite) but last night was the coldest I've felt in my -9.5 degree Celsius/15 degree F sleeping bag. The down is clumped up by now, so there's a bare spot on the bottom and I could feel …
Monday, September 17, 2018 - 17.70 miles Finally a nice weather day, chilly but without precipitation. The PCT switchbacked up to forested Glacier Pass, then to the more scenic Grasshopper Pass. https://flic.kr/p/2itzjUJ Climbing up from Brush Creek https://flic.kr/p/2itD38y Views of Azurite Peak (?) I began encountering/passing/being passed by Homebound and Hello Darkness (trail name given …
Sunday, September 16, 2018 Today was my 'zero to avoid the terrible weather' day. When the sun rose, the sky was blue through the trees. You're not fooling me, Washington! The weather has been following a pattern where the day starts clear, then rain begins later in the morning or afternoon, so I wasn't deceived …
Saturday, September 15, 2018 - 13.80 miles Another mishap today! The forest was sopping in the morning and not long after I started walking, I came to a shallow stream bridged by a log with a flattened but tilted top. https://flic.kr/p/2itCZ6w I was almost across when a piece of wet wood broke off beneath my …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 107: The Tragedy of Electronics
Friday, September 14, 2018 - 16.80 miles My first priority this morning was buying new batteries for my headlamp. The store opens at 8:00 AM and the shuttle bus leaves only fifteen minutes later, so I started hovering at the store doors at 7:45 AM. When they let me in and I asked an employee …
Thursday, September 13, 2018 - 6 miles I walked the rest of the way to Stehekin Road this morning. The trail was still in good condition, so I have to assume that whoever started the rumours of ill-maintenance skipped Grider Canyon (and can't be blamed for it). https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49539283291/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49539513717/in/dateposted-public/ I didn't feel like hitchhiking so …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 105: Sticky Bun Sadface
Wednesday, September 12, 2018 - 11 miles Today's breakfast options consisted of toast, hard-boiled eggs and muesli/cereal with various toppings. When I accidentally took a piece of gluten-free bread, a man at the toaster recommended I toast it multiple times so it wouldn't fall apart. It didn't fall apart, but it tasted terrible. No amount …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 104: Chocolate Bars and Toothpicks
Tuesday, September 11, 2018 - 14.20 miles https://flic.kr/p/2itBHHJ Mushroom that would like a room of its own My tree spared me from nighttime drizzle. A nice early morning was interrupted by heavy rain as I left the PCT at Suiattle Pass and began the Bannock Lake Fire detour, which started with a devilish 'hikers shortcut' …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 103: Arrival at Holden Village
Monday, September 10, 2018 - 17.20 miles It rained during the night, but the fifty layers of branches overhead fulfilled their duty and my tent remained dry except a few wet spots from the wind. Morale and courage to face the upcoming weather strengthened. Low-hanging clouds created a beautiful scene in the valleys below Dolly …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 102: Morale and Courage
Sunday, September 09, 2018 - 14 miles The sun rose this morning into a beautiful high ceiling, so I climbed up to Fire Creek Pass before eating breakfast. My olive oil had solidified overnight. https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49525701598/in/dateposted-public/ Fire Creek Pass https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49526432337/in/dateposted-public/ Looks delicious The climb down to Mica Lake was pretty, and the lake was pretty too. …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 101: Marmots Being Adorable, as per Usual
Saturday, September 08, 2018 - 15.70 miles Nighttime rain. The sunrise filtered through low-hanging clouds. https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49525692793/in/dateposted-public/ Sunrise in the mist The only rain during the day was light drizzle, but I regretted missing White Pass and Red Pass and all the other views. I got one glimpse of an impressive glacier, but that's all. https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49525693998/in/dateposted-public/ …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 100: Cruddy Thing
Friday, September 07, 2018 - 13.80 miles Bigfeet caught up with me early this morning, having changed his mind about taking another rest day at Stevens Pass. He explained that he's resigned himself to being in pain for the rest of his hike - poor guy. After matching his pace to mine for awhile, he …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 99: But What Does It Mean
Thursday, September 06, 2018 - 15 miles While packing up my gear this morning, I discovered the shredded remnants of a Snickers wrapper on the ground. I had placed it in a pocket on my pack strap and forgotten about it. Luckily, the backpack was in my vestibule overnight, so the mouse didn't chew any …
BANE OF THE TRAIL 