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
Sunday, July 22, 2018 - 10.50 miles I left camp at 6:45 AM, hoping to take advantage of the cool early hours. I've heard good things about Big Lake Youth Camp, which supposedly has a hiker building, delicious vegetarian meals and laundry by donation, but the timing doesn't work for spending a night there. I'm …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 55: Why No Picture
Saturday, July 21, 2018 - 15.20 miles Another day of fantastic hiking. I walked on lava! https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49485410268/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49485900151/in/dateposted-public/ Approaching Collier Cone, I noticed a side trail to a 'Collier Glacier View' on the map. It was steep but short, and I was treated to the most amazing view of a barren basin rimmed by North …
Friday, July 20, 2018 - 15.10 miles Fantastic hiking today. The trail wound through flowery meadows past a bizarre rock mesa to bizarre South Sister, which looked like a blob of clay with scoops taken out of it. https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49485883356/in/dateposted-public/ Mesa https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49485888336/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49485889181/in/dateposted-public/ South Sister Then came the Obsidian Limited Entry Area, and views of Middle …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 53: Weird and Amazing
Thursday, July 19, 2018 - 11.60 miles https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49485879301/in/dateposted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49486093297/in/dateposted-public/ I reached Elk Lake Resort around noon today. I had sent a package there and was considering taking a nero by staying overnight, but the crowds of tourists and absence of other hikers changed my mind. https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49485880001/in/dateposted-public/ Elk Lake I ate an expensive hamburger and root …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 52: Plastic Totes
Wednesday, July 18, 2018 - 16.20 miles https://www.flickr.com/photos/186779238@N07/49485385308/in/dateposted-public/ Mist in the morning Mosquitoes quickly materialized as I ventured further into the Three Sisters Wilderness, which in this area contains a myriad of tiny lakes/ponds. The pair of men in Maiden Peak Shelter had warned me that the mosquitoes were terrible here, but also confirmed that …
Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail (2018) 51: Forest and Lakes, Forest and Lakes
Tuesday, July 17, 2018 - 16 miles I got a late-ish start in the morning despite not having to pack up my tent. The curse of having people to socialize with! I hadn't used much water by the time I reached the Bobby Lake junction, so I decided to continue to Charlton Lake before filling …
Monday, July 16, 2018 - 7.70 miles I ate my soggy baggie pizza this morning (on the trail, it sometimes helps to not think about what you're eating while you're eating it) and left Shelter Cove. Views of the lake as the trail climbed alongside. https://flic.kr/p/2ioTZpX Neck-craningly high cross-country skiing signage hinted at how much …
BANE OF THE TRAIL 