Still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up
By winter wonderland, I don't mean covered in snow, although Death Valley does get some snow at the higher elevations. I mean that it's a great place to go in the winter. For starters, the lowest point in North America, Badwater Basin, gets very hot during all other times of the year. Even in February, … Continue reading Death Valley is a Winter Wonderland
I'm overdue for a PCT wrap-up. Here are the stats I thought might be interesting...and countable. Total miles: 2774 2652 official PCT miles 122 extra miles - fire detours, town stops, etc. ~20 miles per day average Longest day: 30 miles (Most thru-hikers had much longer days than this. By the time I was in … Continue reading My PCT Thru-Hike By The Numbers
As I go through the many (too many?) photos I have from the Pacific Crest Trail, I'm reminded just how incredible it was to visit Goat Rocks Wilderness in southern Washington. Even if you're not hiking the PCT, it's worth a short trip to experience so many stunning features. Case in point: I took these photos … Continue reading The Glory of Goat Rocks – Photos
Here is the list of gear I used between Crater Lake (PCT mile 1820) and the US-Canada border. I mailed a few things to myself at Stevens Pass, and I mailed a few things home from Cascade Locks and Stehekin, but this list shows what I had for the coldest and wettest portion of the … Continue reading My PCT Oregon/Washington Gear List
I've always enjoyed wildlife, but now I am completely smitten with marmots. In the Sierra, the yellow-bellied marmots were plentiful, but they usually scurried away quickly when a hiker came by. The further north I walked in Washington State, the less the marmots seemed to care about potential threats: And now, as promised, videos! (Links … Continue reading PCT Marmot Fun
Here is the list of gear I used between Donner Pass (PCT mile 1153) and Crater Lake, Oregon (PCT mile 1820). Northern California was hotter than the desert, so I could have left most of my sleeping clothes behind for this section. This was somewhat surprising, but it was July after all (I went through … Continue reading My PCT Northern California Gear List
I had hoped to post these gear list updates from the trail, but it proved too difficult with just a smartphone and so many other things to do during town stops. I planned in advance to make many changes at Kennedy Meadows (PCT mile 702), which is where most people consider the high Sierra to … Continue reading My PCT Sierra Section Gear List
Start: Middle Fork Pasayten River End: Manning Park, CANADA! Miles covered: 9 on the Holman fire detour, 11+ to the northern terminus on the PCT, and 8+ to Manning Park PCT mile marker: 2652/2652 Highlight: Canada! (Honorable mention: Almost no food left, so a very light pack.) Biggest challenge: High mileage compared to recent days, … Continue reading Day 143 – 29 mi – PCT mile 2652
Start: Glacier Pass End: Middle Fork Pasayten River Miles covered: 23 PCT mile marker: 2632 equivalent*/2652 - *Half of the day was on the Holman fire detour. Highlight: Ridgeside walks between Glacier Pass and Harts Pass (Honorable mention: Dogs! Blue Heelers, aka Australian Cattle Dogs, were popular hiking dogs.) Biggest challenge: Navigating the fire detour. … Continue reading Day 142 – 23 mi – PCT mile 2632
Start: Porcupine Creek End: Glacier Pass Miles covered: 19 PCT mile marker: 2612/2652 Highlight: Amazing views and colors from Cutthroat Pass to Methow Pass. Biggest challenge: Leaving a gorgeous lunch spot to finish the day’s miles.
MacGyver's Travels 