Start: tentsite at 2419 End: Deep Lake Miles covered: 15 PCT mile marker: 2434/2652 Highlight: Fiery sunrise on the mountain. Biggest challenge: Constant cold (35-45 deg F) rain. This might have been my most challenging day on the trail. Not physically challenging, but technically and mentally challenging. I decided that in order to ensure my … Continue reading Day 130 – 15 mi – PCT mile 2434 →

Start: Gravel/Ridge Lakes End: tentsite at mile 2419 Miles covered: 19 PCT mile marker: 2419/2652 Highlight: Morning views of Mt Rainier. (Honorable mention: Spectacle Lake.) Biggest challenge: The rocky terrain, paired with the late afternoon 2,000-foot climb, caused my foot to complain again. However, my foot is doing a little better with my Merrell shoes, … Continue reading Day 129 – 19 mi – PCT mile 2419 →

Start: Snoqualmie Pass End: tentsite between Ridge Lake and Gravel Lake Miles covered: 7 PCT mile marker: 2400/2652 Highlight: Ridge views above Snoqualmie Pass. (Honorable mention: Another visit to Aardvark’s, this tome for a decadent breakfast sandwich.) Biggest challenge: The 2500-ft climb out of Snoqualmie Pass. But it really wasn’t that bad, especially after two … Continue reading Day 128 – 7 mi – PCT mile 2400 →

Start: Snoqualmie Pass End: Snoqualmie Pass Miles covered: 0 PCT mile marker: 2393/2652 Highlight: Beer at Dru Bru. Really good stuff. Biggest challenge: Getting out of bed.

Start: tentsite at 2378 End: Snoqualmie Pass Miles covered: 15 PCT mile marker: 2393/2652 Highlight: Icredible curry from Aardvark’s, essentially a food truck in front of the gas station. I was so ravenous when Dan delivered the curry that I didn’t take a photo. I had to rely on Windy for a copy of the … Continue reading Day 126 – 15 mi – PCT mile 2393 →

Start: tentsite at 2359 End: tentsite at mile 2378 Miles covered: 19 PCT mile marker: 2378/2652 Highlight: Trail magic from Codex and Little Rabbit, including the best grilled cheese sandwich in recent memory (pictured above). What a delight to have fresh food and a warm car to sit in on a cold, rainy day. Biggest … Continue reading Day 125 – 19 mi – PCT mile 2378 →

Start: tentsite at 2337 End: tentsite at mile 2359 Miles covered: 22 PCT mile marker: 2359/2652 Highlight: A warm cabin with a well-tended wood fire perfectly timed for a long lunch break. (Honorable mention: Fresh-picked huckleberries along the trail.) Biggest challenge: After the first heavy rain of my entire PCT experience, I woke up with … Continue reading Day 124 – 22 mi – PCT mile 2359 →

Start: Anderson Lake End: tentsite at mile 2337 Miles covered: 19 PCT mile marker: 2337/2652 Highlight: Beautiful lakes (below) and a partial view of Mt Rainier (above). Biggest challenge: Intermittent rain.

Start: tentsite at 2296 End: Anderson Lake Miles covered: 22 PCT mile marker: 2318/2652 Highlight: An afternoon break on a ridge with curry (Mary Jane’s Farm) and multigrain flatbread (hiker box). Biggest challenge: Frequent temperature and wind changes required effective use of layers. Later, we encountered a deer at camp. He left us alone but … Continue reading Day 122 – 22 mi – PCT mile 2318 →

Start: tentsite on the Miriam fire detour End: tentsite at mile 2296 Miles covered: 7 PCT-equivalent miles and a 3-mile road walk. PCT mile marker: 2296/2652 Highlight: A long break to charge devices, do laundry, and resupply food in White Pass. The Kracker Barrel store had everything I needed, and some luxuries I didn’t need … Continue reading Day 121 – 10 mi – PCT mile 2296 →