Start: tentsite at mile 1748 End: a very nice tentsite at mile 1776 Miles covered: 28 PCT mile marker: 1776/2652 Highlight: My relatively light pack, which included only a day and a half supply of food and nothing extra. The difference between the beginning and the end of a food carry can be a big … Continue reading Day 86 – 28 mi – PCT mile 1776 →

Start: tentsite at 1721 End: tentsite at mile 1748 Miles covered: 27 PCT mile marker: 1748/2652 Highlight: Easy terrain, which allowed for long breaks. Biggest challenge: Trying for enough miles to make it to Fish Lake Resort the next day without hurting my foot.

Start: tentsite at 1702 End: tentsite at mile 1721 Miles covered: 19 miles (+2 in town) PCT mile marker: 1721/2652 Highlight: Taking advantage of the amenities at Callahan's Lodge--lunch, dinner, beer, laundry, shower, wifi, etc. This is a traditional hiker hangout at the road that leads into Ashland. Many hikers get a ride into Ashland … Continue reading Day 84 – 21 mi – PCT mile 1721 →

Start: tentsite at 1679 End: tentsite at mile 1702 Miles covered: 23 PCT mile marker: 1702/2652 Highlight: Finally reaching Oregon!! Biggest challenge: The foot pain hasn't completely gone away, but at least it's not getting worse. Also bugs. Just enough to be a major pest. Mosquitoes and biting flies can really hamper my ability to … Continue reading Day 83 – 23 mi – PCT mile 1702 →

Start: tentsite at 1658 End: tentsite at mile 1679 Miles covered: 21 PCT mile marker: 1679/2652 Highlight: A nice, soft, flat campsite for the last night before reaching Oregon. Biggest challenge: More smoke. Sadly, it will be around for a while.

Start: tentsite at 1638 End: tentsite at mile 1658 Miles covered: 20 PCT mile marker: 1658/2652 Highlight: A blackberry milkshake at the Seiad Valley Cafe. (Honorable mention: Hand-picked blackberries, fresh from the trail. If you think my hands are dirty, you ain't seen nothin.) Biggest challenge: The four-mile road walk into Seiad Valley. We tried … Continue reading Day 81 – 20 mi – PCT mile 1658 →

Start: tentsite at 1615 End: tentsite at mile 1638 Miles covered: 23 PCT mile marker: 1638/2652 Highlight: More hillside flowers. (Honorable mention: My healthiest trail meal so far--tuna, avocado, and spinach on a tortilla.) Biggest challenge: Increasingly smoky air. The smoke comes and goes, depending on wind patterns and elevation, but most of the time … Continue reading Day 80 – 23 mi – PCT mile 1638 →

Start: Etna, CA End: tentsite at mile 1615 Miles covered: 16 PCT mile marker: 1615/2652 Highlight: Breakfast and coffee at Wildwood Crossing again, including a fun chat with Rodeo, who gave me a ride back to the trailhead. Biggest challenge: The devastating fire near Redding was leaving a thick haze across the landscape. (Dishonorable mention: … Continue reading Day 79 – 16 mi – PCT mile 1615 →

Start: Etna, CA End: Etna, CA Miles covered: 0 PCT mile marker: 1599/2652 Highlight: Gin cocktail at the Denny Bar Co. Everything about this restaurant was top notch. Biggest challenge: Taking care of my foot, which seemed to be getting better but was definitely not back to normal.

Start: tentsite at 1581 End: Etna, CA Miles covered: 18 (+2 in town) PCT mile marker: 1599/2652 Highlight: Tacos loaded with vitamin-rich veggies, from Paystreak Brewery. Biggest challenge: Finding Etna City Park, where the city allows hikers to camp. I thought I knew where it was, but I misinterpreted the symbols on my map and … Continue reading Day 77 – 20 mi – PCT mile 1599 →