Start: Timberline Lodge End: tentsite at mile 2106 Miles covered: 10 PCT mile marker: 2106/2652 Highlight: The all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet at Timberline. And the endless coffee starting at 6am. And the Mt Hood Smoked Porter at lunch. (Honorable mention: All the green in northern Oregon.) Biggest challenge: Crossing Sandy River. It wasn't too challenging, but … Continue reading Day 110 – 10 mi – PCT mile 2106 →

Start: Timothy Lake End: Timberline Lodge Miles covered: 19 on the PCT +1 to/from Little Crater Lake PCT mile marker: 2096/2652 Highlight: Arriving at Timberline Lodge on a very dreary day. The food and beverages were all excellent, and the hot tub was divine. (Honorable mention: Little Crater Lake, including a VERY well-timed pit toilet … Continue reading Day 109 – 20 mi – PCT mile 2096 →

Start: tentsite at 2054 End: Timothy Lake Miles covered: 23 PCT mile marker: 2077/2652 Highlight: A beautiful campsite at Timothy Lake. (Honorable mention: Dogs on the trail. Today we got to play with Abby, a tireless trail dog.) Biggest challenge: Waking up below freezing. It’s difficult to pack up and get going, but I warm … Continue reading Day 108 – 23 mi – PCT mile 2077 →

Start: tentsite at 2036 End: tentsite at mile 2054 Miles covered: 18 PCT mile marker: 2054/2652 Highlight: A long break at Olallie Lake for rest and resupply, including a fabulous pineapple cider from an Oregon brewery, 2 Towns Ciderhouse. Biggest challenge: Waking up to 35 degrees, rain, and wind. Thankfully the rain stopped just in … Continue reading Day 107 – 18 mi – PCT mile 2054 →

Start: tentsite at 2017 End: tentsite at mile 2036, near the entrance to Mt Hood Wilderness Miles covered: 19 PCT mile marker: 2036/2652 Highlight: The Sierra-like pass into Mt Hood Wilderness. It was surprisingly cold and windy (ie refreshing) at the top. (Honorable mention: I saw my first pine marten during a mid-day break.) Biggest … Continue reading Day 106 – 19 mi – PCT mile 2036 →

Start: tentsite at 1997 End: tentsite at mile 2017 Miles covered: 20 PCT mile marker: 2017/2652 Highlight: Spectacular view hiking around Three Fingered Jack. Biggest challenge: A very large burn area covered most of the trail in the afternoon. The area shown in the photo below-left is almost completely exposed, probably burned within the last … Continue reading Day 105 – 20 mi – PCT mile 2017 →

Start: tentsite at 1982 End: tentsite at mile 1997 Miles covered: 15 on the PCT +1 to/from the youth camp. PCT mile marker: 1997/2652 Highlight: Laundry, shower, and resupply boxes at the Big Lake Youth Camp. These folks have set up a great hiker hut, making it much easier for PCT hikers to get through … Continue reading Day 104 – 16 mi – PCT mile 1997 →

Start: tentsite at 1960 End: tentsite at mile 1982 Miles covered: 22 PCT mile marker: 1982/2652 Highlight: Walking over many types of volcanic rock, including a few miles of obsidian. Biggest challenge: The smoke returned, obscuring my view of the Three Sisters and making some of the landscape appear post-apocalyptic.

Start: tentsite at 1945 End: tentsite at mile 1960 Miles covered: 15 on the PCT +3 to/from Elk Lake Resort PCT mile marker: 1960/2652 Highlight: A beautiful campsite with a view of South Sister. (Honorable mention: a breakfast burrito, a bloody mary, and a swim at Elk Lake.) Biggest challenge: Leaving Elk Lake for a … Continue reading Day 102 – 18 mi – PCT mile 1960 →

Start: Charlton Lake End: tentsite at mile 1945 Miles covered: 20 PCT mile marker: 1945/2652 Highlight: Sunrise at Charlton Lake and an afternoon nap at Desane Lake. Biggest challenge: Mosquitoes again. There weren’t many, but they were vicious.