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.

Start: Shelter Cove End: Charlton Lake Miles covered: 19 (+1 in town) PCT mile marker: 1925/2652 Highlight: A cool day of beautiful Oregon lakes. Biggest challenge: Loud people camping right by the lake.

Start: Summit Lake End: Shelter Cove Miles covered: 16 (+1 in town) PCT mile marker: 1906/2652 Highlight: Pizza, beer, and swimming at Shelter Cove. (Honorable mention: It’s always fun seeing people on the trail after many months. I remembered Katie from day 19, in the desert, because we had the same funky shorts.) Biggest challenge: Managing … Continue reading Day 99 – 17 mi – PCT mile 1906 →