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 →

Start: Scott Mountain Campground End: tentsite at mile 1581 Miles covered: 21 PCT mile marker: 1581/2652 Highlight: Seeing so many badass trail crews from the Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps. (Honorable mention: Cold lemonade courtesy of Mike from Ashland. He hiked up from his cabin and passed out refreshments to hikers, just because.) Biggest challenge: It … Continue reading Day 76 – 21 mi – PCT mile 1581 →

Start: Porcupine Lake End: Scott Mountain Campground Miles covered: 29 PCT mile marker: 1560/2652 Highlight: Sunrise over Toad Lake, with views of Mt Shasa in the background. Biggest challenge: By the end of this high-mileage day, my foot started to hurt in a way that was ominously familiar, a bit like a bruise on the … Continue reading Day 75 – 29 mi – PCT mile 1560 →