July 15, 2017
Total daily miles: 25.0 miles
Total PCT miles: 1298.8
Start: Alex Hole Spring (mile 1680.8)
End: mile 1705.7
Total elevation gain/loss: 4601.4/4524.6 ft
We’ve finally made it out of California and are officially in our second state of the PCT! Took long enough… Oregon welcomed us with open arms and while I may not yet have found the magical easy miles that I was looking forward to, we did find some magic.
July 14, 2017
Total daily miles: 24.9 miles
Total PCT miles: 1273.9
Start: mile 1655.9
End: Alex Hole Spring (mile 1680.8)
Total elevation gain/loss: 7281.5/3193.9 ft
This morning started out with the big climb that we began yesterday. While yesterday’s segment had fairly decent tree-cover, this morning’s portion definitely lived up to its reputation for being exposed. It’s yet another burn zone. Luckily, we managed to stay in the shade for much of the morning because we remained within the mountain’s shadow.
July 13, 2017
Total daily miles: 16.8 miles
Total PCT miles: 1249.0
Start: mile 1639.2
End: mile 1655.9
Total elevation gain/loss: 2294.3/2995.1 ft
Despite being camped around a bunch of other people, I had a great night’s sleep. It could have had something to do with the Advil PM I downed before bed. I paid for it all morning — I felt drowsy and constantly ready for a nap.
July 12, 2017
Total daily miles: 26.5 miles
Total PCT miles: 1232.3
Start: mile 1612.6
End: mile 1639.2
Total elevation gain/loss: 4131.6/7419.3 ft
Today started out with a stretch of snow that we’d been hearing hype about for weeks. We’d heard that there was a large “bowl” that we had to traverse, although people had different opinions as to how difficult it would be. Would it live up to the hype? Would we be glad to have kept our microspikes and whippets since Chester? Not really…
July 11, 2017
Total daily miles: 15.5 miles
Total PCT miles: 1205.7
Start: Etna (mile 1597.2)
End: mile 1612.6
Total elevation gain/loss: 2905.8/2411.1 ft
Sleeping in is glorious! I think I made it to almost 8am this morning before the sunlight hit my tent and it started to heat up quickly. I think that my body really needed that extra sleep!
We packed up quickly and then enjoyed a breakfast of fresh fruit and muffins that we’d picked up from the grocery store. A nice change from fig bars and pop tarts! The pavilion area at the city park really is an ideal spot to hang out and I have to admit that I was surprised how easy it was to get quiet time for myself while staying at the park.
July 10, 2017
Total daily miles: 5.6 miles
Total PCT miles: 1190.3
Start: Paynes Lake (mile 1591.5)
End: Etna (mile 1597.2)
Total elevation gain/loss: 910.8/1432.4 ft
With less than six miles to go until we got to town (or at least the hitch to town), we were ready to get out quickly this morning. The morning light on Paynes Lake was rich and stunning!
July 9, 2017
Total daily miles: 21.7 miles
Total PCT miles: 1184.6
Start: mile 1569.8
End: Paynes Lake (mile 1591.5)
Total elevation gain/loss: 4083.3/4840.2 ft
We were swarmed by mosquitoes as we got out of our tent this morning. It was intense! Nothing gets us moving faster in the morning than the threat of being eaten alive.
July 8, 2017
Total daily miles: 22.6 miles
Total PCT miles: 1162.9
Start: mile 1547.1
End: mile 1569.8
Total elevation gain/loss: 3470.1/2934.7 ft
Today did not start well. We awoke to a swarm of mosquitoes outside our tent. In my rush to get moving (and away from the blood suckers), I accidentally dumped my Welches strawberry peach drink mix into my chocolate Carnation Instant Breakfast drink (instead of instant coffee). The result was horrifically sweet. I attempted to water it down, but it was still horrible. Just my luck. After attempting to swallow a few swigs, I decided to carry it out to the campground that we’d be passing about 10 miles in that reported had a privy that I could dump it into. Leave no trace!
July 7, 2017
Total daily miles: 26.1 miles
Total PCT miles: 1140.2 miles
Start: Lake Helen (0.6 miles off PCT mile 1521.0)
End: mile 1547.1
Total elevation gain/loss: 2957.7/2949.1 ft
The morning colors on Lake Helen were gorgeous this morning. Such a beautiful sight to wake up to!
The trail this morning was once again exposed with sweeping views of the surrounding area. The trail stayed close to the ridge line and out of the forests that we’d become accustomed to on the trail between Burney and Castella. I started to regret my decision to switch to a t-shirt instead of my long sleeved shirt. Despite my efforts to apply sunscreen yesterday and this morning, I was worrying that my arms were getting pink too quickly. Continue reading
July 6, 2017
Total daily miles: 22.4 miles
Total PCT miles: 1114.1 miles
Start: Castle Crags State Park Campground (mile 1498.7)
End: Lake Helen (0.6 miles off PCT mile 1521.0)
Total elevation gain/loss: 6570.5/1958.7 ft
Our plans to get up at 4:30 this morning quickly devolved to 5am. I’m not sure why we keep trying.
We decided to try hitching to the trailhead instead of walking the 2.5 miles along the road. When we got to the store/gas station our chances weren’t looking good. I guess it was too early in the morning for tons of people to be out and about. We decided to wait for one more car… and it picked us up! The driver was up to try a hike from the same trailhead, so it worked out perfectly!
two backpacks, no plan 