Trail Guides, Gear Reviews, and Backpacking Tips
“With disturbing frequency, backpackers die in the mountains during the first snows of the season. Avalanche danger, hypothermia and obliterated trails are a threat to your life. Snow has closed the PCT in Washington as early as mid-September. In a Read More …
In 2012, the PCT represented the 10th of the 12 Long Walks series. It was the only one of the dozen hikes that I had previously done (2007). It was a trek that turned out to be a lot more Read More …
With the popularity of the Triple Crown increasing, the amount of information on the internet regarding the three long distance trails is staggering. Some of it is good; some of it not so much. That being the case, how does one separate Read More …
In late April each year the Pacific Crest Trail has a gathering of aspiring thru hikers, trail angels, lightweight backpacking gear vendors and former hikers. It is held at Lake Morena Country Park in southern California and is known by Read More …
I recently came across some short videos from the Oregon section of my PCT 2012 thru hike. I had almost forgotten how much snow there was on the stretch between Crater and Ollalie Lakes! Thanks to fellow thru hiker, Erin Read More …
Taken from both my 2007 and 2012 thru hikes: Town: Stehekin. Runners up – Etna, Ashland and Cascade Locks. Restaurant/Food Stop: Stehekin bakery, Timberline Lodge AYCE buffet, Drakesbad, Morning Glory restaurant in Ashland. Lodging: Apart from the amazing trail angel Read More …
DATE: July 28 – July 30 (2.2 days) START: Bridge Creek (Five miles past Stehekin) FINISH: Manning Park, Canada (Eight miles past the border) DISTANCE: 80 miles (128.7 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 36.4 miles (58.6 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 2668 miles (4293 Read More …
DATE: July 23 – July 27 (4.5 days) START: Stevens Pass FINISH: Bridge Creek Camp (Five miles past Stehekin) DISTANCE: 101 miles (162.5 km)* (See below for details) DAILY AVERAGE: 22.4 miles (36 km) – includes rest/rejuvenation day in Stehekin. Read More …
Date: July 18 – July 23 (5.5 days) Start: White Pass Finish: Stevens Pass Distance: 174 miles (280 km) Daily Average: 31.6 miles (50.9 km) Total Distance: 2476 miles (3983.9 km) HIGHLIGHTS: Coffee in bed: A day out of White Read More …
DATE: July 13 – July 17 (5 days) START: Cascade Locks FINISH: White Pass DISTANCE: 147 miles (236.5 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 29.4 miles (47.3 km) – included a Nero (just a few miles hiked) in Cascade Locks. TOTAL DISTANCE: 2302 Read More …
DATE: July 10 – July 12 START: A few miles before Ollalie Lake FINISH: Cascade Locks DISTANCE: 105 miles (168.9 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 35 miles (56.3 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 2155.8 miles (3468.7 km) HIGHLIGHTS: Timberline Lodge Buffet: Simply the best Read More …
Date: July 8 – July 9 Start: A couple of miles beyond Big Lake Youth Camp Finish: A few miles before Ollalie Lake Distance: 48 miles (77.2 km) Daily Average: 24 miles (38.6 km) Total Distance: 2050.9 miles (km) A Read More …
DATE: July 3 – July 7 START: Crater Lake Mazama Village FINISH: A couple of miles beyond Big Lake Youth Camp DISTANCE: 172.5 miles (277.6 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 34.5 miles (55.5 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 2002.9 miles ( 3805.5 km) HIGHLIGHTS: Read More …
DATE: June 30 – July 2 START: Callahan’s, Ashland FINISH: Crater Lake Mazama Village DISTANCE: 124 miles (199.5 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 31.3 miles (50.4 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1830.4 miles (2945.1 km) HIGHLIGHTS: Views from the edge: Despite some heavy snow Read More …
DATE: June 26 – 29 START: Etna Summit FINISH: Callahan’s, Ashland DISTANCE: 121 miles (194.7 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 30.3 miles (48.8 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1727 miles ( 2778.7 km) HIGHLIGHTS: Etna: Wonderful little town with a great mico brewery and Read More …
DATE: June 21 – 25 START: A few miles short of Peavine Creek FINISH: Etna DISTANCE: 175 miles DAILY AVERAGE: 35 miles TOTAL DISTANCE: 1606.3 miles HIGHLIGHTS: Mt. Shasta: The sun came out and the heavens cleared to afford jaw-dropping Read More …
DATE: June 20 START: Cache 22 FINISH: A few miles short of Peavine Creek DISTANCE: 33 miles (53.1 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1431 miles (2302.5 km) An early start saw me reach Burney Falls State Park (at the 1423 mile mark) Read More …
DATE: June 18 START: Carter Meadow Trail Junction FINISH: Just before junction to Horseshoe Lake DISTANCE: 37.6 miles TOTAL DISTANCE: 1359.1 miles An early start saw me reach the halfway milepost of the PCT just after sunrise. With the first Read More …
DATE: June 18 START: Junction to Horseshoe Lake FINISH: Cache 22 DISTANCE: 39 miles TOTAL DISTANCE: 1398 miles After a longish day, which included a couple of hours worth of burgers, ice cream and V8 vegetable juice at Old Station, Read More …
DATE: June 17 START: Braaten’s at Little Haven FINISH: Carter Creek Junction DISTANCE: 32 miles TOTAL DISTANCE: 1321.5 miles Fresh fruit, coffee, cereal and yesterday’s San Francisco Chronicle for breakfast…..suffice to say I didn’t hit the trail at the crack Read More …