Thru-Hiking
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Hiking through Mt Rainer National Park on the PCT
~White Pass to Snoqualmie Pass. 2,308 – 2,396. Days 112 – 115. Between White Pass and Snoqualmie Pass, the Pacific Crest Trail passes through Mt Rainier National Park. The trail also crosses a large burn area from a 1988 fire.… Continue reading
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Goat Rocks Wilderness: following ridges and foraging berries
~Trout Lake to ~White Pass. Miles 2,239 – 2,308. Days 109 – 111. After Trout Lake, the Pacific Crest Trail passes near Mt Adams, a large volcano with permanent snowfields. Hikers also get their first views of Mt Rainier in… Continue reading
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The final state: walking into Washington
Cascade Locks to ~Trout Lake. Miles 2,150 – 2,239. Days 105 – 108. At Cascade Locks, the Pacific Crest Trail crosses the Columbia River on the Bridge of the Gods and enters Washington, the final state on the PCT. From… Continue reading
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Chasing waterfalls and PCT Days festival
~Timberline Lodge to Cascade Locks. Miles 2,099 – 2,150. Days 101 – 104. After Mount Hood, the Pacific Crest Trail drops dramatically. The trail reaches its lowest point at Cascade Locks, a mere 140 feet above sea level. Here, the… Continue reading
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Just walking around volcanoes and day 100 on trail!
Mackenzie Pass (Sisters) to ~Timberline Lodge. Miles 1,985 – 2,099. Days 96 – 100. Between MacKenzie Pass and Timberline Lodge, the Pacific Crest Trail skirts around the edges of several large volcanoes. First, Three Finger Jack, then Mount Jefferson, and… Continue reading
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Loving Oregon: butterflies, wildflowers, lakes, snow, lava fields, and more!
~Crater Lake to MacKenzie Pass (Sisters). Miles 1,841 – 1,985. Days 90 – 95. After Crater Lake, PCT hikers find themselves in some of the flattest portions of the PCT so far, with minimal daily climbing and gradual ascents and… Continue reading
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Rainy days heading into Crater Lake National Park!
Ashland to ~Crater lake. Miles 1,720 – 1,841. Days 86 – 89. Beyond Ashland, the Pacific Crest Trail makes its way through forests and along ridges all the way to Crater Lake National Park. Here, many thru-hikers opt to take… Continue reading
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Hiking into Oregon on the PCT on chaffed feet
~Seiad Valley to Ashland. Miles 1,660 – 1720. Days 82 – 85. The climb out of Seiad Valley is a challenging one. Hikers gain about 5,000 feet in elevation climbing back up into the mountains. The trail crosses a few… Continue reading
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Almost out of California and crossing a fresh burn area
~Etna to ~Seiad Valley. Mile 1,609 – 1,660. Days 80-81. Past the Etna Summit Trailhead, the Pacific Crest Trail continues following rocky ridges with stunning views. Notably, the trail passes near the Marble Mountains – silvery-white rock outcrops that jut… Continue reading
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Northern California mountains and staying with a trail angel in an off-grid cabin
~Interstate Highway 5 to ~Etna. Miles 1,500 to 1,609. Days 75 – 79. The Pacific Crest Trail climbs up dramatically from the interstate 5 corridor, gaining thousands of feet in elevation. This section includes some of the most scenic mountains… Continue reading
Adventures with Val 