trail tales
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Northern Washington: battling blowdowns and wildfire smoke
Stevens Pass (Leavenworth) to ~Steheikin. Miles 2,467 – 2,570. Days 121 – 125. After Stevens Pass, the Pacific Crest Trail begins a particularly remote ~100-mile stretch with no road crossings. In this section, the PCT goes through the Glacier Peak… 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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Across the halfway point on the PCT
~ Belden to Chester. Mile 1,282 – 1,333. Day 65 – 66. After Belden, the trail gradually climbs 5,000+ feet up from the Feather River into the mountains. From there, the trail crosses through the burn scar of the Dixie… Continue reading
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Walking into Yosemite: solo camping and lazy mornings
Mammoth to ~Tuolumne Meadows. Days 45 – 47. Miles 904 – 955. From Mammoth, the trail continues through the Sierra Nevada Range. Gradually, the high passes become lower in elevation, and the sharp peaks give way to rounded rock domes.… Continue reading
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Sierras part 2: high passes, heavy packs, and hiker hunger
Independence to Mammoth. Miles 790 – 904. Days 38 – 44. After Kearsarge Pass hikers find themselves in the thick of the Sierras. Each day brings climbs over high passes and river crossings. This is some of the most beautiful… Continue reading
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A 40-miler on the aqua duct and zeroing through a heat wave
Agua Dulce – Tehatchapi. Mile 465 – 566. Day 23 – 26. From Agua Dulce the trail returns to moderate elevations in rolling hills with shrubs and small groves of trees. This is a part of the trail where hikers… Continue reading
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Tons of Trail Magic and Trekking from Toilet to Toilet
Wrightwood – ~Agua Dulce. Mile 374 -465. Days 19 – 22. After Wrightwood, the trail climbs steeply up to the 9,000+ foot summit of Mt. Baden Powell. From there, the trail works through pine forested ridges in the San Gabriel… Continue reading
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Hiking for hot springs and hamburgers
Big Bear – Wrightwood. Mile 266 – 363. Days 15 – 18. After Big Bear, the trail gradually descends from the San Gorgonio Range. As the trail makes its way out of the mountains, it follows Deep Creek, home of… Continue reading
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All the Extremes on the PCT: high to low, cold to hot, cruising to rockhopping
Idyllwild – Big Bear. Mile 179 – 266. Days 10 – 14. After Saddle Junction, the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) continues cresting the dramatic spine of the San Jacinto range, then descends ~7,000 feet to Interstate Highway 10 near Cabazon.… Continue reading
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6-hour lunch breaks and going up into the mountains
Warner Springs – Idyllwild. Miles 109 – 179. Days 6 – 9. The trail between Warner Springs and Idyllwild gradually gains elevation. It climbs out of the chaparral to larger mountains with pine forests, gaining 5,000 feet of elevation over… Continue reading
Adventures with Val 