Western United States
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The Final Day: finishing my Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike
Harts Pass to Canada (Northern Terminus). Mile 2,634 – 2,656. Day 129. I woke up early on my final day on the PCT – something I haven’t done often on this trip – at my beautiful campsite atop a small… Continue reading
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Adventures in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and Leavenworth
Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass (Leavenworth). Miles 2,396 – 2,467. Days 116 – 120. The Pacific Crest Trail climbs significantly after Snoqualmie Pass into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area. Hikers are rewarded for their labor when they emerge into a… Continue reading
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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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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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Hot Hiking in NorCal: Crossing a burn area in 90-degree heat
Sierra City to ~Belden. Miles 1,196 – 1,282. Days 62 – 64. Past Sierra City, the trail climbs gradually into pine forest-covered mountains. However, the trees are short lived, as soon the trail crosses the Bear Fire burn scar. Here,… Continue reading
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Wildflower ridge walks and a 4th of July side quest
South Lake Tahoe to Sierra City. Miles 1,091 – 1,196. Days 57 – 61. To thru-hikers, South Lake Tahoe marks the end of the Sierras and the beginning of a whole new section of the PCT: Northern California or “NorCal”.… Continue reading
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1,000 miles completed and leaving Yosemite
~Tuolumne Meadows to Sonora Pass. Miles 955 – 1,018. Days 48 – 50. The PCT continues through Yosemite National Park after it diverges from the Tuolumne River. Thru-hikers tackle rugged trails full of roots, rocks, mud, and steep climbs. They… Continue reading
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From NoCo to NoBo: traveling to the PCT’s southern terminus
Well, this is it. My last pre-trail post about my preparations for thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) – a 2,650-mile long backpacking route in the western United States. Each year, many people thru-hike this entire trail. Tomorrow, I will… Continue reading
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10 Realities of preparing for a PCT thru-hike
“Are you nervous?” “How are preparations going?“ “What are you doing to train?” These are things I’m asked by friends and family as I prepare to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), a 2650-mile backpacking route, starting this spring! (Read… Continue reading
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PCT Prep: What is the Pacific Crest Trail?
Recently, I shared that I’m preparing to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail this year! Now, if you’re wondering “What is the Pacific Crest Trail?” or “How long does it take to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail” this post is for… Continue reading
Adventures with Val 