For your viewing enjoyment, below I have included links to photo/video slideshows of my hike for folks to enjoy vicariously. Hope you like!
Video of SoCal on Vimeo
Video of CentralCal on Vimeo
Video of NorCal on Vimeo
Video of Oregon on Vimeo
Video of Washington on Vimeo
Monday, June 18, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Life After the PCT
I apologize in advance for the length of this entry, but I have been reflecting on the hike a lot recently, and five months is a pretty long time over which to reflect!
Wow. I can't believe it's over. At the beginning I didn't really know what to expect since I had not previously attempted a thru-hike. I should have been expecting a lot of fun and great people! Now, five amazing months have passed and I wonder where the time has gone. I'm glad I took so many pictures to help me remember all the good stuff that happened, and the people who made those times so great.
Now that I'm back in Portland, I can't decide which would be better: jumping straight back into work and my previous life, or having these two weeks to attempt to readjust before starting work again. It's probably good to have this time to do nothing for a while, but sometimes I'm not very good at doing nothing and my mind has too much time to wander back to trail life.
Lifestyle is certainly going to be different, but I think the hardest part is going to be adjusting to life without the awesome people I met and spent a lot of time with on the trail, especially 12 Ounce. Hiking partners are not friends that you see every now and then, or even a roommate that you see everyday. It's like being roommates who carpool to work, work all day together, carpool home, and then sleep in the same tiny bedroom together. Needless to say, it's not all that easy to find a person or group of people that you can live this lifestyle with everyday. I was lucky to have met many people who fell into this category. The first group, that I hiked with for 450 miles, included Wiz and Jimbrick, who I thoroughly enjoyed talking to, as well as hiking and camping with everyday. As that group split and scattered, I began to hike with Gangsta Rap, Timex/Kick/Colin, and 12 Ounce. For the next 500 miles the four of us hiked together through the Sierras to Yosemite, before splitting into twosomes. The remaining 1700 miles from Yosemite to the Canadian border I hiked with 12 Ounce, with a few other people every now and then. Best time of my life. Thanks to all of you for being so much fun and sharing your time/hike with me! I already miss you guys.
As far as my transition back to "real life", I'm taking my time with that one. Today I ran the Portland Marathon, which I signed up for prior to starting the PCT, and otherwise wouldn't have run. When I signed up for the marathon I thought I would finish the hike mid-September and have more time to prepare, but as it turned out, I was having too much fun hiking and didn't finish until September 30. I got in one 6-mile run two days ago, and then just went for it today. After getting through the first half in just under 90 minutes, the wheels came off and it was a painful run, but I still made it to the finish line with a smile and in a fairly respectable 3:23:30. My body isn't all that happy with me at the moment.
Once my legs have had a chance to recover from the pavement pounding I put them through today, I will work on moving into my new home in Vancouver. I am renting a room in my friends house and looking forward to having a roommate again after living alone the past few years. Once settled in there I will go back to work on October 24. I guess it's back to reality...soon enough at least.
As for future adventures, I am working on putting together a list for 2012. I plan to find something adventurous to do each month next year. It could be as simple as running a marathon (check!), or something more intense like circumnavigating the 30+ miles around Crater Lake on skis and touring Mt Scott along the way. I also plan to ski as much as possible this winter/spring at Mt Hood, and possibly elsewhere. Now that I'm done hiking, bring on the snow! Perhaps I will go on another grand adventure (CDT?) in a few years, only time will tell.
Wow. I can't believe it's over. At the beginning I didn't really know what to expect since I had not previously attempted a thru-hike. I should have been expecting a lot of fun and great people! Now, five amazing months have passed and I wonder where the time has gone. I'm glad I took so many pictures to help me remember all the good stuff that happened, and the people who made those times so great.
Now that I'm back in Portland, I can't decide which would be better: jumping straight back into work and my previous life, or having these two weeks to attempt to readjust before starting work again. It's probably good to have this time to do nothing for a while, but sometimes I'm not very good at doing nothing and my mind has too much time to wander back to trail life.
Lifestyle is certainly going to be different, but I think the hardest part is going to be adjusting to life without the awesome people I met and spent a lot of time with on the trail, especially 12 Ounce. Hiking partners are not friends that you see every now and then, or even a roommate that you see everyday. It's like being roommates who carpool to work, work all day together, carpool home, and then sleep in the same tiny bedroom together. Needless to say, it's not all that easy to find a person or group of people that you can live this lifestyle with everyday. I was lucky to have met many people who fell into this category. The first group, that I hiked with for 450 miles, included Wiz and Jimbrick, who I thoroughly enjoyed talking to, as well as hiking and camping with everyday. As that group split and scattered, I began to hike with Gangsta Rap, Timex/Kick/Colin, and 12 Ounce. For the next 500 miles the four of us hiked together through the Sierras to Yosemite, before splitting into twosomes. The remaining 1700 miles from Yosemite to the Canadian border I hiked with 12 Ounce, with a few other people every now and then. Best time of my life. Thanks to all of you for being so much fun and sharing your time/hike with me! I already miss you guys.
As far as my transition back to "real life", I'm taking my time with that one. Today I ran the Portland Marathon, which I signed up for prior to starting the PCT, and otherwise wouldn't have run. When I signed up for the marathon I thought I would finish the hike mid-September and have more time to prepare, but as it turned out, I was having too much fun hiking and didn't finish until September 30. I got in one 6-mile run two days ago, and then just went for it today. After getting through the first half in just under 90 minutes, the wheels came off and it was a painful run, but I still made it to the finish line with a smile and in a fairly respectable 3:23:30. My body isn't all that happy with me at the moment.
Once my legs have had a chance to recover from the pavement pounding I put them through today, I will work on moving into my new home in Vancouver. I am renting a room in my friends house and looking forward to having a roommate again after living alone the past few years. Once settled in there I will go back to work on October 24. I guess it's back to reality...soon enough at least.
As for future adventures, I am working on putting together a list for 2012. I plan to find something adventurous to do each month next year. It could be as simple as running a marathon (check!), or something more intense like circumnavigating the 30+ miles around Crater Lake on skis and touring Mt Scott along the way. I also plan to ski as much as possible this winter/spring at Mt Hood, and possibly elsewhere. Now that I'm done hiking, bring on the snow! Perhaps I will go on another grand adventure (CDT?) in a few years, only time will tell.
PCT Overview by the Numbers
 |
| The Southern Terminus |
Miles Walked (Including Mt Whitney and Half Dome): 2700+
Lowest Point on Trail: Cascade Locks, OR [near OR/WA border] (140')
 |
| Mile 2000 marker just before Hwy 20 at Santiam Pass, OR |
Lowest Point on Trail: Cascade Locks, OR [near OR/WA border] (140')
 |
| Bridge of the Gods, Columbia River |
Highest Point on Trail: Forrester Pass (13,153')
 |
| Forrester Pass |
Highest Point Summitted: Mt Whitney (14,505') Also the highest point in the lower 48
 |
| 12 Ounce at summit, looking East into Owens Valley as the sun rises |
Elevation Change: ~421,000 ft, or to put that in perspective ~80 miles. That's just the vertical up and down!
Days of Real, Drenching Rain: One, hiking into Stehekin
 |
| Drowned Rat |
Days of Sun: The entire hike minus about 8 cloudy days
 |
| 12 Ounce following the trail through sun-cups in the Goat Rocks Wilderness, WA |
Other Awesome PCT Hikers: All of them
 |
| Kickoff at Lake Morena, CA. I'm on the top right of the rock |
Amazing Views: Countless
 |
| Double rainbow at sunrise in the desert |
Memories: The best. They will last a lifetime
 |
| Dinner on a windmill farm just before dropping to the Hwy for Mojave/Tehachapi |
Regrets: Only that it had to end
End: Canadian Border (elev. 4240'); Manning Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada, on September 30, 2011 (elev. 3,900')
 |
| The Northern Terminus |
Monday, October 3, 2011
September 30, 2011
Start: 2640
End: 2663 (Manning Provincial Park, BC, Canada!)
End: 2663 (Manning Provincial Park, BC, Canada!)
Today we woke up in the dark again, and again we had a clear sky with stars shining brightly. As we got moving around 6:30, the sky was just getting light as we climbed out of our meadowy campsite to a gap in the ridge. The colors that the sun created with the wispy cirrus clouds above the surrounding mountains was amazing! Possibly the best sunrise of the trip. Mother nature saving the best for last I suppose.
We continued climbing over Woody Pass and up towards the WA high point at just over 7000'. The 360 degree panoramic view of the mountains was incredible! After a nice break there, we headed down the last 7 miles to the Canadian border.
We took the obligatory pictures at the Northern Terminus, in the sun no less, and then set up our stoves for the final trail-cooked meal of the hike. As we were sitting there cooking, the clouds rolled through the sky from South to North, urging us to continue moving into Canada and put an end to this five month long adventure.
As we approached and arrived at the terminus, just like Billy Goat told us, the US Marine Band wasn't playing for us, in fact, no one else was there. It was nice to see the terminus, monument 78, and the clearcut line along the border, but other than that it seemed like just another day on the trail. We still had 8 more mules to go, after all.
Looking back on the entirety of all the miles hiked I can safely say that I have no regrets. I can only hope that the same thought hits me as I look back on my life many years from now.
Sent from the PCT
September 29, 2011
Start: 2614
End: 2640
End: 2640
After a climb from Glacier Pass in the morning to another pass, we crossed to the other side of the ridge and into a fierce, cold wind. The trail had some snow patches here and there, and also had some surface hoar, the first we had seen on the hike. It was strange to walk on it, crunching through the tiny icy pillars.
After a few more miles we came to Harts Pass, the last road we will cross before reaching Manning Park, 8 miles past the US/Canadian border. We stopped briefly to sign the register, then continued on to find a place for lunch.
Our lunch stop ended up being ?Buffalo? Pass. Just as we were packing up after lunch, Goodness and Zm stopped by on their way South. They reached the border the day before and instead of going into Canada were hiking back to Rainey Pass for a ride. It was good to see the two of them once more before finishing the hike.
During the afternoon hiking my mind was wandering, and a feeling came over me a bit like a child gets on Christmas Eve. The anticipation of completing the hike and accomplishing a goal 5 months in the making is like that of opening presents Christmas Day. The only question left in my mind is: will I have gotten what I want out of the hike, or will i be left with an empty feeling after the anticipation of the moment has passed? Only time will tell.
Sent from the PCT
September 28, 2011
Start: 2589
End: 2614
End: 2614
I love the North Cascades! I believe today confirms the fact that Washington had been my favorite part of the trail.
We made our way up the trail from where we camped, across Hwy 20 at Rainy Pass, and up towards Cutthroat Pass. As we made our way up through the trees we caught glimpses of a clear blue sky, and the mountains freshly frosted with a light dusting of snow. The crispness of the morning air, as well as the snow, were truly signs that the seasons are changing, winter is on it's way, and it's about time to be finishing this hike.
Over the course of the day we also ran into a few other hikers. Two of them are Mowgli and Shaker, other thru-hikers, and the third is a section hiker from Portland named Bobby.
Tonight 12 Ounce and I are camped up near Glacier Pass and I expect the tent will be frozen in the morning. Should be interesting! We also cross into the Pasayten Wilderness tomorrow which is supposed to be spectacular!
Sent from the PCT
September 27, 2011
Start: 2574
End: 2589
End: 2589
This morning we did some laundry, ate some delicious baked goods, and picked up our food boxes from the Post Office.
We took the 11:15am shuttle back up to the trailhead at High Bridge, ate a little snack, and started hiking again just after 1pm. The hiking was pretty easy today, with few views. It also rained a little on us, but not nearly like it did yesterday. (thank goodness!)
Tonight we are camped at Fireweed Camp within North Cascades National Park. Getting in 15 mikes today allows us to have a relatively (hopefully) easy schedule of 25 miles per day to get us to the border and then to Manning Park in the next three days. It was really good to get everything dried out after the rain yesterday and my mood is much better because of the improved weather and plentiful snack foods I brought for the final leg.
Sent from the PCT
September 26, 2011
Start: 2555
End: 2574
End: 2574
Today we woke early with the intention of getting to Stehekin around noon, getting our resupply boxes from the Post Office, drying some clothing, and then catching the next shuttle back to the trailhead to get in a few miles. Instead, we awoke to find our shoes had frozen solid like they had done a few times in the Sierras. We donned our warm clothes and rain shells and headed down the trail in the dark.
The first part of the day went well enough. There was a light rain off and on, but the wettest part was from walking through the wet brush lining the trail. After about 9 miles we had a snack break, after which the rain decided to really start. With 10 miles to go, we just put our heads down and went so as to get to Stehekin as soon as possible.
When we got to the trailhead, there was an historic guard station with a little covered porch where we hid from the rain brewing hot drinks and waiting 2 hours for the shuttle to arrive. Unfortunately we were out of water when we got there, and there was no place to get potable water nearby, so we were reduced to filtering water through a bandana, bleaching it, boiling it, and then adding coffee/tea to the already tinted water. Totally worth it at the time, but also possibly a new low.
Stehekin itself is a cool little hamlet nestled at the Northwest end of Lake Chelan. Not much to it, but looks like a fun place to go rafting, horseback riding, and hiking during the summer.
Sent from the PCT
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