Category Archives: Life on the Trail

Filling in the gaps–Tehachapi to Walker Pass on the PCT Early last summer we skipped the 80+ mile Tehachapi to Walker Pass leg on the PCT since it was more than 100 degrees at the time–with long water carries–and a little too edgy for us. Spring break this year seemed to be a perfect timeContinue reading “Spring Break, March 2022”

Overview: In August, 2020 we pondered what to do with our time. COVID decimated our usual summer musical plans, and we had Freddy’s high school graduation and Matt’s college graduation to celebrate. We ended up hiking most of the Oregon PCT. From April 29th to Sept. 2nd, 2021 the PCT was once again our fall-backContinue reading “Summing up…”

August 25th to Sept. 2nd! Aug 25th: Headed up to Trout Lake in WA with the two vehicles (to leave the truck at Forest Rd 23) and by the time we got ourselves back to Cascade Locks (on the OR/WA border) it was late afternoon already. We met two volunteers with the Trail Keepers ofContinue reading “Week Seventeen-ish”

August 11th to August 24! Wednesday, August 11We shuttled both vehicles up from Shasta to the Mt. Ashland area. Our goal was to navigate forest roads to get as close to the California/Oregon border as possible. The one “developed” forest road was hair-raising–probably constituting one of the top three scary experiences on the trail (fireContinue reading “Weeks Fifteen and Sixteen-ish”

July 29th to August 10th! The 30 mile hike from Barker Pass to Donner Pass was successful! We planned for three days to accommodate my knee, but did it in two 15 mile days. We met several Sobo (southbound) hikers who kindly let us know we were late heading north as well as several veryContinue reading “Weeks Thirteen and Fourteen-ish”

Sunday, July 18th, to Thursday, July 29th Well, I don’t even remember all the things we did Sunday, July 18th–drove cars around the Ebbetts fire (driving through some very intense smoke), stayed at Fallen Leaf Lake campground near Tahoe, and finally, finally got back out on the trail on Monday, July 19th–hiking from Echo LakeContinue reading “Weeks Eleven and Twelve-ish”

Sunday, July 4th Late start today–left about noon and ran smack into the Independence Day parade in the town of Independence, CA. Stocky men holding the edges of a giant U.S. flag and marching along, old guys spraying the audience with old fire hoses from a faded, red vintage fire engine, truck after truck afterContinue reading “Weeks Nine and Ten (ish)”

Tuesday, June 29th It’s our two month anniversary hiking the PCT! Went from Horseshoe Meadow up Trail Pass to the PCT (met a hiker at the intersection holding his hands in prayer position constantly as he walked). Climbed up Cottonwood Pass, saw Chicken Spring Lake (too cold and stormy to swim), then a long traverseContinue reading “Week Eight!”

Oh my goodness, somehow I’ve not kept notes since June 10th–how could that happen? Bear canisters need to be filled and packs need to be organized for an early start up to Trail Pass and then Cottonwood Pass tomorrow, so here’s a recap: We met Daniel–yes, Daniel of the Mile 549 water cache–in Tehachapi atContinue reading “Week Six and Seven Plus”

June 2nd, Wednesday: We hiked from Mill Creek Fire Station to Messenger Flats and then on to the North Fork Ranger Station through the heat–we’d been gradually realizing that the Garmin Inreach promise of 72 degree days were outrageously incorrect. It was more like 90 degrees or higher today…maybe 95. Hikers ahead of us reportedContinue reading “WEEK FIVE: DAYS THIRTY FIVE TO FORTY FOUR (June 2nd to June 10th)”