Day 113 – From tentsite to tentsite, mile 1765

Aug 11.

Got up 5.15am, started hiking 6.15am. The smoke has its advantages – with the early sunlight, it creates beautiful photo opportunities.

We completed 10 miles by 10am, took a break to get new water.

Pushing on, we had 16.5 miles done before the lunch break at 1pm. In the afternoon finally a change in landscape! I had seen trees and trees and trees since weeks – Northern California and the South of Oregon had been very similar so far. I am excited to see first volcanic rocks – Oregon will offer much more of that.

Around 5pm, we crossed a highway and met two hiker offering some trail magic out of their rental car. They had decided to skip Oregon – and to make up for that, they were doing trail magic with sodas and snacks – much appreciated! 🙂

Camped at 6.45pm at mile 1765 with 26 miles done. Doing a good job with a planned daily 25+ miles.

Day 112 – From Ashland to tentsite, mile 1739

Aug 10.

Getting out of town was easier than expected. After the breakfast in the motel and some last shopping, we were just standing at the street for a couple of minutes. An older couple stopped and offered a ride to the trail head: we don’t want you to stand out here in the smoke longer than necessary.

We got on trail at 10.30am. We refreshed at a water cache right at the trail head and started hiking out from Ashland and hopefully away from the smoke.

At 7.30pm we came to our planned tentsite with water at mile 1739 – an outlet with a waterfall from a lake.

22 miles – decent for a nero – considering that we only started hiking at 10.30am.

Days 110, 111 – Nero and Zero day in Ashland

Aug 8. and 9.

fbt

With just 6 miles left and leaving at 6am, made it to the highway before 8am. Crumbs and I were walking together to the the highway and met another hiker from Switzerland who had already called a trail angel for a ride. We were lucky – with basically no waiting time, we got into Ashland!

I went to the motel where Cactass and Tinkle were sharing a room with three other hikers. My early arrival was a surprise and being reunited was really nice! But it also meant good bye again soon after! Cactass is attending some weddings in September and for that, she decided to skip forward a couple of days to Crater lake.

With Cactass gone, we spent the rest of town time shopping for food, eating and resting. I used the life long Darn Tough socks warranty the first time and exchanged a pair with holes with a new one in the Mountain Provisions shop in Ashland.

cof

It was also time for my forth pair of shoes:

First was Salomon X Ultra Mid, 0-700 miles
Second Lowa Camino Leather for the Sierras, 700-1100 miles
Third Salomon X Ultra 1100-1700
Fourth Salomon X Ultra 1700-?

The smoke situation from the forest fires is quite bad, especially around Ashland.

Capture

You see many people with filter masks on their faces on the streets – we will check out a local hardware store before hitting the trail later.

Day 109 – From tentsite to tentsite, mile 1710

Aug 7.

Started walking 6.45am with just a couple of miles to a really important milestone – the California/Oregon border!

For 109 days and close to 1700 miles / 2735 km, I have been hiking from the Mexican border (Campo, CA) all the way through California. The PCT leads from Mexico to Canada through just three states – and California is by far the longest. Oregon and Washington are each roughly 500 miles to walk.

So arriving at the border this morning meant a lot for me. Completing the PCT is really possible and even the timing seems to turn out ok. I am expecting to reach Canada end of September now.

fbt

Soon after border, the next milestone waited for me – another 100 miles marker, the 1700 miles marker.

fbt

To make it to Ashland respectively highway 5 today would have meant 33 miles today. I was thinking about pushing on to Ashland today a lot. It would also mean a chance to catch up with Cactass and Tinkle – the two girls I had been hiking with from the beginning for a good three months.

There was one or the other climb during the day, but the afternoon was all downhill towards Ashland. Still my progress indicated that I would make it maybe around 8pm to the highway, not a good time for getting a hitch into town.

I decided to camp with a handful of other hikers about 6 miles from the highway. Planning an early start tomorrow, I should make it for breakfast into town.

Day 108 – From Seiad Valley to tentsite, mile 1683

Aug 6.

Left 7am the campground. Just as I came into Seiad Valley via a long roadwalk, I am also leaving. After a couple of miles, the road changed to an unpaved forest road.

A buck approached and started following me for good 15 minutes – a new experience. In the last weeks, I had seen more and more deer and they became also less cautious. But actively approaching me so that I could have touched it – that was new.

An hour later, another noise in the bushes uphill, I expected yet another deer. But the noise sounded like a bigger animal. It seemed like I had startled a black bear. He ran away some meters, then stopped and stood on his back legs facing me curiously. But he was not as brave as the buck (and I am thankful for that) – he turned and disappeared in the bushes.

At about 11am the Jeep road that I had used met the PCT again at mile 1668. The roadwalk had been really fast and rather easy on the feet – nearly 15 PCT miles done at 11am! I deserved a break with poptart and coffee, nice.

Some hikers arrived soon after by pickup and quads. A girl offered trail magic from ther pickup. I enjoyed a popsicle and a soda before moving on.

Lunch at mile 1674 at 2.15pm. Still feeling good, the roadwalk was really easy on the feet. 20 miles by (late) lunch is nothing was I normally do.

Taking water again at Alex Hole Spring, mile 1681, at 6pm. I joined Crumbs for dinner there before walking some more miles to a tentsite.

Moved on for another 2 miles to a tentsite. Lots of hikers camping here, same girl from lunch time doing trail magic out of her pickup. Lucky us… trail magic traveling with us. Got a beer for dinner and a good night sleep. 🙂

29 miles. Good day.