It's Not Over 'Til It's Over

Though we are back in the USA, the adventure of settling in continues and we plan to keep blogging until the end of the year. Hopefully things will be “back to normal” by that time and we will sign off for good. However, we are not even fully unpacked yet and Jeff is still unemployed so who knows when this adventure will end.

We are going to blog about our re-entry to America soon, but this post is the story of my (Jeff’s) journey on the Pacific Crest Trail. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a hiking/riding path that goes from Mexico to Canada through the Sierra, Cascade and other mountain ranges. Let me say right off the bat that I did not get the idea to hike the PCT from the book “Wild” – I did not even read that very mediocre tome until I returned from my hike. In 1994 I hiked most of the California and Oregon sections of the PCT and always wanted a piece of Washington. Since I had the time and Aileen gave me the thumbs up, I decided to go for it.

I could write a very long and boring narrative on my experience (like the book Wild) but instead will just upload a few photos.

After a night of too much steak and scotch, my cousin David dropped me off at Rainy Pass (70 miles south of Canada)

High Cascades

Stopped in a town every week or so to clean up, re-supply and trash hotel rooms

This bull elk started to charge me on the trail and then (luckily) ran off

"Trail angels" sometimes set up parties at PCT trail heads - this is where I got my trail name "Cuate" after waxing poetic about our Nicaraguan dog with the same name

Mt. Ranier

The "knife blade" section of the trail

My friend Jonathan and his lovely family picked me up at the Oregon/Washington border

It was thrilled to be back with my family but I missed sleeping outside so we camped in our backyard

Here are some fun facts about my trip:

• Length of the PCT:  2,663
• Miles hiked in 1994:  1033
• Miles hiked in 2012:*  439     
• Days on the Trail:  30 (started September 30)
• Days I missed my family:  30
• Days I hiked with others:   4
• Days I felt bored hiking alone: 0
• Most miles hiked in a day: 22
• Number of rest days: 0
• Rain/snow days:  4
• Number of times I got lost:**  2
• Number of times I stopped to resupply: 4
• Showers taken: 3
• Beers consumed: 3
• Most hikers seen in one day: 22
• Fewest hikers seen in one day: 1
• Nicest person I met: A women who did my laundry for me (long story)
• Oddest person I met: A guy who hiked the PCT in wedding dresses (1 a week for 26 weeks)
• Youngest person I met: A 12 year old boy who was hiking from Canada to Mexico w/his Dad

*Actually, I hitched about 10 of these miles due to a fire-related detour on the trail

**I accidentally hiked off trail on the first and last days of my trip

Some folks have asked me what I "got out of" my hike. Truth be told, this was not a spiritual quest - I just love backpacking in the mountains. I had a wonderful time enjoying the outdoors which is the closest thing I have to a church. I feel blessed to have had this opportunity and for all the wonderful people I met along the way (and those I returned to). Speaking of which, if I did have any "revelations" on my trek it was how warm and generous most people are. I received a tremendous amount of assistance and support (big and small) from complete strangers while on the trail. It is amazing how much power there is in small acts of kindness.