It’s been a while since I wrote. Today is August 5th.
Finally we have great internet connection so I’ll summarize our PCT adventures since we returned to the trail after our vacation in Wyoming.
We decided to start back at the California-Oregon border, due to wildfires and smoke in Nor-Cal, hot temperature, also we were getting quite tired of the Nor-Cal scenery. Ohh and the snakes again.
So we skipped 300 miles and started back close to Ashland, OR. We might do the remainder part of CA after reaching Canada, at least that’s the plan.
Oregon: After the Uber driver took us back to the trail, (close to Ashland), we felt a bit out of shape as we walked the first few miles. I guess being off the trail for 10 days and eating ton and food will do that. The curvy Uber ride even made me car sick. I just felt soft, a little heavy and way too clean. Anyway we needed to get back to our normal PCT shape ASAP, and the only way to do that is to just keep walking. So that’s what we did.
Luckily our fellow PCT hikers didn’t change a bit while we were gone, and they reminded us who we really are and where we belong. We were back to being dirty, hungry and stress free in just a few days.
However these PCT hikers are a bit faster than our bubble (bubble means: fellow hikers that you are with from the beginning, as your speed and hiking style is similar). By skipping 300 miles resulted to get mixed with super fast hikers. These guys have perfected trail hiking, and they do 30-40 miles a day. They hike from sunrise to sunset with a very tiny backpack. Some hikers do the Oregon challenge and try to get this state done in 2 weeks. Oregon is well known for being the fastest section, because it’s relatively flat and by this time your body is a hike-machine.
We do between 23-27 miles and it makes Oregon quite fast for us as well.
The scenery is mainly endless pine trees with old man’s beard moss on it and volcanic rocks. There are some burned out forests as well.
On July 27 we celebrated my birthday in a resort by Diamond Lake with a nice dinner and chocolate cupcake. I appreciated that I was able to take a shower and had a great meal. It was a special day. Thanks Sweetie!
We are in Bend (30 miles from the PCT) with our friends Laura & Gary, and resting today. They are taking care of us big time!
We both bought our fourth pairs of shoes and needless to say, we are eating a lot. We didn’t loose anymore weight in this last stretch. Mike actually gained 3 lbs. We learned to carry more food.
Before Bend we reached 2000 mile.
We see the end of the tunnel now.
There is a chance that we will finish this great hike!
Margo & Mike PCT Adventures 