August 18, 2022 Campsite at Lolo Pass, mile 2115.2 to Eagle Creek alternate to campsite 7.5 miles from junction 13.4 PCT miles 7.5 non-PCT miles In the middle of the night, Jumbo gently shakes me awake. “It’s raining a little,” he says. “I’m going to get in my tent just in case.” I sleepily hammer …
August 17, 2022 Timberline to campsite at Lolo Pass, mile 2115.2 Technically, 17.3 PCT miles, but with my detour, who knows I think I do a pretty good job of being honest about the thru-hike experience, its highs and lows and positives and negatives. But in case I haven’t made it clear enough, sometimes this …
Continue reading PCT Day 121: Timberline Breakfast and the Accidental Detour
August 16, 2022 Campsite at mile 2079.1 to Timberline Lodge 18.8 miles I really like this sleeping in thing. Like, really like it. I hear Tribute moving around before I open my eyes, but he’s not moving with any real conviction. When I finally look at my phone, it’s nearly 6:45. We have a whopping …
August 14, 2022 Bend to Oallie Lake at mile 2046.7, then to campsite at mile 2055.6 8.9 miles (45.8 PCT miles skipped due to the Lionshead Fire Closure) The morning of back-on-trail days are always chaotic. I will myself out of bed and organize my pack explosion down to a somewhat manageable pile, make coffee, …
Continue reading PCT Day 118: A Headache Turned into an Adventure
August 13, 2022 0 miles The day begins when I wake up at 7:30 and find myself with a surprising amount of energy. Jumbo is still sleeping and Tribute is taking a bath, and after I make coffee, I slip outside and call my mom before the day gets away from me. It’s nice to …
August 11, 2022 Mile 1974 to Big Lake Youth Camp 21.1 miles I wake to the sound of Jumbo opening his oatmeal packets. He always tries to do this quietly so that Tribute and I don’t wake up and he has more time. So I go back to sleep. The next time I wake, I …
August 10, 2022 Elk Lake Junction at mile 1952.6 to mile 1974 21.4 miles It’s cold and my tent is covered in condensation. This is not going to be an early morning for me. I sit up and do all my tasks, but I can’t bring myself to get out of my tent. Tribute and …
August 9, 2022 Campsite by Taylor Lake at mile 1930.3 to Elk Lake Junction at mile 1952.6 22.3 miles Despite passing out last night before I could write a word, I still feel exhausted this morning. Worse, I can feel the ever-present pain in my arch and achilles and the millions of mosquito bites I’ve …
August 8, 2022 Highway 58 at Willamette Pass to campsite by Taylor Lake at mile 1930.3 22.4 miles (60 miles skipped due to the Windigo Fire Closure) Morning arrives, and we all pack up quickly. It’s fifteen minutes between the time I’m awake and the time I’m more or less packed and ready to hop …
August 7, 2022 (Technically illegal) campsite on the Crater Lake Rim Trail to Highway 138 on the PCT to camp at Lemolo Lake in Umpqua National Forest 8.6 PCT miles 3.5 non-PCT miles 12.1 miles We cowboy camped, which usually means faster packing up, but for some reason, I really can’t get it together this …
Sarahmarie Specht-Bird 