Hiking Dude Blog

I walked 45650 steps on the trail today.
I traveled about 18 miles today.
8/25/17 I made two lightweight camping quilts for my long hikes.  One has half the insulation as the other.  Josh has been using the lighter one but last night we swapped because it was cold and I stay warmer sleeping.  I didn't sleep well. It got cold.  We had ice in our water bottles this morning!  So, we broke camp quickly and started hiking even before eating.  A vigorous climb up Bunker Hill warmed us up and gave us wonderful views in all directions. Down the other side, we entered a large burn area of nothing but dead snags and down trees.  The trees seemed to do their best to land on the trail when they fell.  I counted 158 that we had to climb over in 1/2 mile and then stopped counting.   But, future PNT Hikers don't need to worry because we met a trail crew working their way from the Pasayten River up Bunker Hill clearing out logs from the trail.  The four of them each got a hiking dude sticker. We passed Thumbalina this morning.  We had another nice but short chat and may see her again down the trail.  She had hiked through some wild areas all on her own. After crossing the Pasayten River on a convenient log, we hiked through the burned forest another 6 miles until the trail headed up a new draw to the west.  This live forest was green, fresh, cool, and very pleasant to travel through on our way up to our campsite at Chuchuwanteen Creek.  We're much lower tonight so I hope to stay warmer.  I'm looking forward to the wonders that come our way tomorrow. We did see one beautiful deer with velvet antlers today.

I walked 58470 steps on the trail today.
I traveled about 24 miles today.
8/24/17 It was cold when we got up and cold when we went to bed and cold all day.  Josh wore his down jacket all day.  I enjoyed the cooler temp since I hardly sweated on the uphill climbs.  Our day started with a nice hike up and over cathedral pass with amazing views out across the mountain ranges. After that, we had super views all day as we climbed more ridges and passes. We met a couple out on a 10-day trip this afternoon, and a man and his dog out working in the woods for a week.  Shawn and Bandit are doing data gathering for the forest service and we had a nice chat for awhile. Toward the end of the day, I went ahead of Josh since he had no problem catching up.  At an intersection, I went the wrong way but figured it out after about 5 minutes as the trail descended instead of climbing.  My concern was that Josh would take the correct trail and be far away by the time I got back on course.  Luckily, he saw my footprint in the dust going the wrong way and we met as I was heading back.  So it all worked out. On our last ridge walk of the day, we could clearly see the Diamond Creek fire burning just a couple miles south of the trail.  We could see orange flames consuming trees, and smoke fortunately being blown east while we were north.  This fire had been threatening to closethe PNT for the past couple weeks so we're very glad to be past it. We reached camp just as the sun was sinking and just had time to set up, eat, and bundle up to try and stay warm all night.  I'll let you know how that goes.

I walked 54190 steps on the trail today.
I traveled about 23 miles today.
8/23/17 Good bye, cows!  After climbing a few hundred more feet, chasing cows out of the way, and bush whacking when the trail disappeared, we finally entered the Pasayten Wilderness and an entirely new experience.  The trail is no longer 2 or 3 inches deep of dust and cow manure but is now a beautiful, cared for tread that carries us through wonderful scenery.  We are only 15 miles in but it has been super.  We've even been able to see tracks from hikers days ahead of us, so it's a fun game to wonder where they are now and if we might be getting closer to them. Mountain views have been constant and the arid desert terrain has given way to high mountain meadows and forest.  I think we're done with sagebrush and stickers. We met 4 people on trail today - We can't remember the last time we met other hikers but it might have been pyramid lake.  Two guys were on a week long trip and another couple were doing a 5 day loop.  Both of them had met Thumbalina last night so we know she's just a day ahead of us. We are getting plenty of water and food.  I was actually stuffed after my dinner of sausage, tuna, and tortillas tonight.  We are set up at the tungsten mine camp at about 6800 feet and at the 633 mile mark of the PNT even though we've hiked farther than that.  Tomorrow morning, we cross Cathedral Pass which is the highest point on the PNT.

I walked 41300 steps on the trail today.
I traveled about 18 miles today.
8/22/17 Tonight, we are all alone at a great campground over 5000 feet higher than last night. Up in a pine forest and I'm hoping we've left the sage brush and dry grass behind us for good!  It was a very long hot trek up into the mountains, but we found water as needed.  We also encountered the usual cows along the way - again hoping this will be the last of them. The PNT route had us go right through 4 tiny bits of private property far away from civilization, but not far enough.  Two atvs stopped by Josh after we had passed through the last gated area and a guy talked to him.  I was farther up the hill and wasn't about to walk way back down to see what was up.  I waited for Josh to catch up to me after his conversation.  The rancher ( I guess) was upset that a lot of people had been going through his land and leaving garbage.  But we were on public land so he just vented his frustration.  Josh said we would let the PNT association know about his concern. The rest of the day was hiking and eating and drinking water.  We have plenty of food with us on this stretch - it's heavy but nice to feel satisfied. Near the end of the day, two guys in a pickup stopped on a gravel road way up in the mountains.  They had seen us earlier in the morning way down on the valley so asked what we were doing.  It was a nice chat and break from walking.  They were looking for a lake to fly fish in.  I got rid of another sticker! So, we're now Up in the mountains with the Pasayten Wilderness coming up tomorrow.  Getting Up here was work but we should have a few days of high mountain ridges and great views of the wilds.  Maybe even some interesting wildlife.

I walked 40280 steps on the trail today.
I traveled about 17 miles today.
8/21/17 Before our hike started, we had some key chores to attend to.  I went to the Oroville post office to pick up my shoes, but Wal-Mart sent them via FedEx so the post office sent them back.  So, a 2 mile round trip walk to the country store and I've got a cheap pair that will hopefully last 250 miles at least. To backpack through the northern cascade mountains we are supposed to have a permit, so Josh spent a lot of time and a handful of phone calls trying to get our magic 5-digit permit number.  In the end, they have all our info but did not get back to Josh with the code number.  Oh well, we might be able to contact them in 155 miles to straighten it out. For the great eclipse of 2017 we noticed our shadows got a little blurry.  Then it just got hot again.  We both feel this may have been the hottest hike of our trip and we both got a little burned. Seventeen miles of very hot paved road got us to Palmer Lake campground. There are car campers all around.  We are sleeping out with no tent again, pretty certain there will be no rain and few bugs.  I tend to worry about upcoming parts of the hike.  Josh just forges ahead.  For example, we have a huge climb tomorrow after we walk 13 miles.  I'm concerned about the heat and water.  But, it all tends to work out. At about 10pm, a car drove in and set up camp right by us.  It took him almost 30 minutes of idling car with headlights shining in our tent and him pounding stakes into the ground and talking.  We were quiet as mice at 5:30am when we got up and hit the road.

I finished hiking for today. You can check out my current location on the map and I'll post about my day when I am in coverage.

I finished hiking for today. You can check out my current location on the map and I'll post about my day when I am in coverage.

I finished hiking for today. You can check out my current location on the map and I'll post about my day when I am in coverage.

I finished hiking for today. You can check out my current location on the map and I'll post about my day when I am in coverage.

I finished hiking for today. You can check out my current location on the map and I'll post about my day when I am in coverage.