We shall continue with style...

Ironman Arizona 2011 Training Report

2011-11-22T11:41:00.000-08:00

First off, thanks to Kirsten for giving me so much support over the past 12 months. She's endured hundreds of mornings alone (some to her delight I'm sure:) while I was out playing on the bike, Rillito running path, and mountain trails. Also, many thanks to all our friends who have posted such wonderful comments about the event. Training for and finishing an Ironman triathlon was very much an individual experience for me, but being able to share the outcome with friends and family makes it all the more meaningful.

Training for this event really started a year ago today. After signing up online a day after last years event the clock started ticking, and the countdown was on. Training consisted of doing what I love; riding my bike, running, swimming and cross training. I trained 6-7 days a week, rode about 4,550 miles, ran over 1,400 miles and swam 94 miles. I trained from 30 minutes t0 7 hours per session. Cross training consisted mostly of rock climbing, tennis, hiking, and bicycle commuting to work.

I burned a lot of calories. These numbers are a bit exaggerated because they are calculated by my watch or bike computer but it's the best estimate I've got. I burned around 220,000 calories biking, 174,000 running, and 28,000 swimming, and 103,000 cross-training.

I spent a lot of time training in each discipline. I spent 275 hours biking, 210 running, 58 swimming, and 190 cross-training. Most of these hours were spent alone, without music. Yes, I had plenty of time to think and learn about myself. It was time well spent and I encourage others to try it.

The key to high volume training for me was to keep it fresh and interesting. Maybe I could have trained smarter and finished faster but I can truly say I never burned out and never over-trained. I logged all my athletic activities this last year and spent 37.5% biking, 28.7% running, 13% hiking/climbing (mostly on rock climbing approach and descents...thanks Dave!), 12% tennis, 8% swimming, and 10% in the gym.

And now it's over and another year begins....

Ironman Arizona: A video

2011-11-21T15:33:00.000-08:00

Adrian outdid himself this weekend by finishing the Ironman Arizona - his first - in 10 hours and 41 minutes. He completed the 2.4-mile swim in 1:10; the 112-mile bike in 5:21 and the 26.2-mile run in 3:58. I put together a brief video of photos from the event.

I'll let Adrian write about what it was like to start and finish an Ironman event. On my end, I saw what seemed like every possible emotion expressed on the faces of the 2,800-odd participants. Relief and pride; fear, doubt and frustration; and of course, elation. I wasn't just watching an event. I felt like a voyeur.

Goblin Valley 50K: Details and photos

2011-11-14T13:29:00.001-08:00

Adrian and friends Billy and Gar all participated last month in the Goblin Valley Ultra Marathon. The 50K race - as well as the 25K and 10K running events - is held in Goblin Valley State Park, a hodgepodge of mesas and sandstone formations located in the San Rafael Swell about 32 miles north of Hanksville.

Adrian and I drove up from Tucson and arrived a day before the race. We camped with Gar and Nicole and Billy outside of the state park off between county road 1013 and a small wash tucked alongside a steep cliff. We set up our tent and gear among desert scrub and juniper and dozens -- and I mean, dozens - of old fire rings.

The following morning, the boys were up before sunrise to prepare for the race. The sub-35 degree temps encourage me to stayed in the tent as long as possible. We all piled into the Subaru and drove to race start, just a few miles down the road.

The race began at 8 a.m. Adrian finished the 50K course in four hours, 20 minutes and came in second place overall. He was the first man to finish. The woman who won finished in three hours, 55 minutes. Gar and Billy stuck it out together for the entire race and finished in five hours, 50 minutes.

Below are a few photos from the day.

Cold start.

Sunrise at Goblin Valley State Park.

Heading back through the wash.

The final mile is through the hoodoos.

Lost among the hoodoos.

Adrian approaches the finish line.

Adrian cheers on Billy and Gar.

Coming up the road and then a final push through the hoodoos.

Billy and Gar approach the final pumpkin

Finish!

The first man across the finish line ...

2011-11-02T16:09:00.000-07:00

First man to cross. Meaning, the race winner was a woman.

Adrian and I left the warm temps of the Sonoran desert last week for the much cooler -- OK cold -- environs of Utah for a 50k run at Goblin Valley State Park. We met our friends Billy from Colorado as well as soon-to-be-from Montana friends Gar and Nicole. The run, which Adrian, Billy and Gar all participated in, began at 8 a.m. Saturday morning.

Adrian came in second place and was the first man across the finish line. Billy and Gar completed their first ultra marathon in good style and within their time goal despite a niggling leg injury and a stomach issue. Stay tuned for more information on the race, and the rest of our travels through Utah, including Bryce and Zion national parks.

Photos: Mount Rainer summit bid

2011-11-02T15:16:00.000-07:00

Our three-person team -- Adrian, our friend Robert, and me -- began our Mount Rainier summit bid around noon. We decided to take some extra time and spent two nights on the mountain. The first day we hiked up the Muir snowfield and camped below the hut. The next day we hiked to Ingraham Flats. At midnight, we began our climb to the summit. We reached the summit by sunrise and were back at our tent by 8 a.m. After a nap, we packed up and headed all the way down to the car -- and later pizza and beer.

Here are a few photos of our summertime adventure.

Ready to begin our climb.

View at sunset looking south. That's Mount Hood in the background.


Another sunset shot from the Muir snowfield.

Hiking up Muir snowfield.

Approaching Ingraham Flats, the last camp before the summit. We set up our tents here and then started our summit climb at midnight that same day.


About 50 feet from the summit. Winds were consistently above 30 mph and gusting above 45 mph. Check out the lenticular cloud behind us. That cloud would eventually hover over the summit and would close the door on any climbers hoping to make it to the top later that day.

Adrian and me on the summit.

The official summit is behind me. We were the second group to summit that morning, right at sunrise.

On our way down the mountain. Our friend, Robert, is in the back. I'm in the middle and Adrian was the leader. Check the rope for an indication of how windy it was.

A morning view to the south as we descended.

Adrian finishing the Boston Marathon

2011-08-24T20:36:00.000-07:00

I have the video, but .... I can't seem to figure out how to turn it right side up. So here are some photos of Adrian pre- and post-marathon.

At the exhibition, picking up his number.

Trying on the official 2011 Boston Marathon shirt.

At the finish.

It's over! Not a PR, but at 3 hours, 29 minutes, Adrian was able to enjoy the race.
He even sampled a beer en route, courtesy of some Boston College students.

A marathon and some chowda in beantown

2011-08-24T19:43:00.000-07:00

I'll let Adrian give a rundown of what it was like to participate in the Boston Marathon (back in April). Here's what I can tell you: People from every station in life were geeking out about the event. Every where I went, I overheard people talking about race strategy or saw folks running. I don't care if you're a runner or not, it was hard not to get excited about the marathon.

I noticed a difference when we changed planes in Philadelphia. There were people all over the airport donning gear from previous marathons. Our connection to Boston had a dozen of other marathon qualifiers on board. Once we arrived in the cradle of liberty, the anticipation for the marathon was palpable.

The city itself exceeded my expectations. And the rainy day that followed the marathon didn't dampen our enthusiasm for the city. We bought tickets for a trolley tour and jumped on and off at various stops, walking between points of interests as the weather allowed.

Watch out for another post with video of Adrian's finish and photos around town.

And we're back.

2011-08-17T11:38:00.000-07:00

We've been busy adventuring (also working), and not very busy blogging about it. A few friendly email reminders and some suggestions to 'update your blog already' have inspired me to provide some much-needed updates.

Stay tuned for photos and some brief descriptions from a few climbing, hiking and running outings, including Mount Rainier and the Boston Marathon.

Things you may find on a backcountry climb in Arizona

2010-12-29T14:58:00.000-08:00

You might find a torquoise mine. All the big juicy specimens have been harvested but you could find rocks with bright trace minerals to take home. A great reminder of the adventure.

You may find inscriptions dating pretty far back from the miners that worked this claim.

If you looked really closely, you could find little creatures. Careful where you step and reach. Some of these creatures could be very dangerous if they get upset while others use camouflage as a form of defense.

If you dare venture into the mines, do so with caution and a good headlamp or two. Listen for creatures that dwell deep within the depths. Play the video below for an example of what you might see or hear. Thanks for reading the blog! Happy New Year!!

2010-12-29T14:30:00.000-08:00

One of my fine climbing partners, Robert, joined me on a great climb called KR Goes To Vallhala. We completed what we think was the second or third ascent of this 5.8+, 700 foot climb up the northwest face of Pontatoc Ridge near famous Finger Rock Canyon.

Looking down pitch 2 about 1/4 the way up. Note vegetation that would clean up with traffic. But don't expect that anytime soon. No queues on this route, even though I thought it was great.
Robert climbing the upper portion of pitch 2.

Looking up the crux 5.9- exciting corner. It looks loose, but it's actually pretty solid.

Climb up past agave to roof and turn it on the right with little protection. I thought this was the mental crux, if not the physical one as well. The roof move was done 20' out from protection with potential of a ledgy fall if you blow it. I didn't blow it.

Robert on the summit ridge with a great view of Tucson. A quick one hour hike down and we were homeward bound, which is only a 10 minute drive. Gotta love 10 minute commutes to 700 foot 2nd ascents. Oh, did I mention the 1 hour bushwack to the base of the climb?

A little out of order but I wanted to show the vegetation. I see agave, shin daggers, and other fine desert flora. A great two bolt anchor thanks to the 1st ascentionsists Kevin Mayhew and company.

New Routes in Cochise Stronghold

2010-11-10T14:21:00.000-08:00

Been spending as much time as possible putting up new rock climbing routes in Cochise Stronghold as well as 2nd ascents of recently climbed towers here. In keeping with local tradition, I've sworn that I would not publish said routes on the Internet. We believe that this sacred land is one of adventure and should so remain.

We bolt on lead, from the ground up, and only when absolutely necessary. No sport routes.

Hoping for one of these for Christmas :)

2011 Boston Marathon: ON!

2010-10-19T14:33:00.000-07:00

The 2011 Boston Marathon opened for registration yesertday at 9 a.m. and closed at 5:30 p.m. Last year it took 2 months to fill, this year 8.5 hours!

Luckily I was on it and signed up early. After missing out last year, and having already arranged frequent flyer tickets and a hotel for 2011, I was going to leave nothing to chance.

Training starts in earnest November 11, about the same time I start tapering for the El Tour de Tucson bike race.

This blog will follow my journey to Boston.

The Colors of New Hamsphire

2010-10-16T19:26:00.000-07:00

The rarely traversed route from "Toe Crack" to "Thin Air'.

Sugar Hill. Yes, we procured local boiled maple syrup.

Reminded me of home and made me homesick. I miss my family and friends in Wisconsin.

A geeky pic of a geeky guy:)

Many covered bridges adorn the scenic highways. They were covered to protect them from the elements.

This is our Chevy Aveo rental. A nice car.

A wonderful bridge and a wonderful woman.

Book of Solemnity: Cathedral Ledge

2010-10-16T14:29:00.000-07:00

A short post on a great climb. I'll quote Ed Webster again, "A great line and an all-time New Hampshire classic, with a famous 1st pitch and a spacious belay ledge...Make increasingly difficult moves up the dihedral to the first roof, face climbing past three pitons around the roof's right edge to a large and comfortable belay ledge."

The pitch was first graded 5.9+, the traditional rating of the day. Today the rating is 5.10a.

Turner's Flake on Thin Air Face at Cathedral Ledge New Hampshire

2010-10-16T13:58:00.000-07:00

Turner's Flake is a great 5.8 climb I led a couple days ago. It has a great history, which to me makes a climb that much richer. I'll quote from Ed Webster's guidebook, "Rock Climbs in the White Mountains of New Hampshire".

"This committing, strenuous lead ascends the prominent, left-curving layback flake just to the left of the Standard Route. Carry several large Friends and Camalots for protection - but bear in mind that the crack was originally led in 1958 by John Turner and Dr. Michael Ward with no protection at all!"

They climbed this route after being thwarted on another classic climb, Recompense. Being too early for the bar in North Conway (our situation as well), they climbed this pitch. I brought the biggest gear I have it was still tough. My mantra for the entire climb was, "Channel your inner John Turner", over and over till the I reached the top. Fun stuff. I've posted these in a larger format for your viewing pleasure. Thanks to Kirsten for taking pics while belaying; never easy.

Old Pueblo 50 Mile Endurance Run

2010-10-15T16:21:00.000-07:00

OK, I just signed up for the Old Pueblo 50 Mile Endurance Run again for March 2011. Billy will be joining me this year in a bid to qualify for the San Juan Solstice in Colorado. We encourage all of our friends to join us on this journey. We run together to learn more about ourselves. Sign-up here.

Learn more about the "Old Pueblo" experience by reading my post about 2009 race here.

Climbing Whitehorse Ledge in the White Mountains of New Hampshire

2010-10-15T14:21:00.000-07:00

We spent a wonderful week in the "Whites", managing four days of fun climbing in great weather. Being our first time here, we wanted to focus on the historic classics which led us first to Whitehorse Ledge upon which we climbed the Standard Route. First free-climbed on July 2, 1932, it ascends the central face in 9 outstanding pitches. We enjoyed relative solitude on what is usually a crowded climb.

Approaching the first pitch, we hike up the slab to the "Launch Pad". A nice ledge with a good crack that takes protection marks the first pitch to the "Toilet Bowl" belay.

The first pitch is run-out 5.3 climbing to the white spot just above. This, the Toilet Bowl, has two bolts and is very comfortable for 2-3 people.

Kirsten is sitting at the "Pinch Belay", at the end of pitch 3, about 400 feet off the deck.

Still at the Pinch Belay, Kirsten can be seen far below. The views get better and better as we climb higher and higher. This shot is taken from "Lunch Ledge".

Lunch Ledge is pretty much the perfect belay. Whitehorse Lodge and sweeping granite lurk below. This was the crux 5.7 pitch, a slight variation from the 1932 route.

The Fall foliage was in full peak as seen from this view north.

Kirsten climbing the 2nd to last pitch.

And finally topping out over 1000 feet from the start! I think a lot of modern day rock climbers think of themselves as a brave bunch, but doing this route in stiff-soled hiking boots, with a 50 foot hemp rope and a hand full of pitons in 1932 with no idea if it "goes", is a whole different game. We, with our modern sticky rubber-ed slippers and protective gear that fits perfectly into every little crevice and hole, should pause and give salutation to these early pioneers. Doing so with a finely crafted local ale is highly recommended!

Deuces Wild Misc Photos

2010-06-06T17:48:00.001-07:00

I drove through the White River Apache and San Carlos Apache Reservations on the way home. Starting at Fort Apache Historical Park I made my way south towards Black River. The way was tough for the Subaru and the going slow. I bottomed out many times and was quite scared I would have to backtrack. Turns out things went ok, except that I ran into a Ranger and got cited for recreating in the San Carlos Reservation without a permit. I was not recreating though, merely driving through on the way south to Tucson. Nevertheless, I was ticketed and now I have to contact the judge and discover my fate.

The country was beautiful and I couldn't help but imagine Apaches hidden behind the rocks and shrubs watching my every move. It turned out that, in fact, they were...

Deuces Wild Triathlon: Deuceman Half Iron Man Distance

2010-06-05T19:40:00.001-07:00

June 5th, 2010 was the Deuceman Triathlon up in Show Low. Kirsten was back in Chicago for a reunion with Northwestern Medill Grads while I shot up to Apache Country in the White Mountains. At 6,200 feet, the place is a bit higher than Tucson's 2,300. No problem though as much of my training was done at 3000-7000 feet in the foothills of the Santa Catalina and Tucson Mountains.

I placed second in my age group and something like 16th overall...the final results are still pending.

For winning second in the male 35-39 age group I was awarded a nice trophy laser-cut from copper, and an invitation to Nationals at Myrtle Beach in South Carolina for a chance to compete for Team USA at the World Championships in 2011 in Vegas. The last time the World's were in the US was 1996...last year it was held in Perth.

It was my lucky day at the raffle too. I won a San Marco Italian Leather Bike Saddle, a full Orca Sonar wetsuit, a bike water bottle cage, a 290 page book on whole foods for athletes, and travel wallet :)

I think I may have just found my favorite race.

A shot of the tranistion area before the race. Notice the pine trees. Lovely area.

I keep minimal gear in my transition area. Just the basics. I've done away with socks as they take too much time to put on and I don't suffer from blisters. All my stuff is on the little white and orange Wildflower towel. My bike has the helmet and shades on it.

Next up we'll post about the Wildflower Triathlon we competed in back in May as well as some shots of climbing at Joshua Tree on the same trip. Thanks for looking!

Old Pueblo Results and Photos

2010-03-07T17:25:00.000-08:00

Below are some photos of Adrian's 50-mile Old Pueblo run. Runners gathered long before the sun rose at Kentucky Camp, a historic mining site near Sonoita, Ariz. The Old Pueblo 50 course takes runners along dirt roads and trails, including the Arizona Trail, a national scenic trail that starts at the Mexican border and ends at the north rim of the Grand Canyon.

Here's how it ended. Check out the photos below to see how the rest of the day went. Or Click here for results.

Adrian scored this number on the last quarter mile of the race.

Adrian prepares for the race.

Runners start lining up.

Adrian reacts to the flash of the camera at 5 a.m.

Runners: On your mark.

Get set.

Go!

Adrian's off.

Whetstone mountains in the distance as the sun rises.

Adrian keeps moving.

Coming into mile 25. Now off to tackle Box Canyon.

Straight up.

Box Canyon is a killer. Lots of runners walk it.

Coming into mile 29, Box Canyon done.

Last stretch from Box Canyon.

Off to mile 33.

Coming out of Gardner's Canyon and into mile 40 aid station.

Mount Wrightson

Last segment

Approaching the finish line.

Crossing the finish line - under 10 hours.

One of the rewards for finishing.

2010-03-05T07:53:00.000-08:00

OLD PUEBLO 50 MILE ENDURANCE RUN

TOMORROW!! Game on. Stay tuned...

http://www.oldpueblo50.com/

2010 Pemberton Trail 50 KM Trail Race

2010-02-13T18:53:00.000-08:00

Sitting back at home watching the Vancouver Winter Olympics it's hard to think we ran a 50k this morning. Last night we camped out in the McDowell Mountains Park trying out the new tent. It had a ripped bag and one of the pole had a snapped shock cord. Nice. Anyway, we got it set-up and slept well until 5 a.m. when running people started arriving.

I ran the first 15 mile loop verry fast, averaging about 8 min/miles. I actually ran a few miles in 7 minutes and some in the high 6 minute miles. The second loop (same trail) was about 6 minutes slower due to sore quads and a bit of cramping.

I placed 11th overall, about 40 minutes behind the winners. A good effort and a personal record!

Preview of Pemberton Trail 50 km Run

2010-02-12T11:29:00.001-08:00

These are pictures of last years event. Stay tuned for this weekends pics. I'm using this event as a long training run for the Old Pueblo 50 Mile Endurance Run on March 6. It's perfectly positioned as such and along with the 29 mile Tanque Verde Run with my running group in Tucson (Tucson Trail Runners), it provides a perfect run-up for the 50 miler. Long runs such as these prepares the body's endocrine system for this type of stress. There is no other way to do this than spend a long time out in the outdoors, moving. How bad of a deal is that? No so bad in my opinion.

The Pemberton Trail 50K is a wonderful race in the McDowell Mountains just a bit east of Scottsdale. It follows semi-flat trail for two loops around the park. Aid stations are right where you need them and the people staffing them are fantastic.

I finished this race in 5:30 something last year and this will be my second running of it since its beginning 10 years ago. Thanks Brian, for a fun race.

Tucson Marathon: Boston Qualified!

2010-01-24T18:54:00.000-08:00

Feeling good after qualifying for Boston. The run was super. Thanks to Laurie for the good photos.

After 17 weeks of specific, desciplined (as far as you know) training, the goal has been reached.

In 2008, circa 3 months after finishing the Pacific Crest Trail, I ran my second marathon, this time in Tucson instead of Appleton, WI. Still being in good shape after the 2,700 trail, I ran a 3:19:ish marathon. The issue was 4 minutes. You see, the qualifying time for a 35-39 year old male is 3:15:00. Again, 4 minutes.

This time was to be different, and it was. I trained using Hal Higdon's Advanced II Marathon Plan. 17 weeks of solid, specific marathon training. It was fun, challenging and rewarding.

The group I found myself paired with was, by virtue of our desired finishing time, filled with strong runners and triathletes, at least two of which were previous Ironmen.

The crowd that started at about 10 runners finished with three at mile 25. At mile 26 I took off and left them behind to finish the race at 3:14:12. Goal acclomplished.

The next running events I plan on attending are Pemberton 50K, Old Pueblo 50 Mile, and triathlons are on the horizon.

Tucson Marathon and Half Marathon

2009-12-10T12:24:00.000-08:00

Kirsten and I are finally running an event this weekend....The Tucson Marathon and Half Marathon. The Tucson event is one of the fastest marathons in the country with a total elevation drop of circa 2,200 feet. Although it is mostly downhill, there are some very hilly roller-coaster portions near mile 2 and again at 7.

I've just completed an 18 week training program and will try to qualify for Boston with a 3:14 finish. I'm not nervous, i never get nervous before races, because there is really nothing at stake. I've already won. How? I'm in great shape, lost 12 lbs, and feel great. However, it would be nice to visit Boston next year :) Oh yeah, did I mention I'm back down to my weight at the finish of the Pacific Crest Trail? How many thru-hikers can match that? 159 lbs.

This year the course has been slightly modified. They removed the out and back section on the Biosphere Road and added an out and back section in the town of Oracle, AZ. I drove up there last weekend for my final long run to check out the change hoping it would be flatter than the old Bioshpere Rd. Nope. From mile 5 it's a steep drop to mile 6.5 and then you have to climb steeply back out of the hole you just ran down. The steep downhill will help trash your quads more than last year and the steep climb out will be a mental challenge to those who are not ready for it. I generally run 7:30 minute miles for marathon pace, but on the climb out I was running 8:45 miles to keep from burning too much engery.

Here's my strategy. I think it's sound and worth reading if you are running this event:

Run the first 5 miles at or just slower than your race pace. It is roller coaster so you should be able to make up on the downhills what you loose on the ups. At mile 5, let gravity pull you down into the hole, but try and not go too fast because it's steep and you will trash your quads for later in the race. Make up some time if you can but be careful cuz you don't feel the pain yet but your quads will be screaming later when you need them most. You bottom out at around mile 6.5 and on the 2 mile climb out and back to the main road, plan on a slow grind to save energy. I'm planning on loosing around 2 minutes of time on this climb to conserve energy. Once back on the main road and mile 9, it's a long downhill cruise to mile 24. I plan on making up the 120 seconds 8 seconds per mile over that 15 mile downhill. Then cruise at goal race pace to the finish.

If you run this event, I wish you luck. Check back after Sunday for an update.

Adrian

Sedona, Mountain Man Tri and a little green guy

2009-10-03T17:34:00.000-07:00

In an effort to catch up on our summer adventures, I have combined a trip to Sedona, a triathlon in Flagstaff and a visitor to our casita.

Adrian tore is ACL back in May in the last 10 minutes of soccer practice. That pretty much ended his soccer league career for the season.

He was unable to keep off his knee for long and within a few weeks had started excising again. He focused on swimming and biking and figured why not sign up for the Mountain Man Triathlon, which I had planned on participating in months before.

We headed up to Flagstaff for the weekend and stayed with our good friends Meghan and Craig -- also known as the Craigen.

The Olympic distance course started in the Lake Mary reservoir and the bike and run was along Lake Mary Road. The bike was hillier than expected, but I managed to shave about 15 minutes off my Wildflower bike time back in May.

Adrian kicked ass - especially on the run - and finished about 30 minutes before me. Adrian finished the 1,500-km swim, 25-mile bike, and 6-mile run in 2 hours 42 minutes. I finished in 3 hours 19 minutes.

After the tri, we left for Sedona. Here are some photos of Sedona and later when we returned home, this toad snuck his way into the house.

Hello, Old Friend

2009-09-17T17:22:00.000-07:00

Damn. It's been awhile.

Life, as it always does, kept right on with its gifts and sneaky tricks. I just managed to avoid to jot it down these past few months.

Which brings me to today and the sudden inspiration to share.

I'm not going to try and catch you all up in one long-winded Faulkneresque blog post. But you can all look forward to some photos and snippets in the coming days.

In short, Adrian and I are still in Tucson. We haven't completely eradicated the travel and adventure bug from our hearts or minds. And that can make life in the "real world" semi-complicated and quite honestly, boring.

But we're survivors. To cope with the horrible conditions of having jobs, we've turned our attention to mini-adventures, namely races, hikes, climbing and a few jaunts out West.

There is still a little bit of vagabond in us - possibly to the chagrin of the parentals. We've settled in nicely to our 500-square-foot casita situated amongst the horse stalls and within view of the house I grew up in.

It sounds more primitive than it is. Unless you consider the parade of ants that have plagued us this summer or the gopher that somehow managed to chew through the ceiling at 3 a.m. last month. Ahhh. The wonders of duct tape.

Kirsten Tri's Wildflower

2009-06-15T20:30:00.000-07:00

Kirsten finishes!!! So cool and I'm so proud. This was a great event. We camped near Paso Robles (read, good wine country) at the event with about 5,000 other athletes. Being the photographer and not the athlete allowed me many luxuries I'd otherwise not be afforded. It was fun, but next time I'm competing.

Looking strong 3:30 into the event.

The work crew was awesome. Kudos to all their hard work.

The 10k run begins.

Out of T2 in good style.

Starting the bike.

Kirsten out of T1.

Kirsten into T1.

The start. It's a wave start, so they start in waves of about 30 athletes every 3 minutes.

The swim officials ride paddle boards.

Photographers line the course, snapping away at the triathletes. I try and compete with the best of them but it's hard. They take really good shots. This spectator business is tough stuff.

Kirsten gets marked for the start of the race.

This chick was flying but most everyone passed her.

This is it. The swim start.

OK, so this trip starts out with a stop in Joshua Tree National Park. We hiked, bouldered and soloed some stuff. We even met Squeak, from NH, who hiked the PCT southbound last year. We met her in Sisters, OR., and of course Kirsten recognized her....spooky. She was laying down on a rock in our campsite when we rolled in; I thought she was a nymph, K recognized her as PCT hiker. The pic below was taken at sunset from the top of some rocks in the Hidden Valley Campground.

Pepper Sauce Revisited

2009-06-15T20:07:00.001-07:00

This is how we looked coming out of the cave. Notice how clean K is compared to me. The difference? I sweat...alot! This cave is not cool, rather it is very humid. We went through very tight passages, climbed vertical walls and descended mud cliffs with fixed ropes.

This time wee made it all the way to the very end of the cave. There, we found a register, not unlike those that are found on many mountain summits. We read the posts of people that came before us and left our own words. I descended into what is called Hell's Hole. It is a 2 foot wide passage that drops vertically into the abyss. I dropped down as far as I could and did not see the bottom. I assume it continued to...

Shades of Nagawicka

2009-06-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

Our summer residence is on Lake Nagawicka. Of course, we can't afford to live there in summer, but it is our residence in summer (and spring, fall, winter), even if it is rented out to others :)

I love this shot.

Fossil Creek, AZ

2009-06-15T15:57:00.000-07:00

Fossil Creek is located in north-central Arizona near the towns of Payson and Strawberry. The creek originates from springs that gush out a million gallons per hour! We hiked to the source but were thwarted by high water and a washed out trail. The area was very crowded being Memorial Day weekend. Even though, we managed to camp creekside with great swimming. The water was perfect. Our friend Craig was stung by a white scorpian 4 times! It crawled up his pants while sitting next to the fire and started going off on his calf. Turns out scorps are not that bad and you are fine even if stung 4 times. He drove up to the top of the rim tp get cell coverage and call poison control to get that info. Good to know...

The Payson area is also home to one of the hardest 50 mile runs in the country called the Zane Grey Highline Trail 50, held in late April. The trail traverses the famous Mogollon Rim.

Bouldering in Joshua Tree National Park - Aiguille de Joshua Tree

2009-06-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

A fun little route in the Park. Rated 5.6 X.

Wiley Javalina, Table Dome, Mendoza Canyon, Coyote Mountains

2009-04-07T08:16:00.001-07:00

Trevor and I climbed a super fun 5.9, 6 pitch face climb on Table Dome in Mendoza Canyon about 1 hour southwest of Tucson. The climb featured semi-runout face climbing on exfoliating granite. It was somewhat well protected at the cruxes and then 20-30 foot between bolts on the easier stuff. The summit was very nice and views amazing. 5 rappells down the route to the right called Table for Two 5.10b (which I climbed a week after Wiley Javalina), deposited us on terra firma. Overall, a highly recommended climb in a somewhat backcountry setting. Here are the pics:

Forty foot runout to the first bolt. I had Trevor lead that :) Further up P1. It's a long way to the top.

P2. Fun adventure sport climbing.

P2 climbs up sweet chocolate granite that has good edges with the occasional friable flake.

P3.

Grass tuffs dot the cliff. Very beautiful. The line zigs and zags so bring long runners.

P4. We climb through different aged granite so the color and type of holds change as the route progresses. Here we are climbing knobs as opposed to edges down below.

Longer runouts up high on P5.

P5 is turning into plate and rib climbing. Further up on P6 I'll be slinging chickenheads with shoulder runners. Edging, flakes, ribs, knobs, chickenheads...all in a day of climbing on Table Dome.

P6. Topping out on the climb and Trevor is looking at about 800 feet of air below his feet. The hike and drive out to the east is obvious across the awesome desert landscape.

A quick ropeless scramble finds us at the summit and the register. Elephant Dome looms behind Trevor with the 7 pitch 5.7 Elephant's Trunk climbing the ridge. More desperate free and aid routes ply the chocolate vertical face. Thanks for joining us on the climb!

Peppersauce Cave Recon

2009-04-06T08:47:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Peppersauce Cave. This last weekend I took a solo trip around the backside of Mt Lemon, through the town of Oracle and up the Fire Control Road to the hair pin curve where you park and begin the short approach hike to the cave. This sign marks the spot where Hope Cave is and a bit further up you can see the entrance to Peppersauce.

I entered Peppersauce. A bit of graffiti marks the entrance. It gets tight quick, but never very desperate. These are called the "Fins" and they allow access to the larger rooms.

The Peppersauce Cave has been vandalized and many formations have been stolen or ruined but there are some neat features still if you can find them. These are cool Draperies, or Curtains, sometimes called Flows. The cave is living, so these are growing.

You must crawl through a small hole to get to the Fins. I took my rucksack off and slid it through in front of me to get through. Bring old jeans and a t-shirt...you will get sweaty and dirty.

This is a cool Stalagmite that reached the ceiling. I think it is called the Grand Tower or something to that effect. I turned back here but I know it goes much deeper to an underground lake, some ladders and a register book to sign if you make it that far. I only had one light and a lighter so I only went about a quarter mile in. It goes about a half mile deeper from what I've heard. Next time I'm going back with three lights, more water and a partner. Who's in?

Old Pueblo 50 Mile Endurance Run - Second half

2009-04-01T09:24:00.001-07:00

It gets lonely out on the trail sometimes. Truth be told, there are runners a few minutes behind and in front of me. Mile 27 here and feeling good. This is entering into Box Canyon, a very pretty drive and a nice uphill for 4 miles.

This is aid station 29 and the next time I see Kirsten it will be at mile 40! She scored me an ice cold berry smoothie that really hits the spot. At this point I'm feeling pretty strong and reeling people slowly. My slower pace at the beginning is paying off now. A few runners tried to run up Box Canyon and that proved to be pretty taxing. Unless you are very strong, running up Box Canyon will take its toll later on for sure.

Coming into mile 40 aid station! Only 10 to go. This is Gene and I. We both run in the Tucson Trail Runs group on Sundays. Smiles are good at mile 40!!!

A few advil, lots of electrolytes and 46 miles from the start. Coming into the 46 mile aid station, the last of the race. Turns out mile 40 to 46 was one of the hardest sections with a big climb and a big descent. I passed a runner who had fell earlier and had a really bloody knee and a bad limp. I thought she wouldn't finish but she crossed the finish line only about 30 minuntes after me. Wow! Ross Zimmerman is here taking pictures. He's the director of Tucson Trail Runs and a really nice guy. Kirsten is here, of course. She was crucial for my success in getting this far and although I'm very emotional at this point, I manage not to shed a tear. From here out its a long 4 miles to the finish.

Here are some shananigans! Paul and I race to the finish at 10 hours and 31 minutes. The race director later told us we provided the only photo finish of the race! Too funny.

The best part of having a crew is the beer aftewards! Thanks Kirsten!
A good time was had by all.
Here are the results:
http://www.oldpueblo50.com/Results_files/op50results09.htm

Old Pueblo 50 Mile Endurance Run

2009-04-01T08:05:00.000-07:00

I finally lived the dream that had consumed my mind, on and off, for the last 3 years; running a true ultra-marathon. The Old Pueblo 50 Mile Endurance Run is a classic desert southwest event. The race was put on my Lynda and was executed in grand style. Thanks to all the volunteers that made it possible....that includes you too Tom! The race went very well. I let everyone get out in front of me, and settled on the pace that I thought would carry me through. I walked most of the hills and ran much of the rest.

The runners line up with all sorts of thoughts running through their heads. All the training miles are in the banks and earning interest.

Here I say good-bye to Kirsten, my faithful crewer, and look forward to seeing her a mere 7 miles down the trail at aid station #2.

I have head lamp for the early morning darkness but it soon becomes dead weight as the sun rises over the distant Dragoon Mountains, home of Cochise's Stronghold.

This is aid station #2 at mile 7. Kirsten's here ready with a new shirt, sunscreen, snacks and other stuff I might need for the next long section of 18 miles. I'm nervous leaving this station because the next time I see Kirsten this race will be half way over and I may or may not be in such good shape by then.

Running fever

2009-01-20T14:29:00.000-08:00

I have no aspirations to run a marathon. Running for 26.2 miles seems like a painful endeavor, even when I watch Adrian sail through the finish line all smiles. I enjoy watching marathoners, so I was looking forward to Adrian's participation in the P.F. Chang's Rock n' Roll Marathon in Phoenix this past weekend. We walked through the expo in downtown Phoenix to pick up his race packet and checkout the vendors.

Somewhere around the registration table, Adrian turned to me and asked, "So, are you going to sign up for the half?" He's talking about the half-marathon, which would mean running for 13 miles.

Maybe it was the free shots of Cytomax or the thousands of giddy participants parading around the expo. Whatever it was, I found myself signing up for the half marathon within 15 minutes of Adrian's question.

Long story short, I did OK. Considering that I have never run more than eight miles in a single stretch, I did fantastic. My time was 2 hours and 31 minutes. Adrian ran the marathon in 3 hours 39 minutes. Clearly, he is the runner in the family.

Time to run

2008-12-07T15:35:00.000-08:00

It's been about nine weeks since we finished hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. I've used that time to do a little running in an attempt to stay in shape. Adrian has taken "a little running" to another level.

Adrian participated today in the Tucson Marathon and ran the 26.2-mile distance in 3 hours 19 minutes. That's 15 minutes better than his last marathon in Appleton, Wis.

Here's where it gets good. This is one of two "training" runs for a 50-mile run he's wants to try in March.

I don't get it. We hiked the same trail. All 2,663 miles. I can run maybe 5 miles in a stretch. Adrian is running marathons.

If you could do it all over again ...

2008-11-17T14:45:00.000-08:00

We've been asked a lot of 'What would you change/do differently?' questions from future thru-hikers, friends and family since our return from the Pacific Crest Trail.

And what better way to address this semi-constant question then through our blog. The question varies a bit, but the root is the same: Would you do anything differently if you were to hike the Pacific Crest Trail again?

1.) Go lighter. This is easier said than done. We already had pretty light packs - 11- to 12-pound base weight - but I think there were a couple of items that could have stayed home.

2.) More cowboy camping. Our tarp tent would still be with us throughout the trail. I would have packed some Tyvek as a ground cloth and camped underneath the stars more often.

3.) Cathole preparedness. I have come to the conclusion that a trowel is essential, especially north of the desert. The ground is rooty, rocky and harder north of Kennedy Meadows General Store, mile 700ish.

4.) A few more food drops. We SHOULD HAVE shipped to Snoqualmie Pass, White Pass and Skykomish in Washington. I will have a post listing all of our food and data drops soon. Just be sure to add the ones I listed above, especially Snoqualmie. Super overpriced food.

5.) To bounce or not to bounce? Our bounce bucket, which held extra first-aid stuff, batteries, vitamins etc., etc., was incredibly helpful in the beginning. It lost its usefulness somewhere in Oregon and I should have shipped it home from Ashland, Ore.

6.) The first day. We had way too much crap with us for the first 100 miles to Warner Springs section. I would only carry enough food to get to Mount Laguna General Store. The store had plenty of food and good variety.

Voting for vagabonds

2008-11-04T12:57:00.000-08:00

It can be tough voting if you've been in the woods for five months. Think of all of those hundreds of stories about Obama, McCain and even Hilary earlier this summer that we missed. How can I possibly make an educated decision about the candidates?
When I reentered society I thought, should I start from the beginning? Or simply pick up today's newspaper and forget about any relevant news stories that came out this summer?

As a journalist and news junkie I went back. But I seriously doubt if this is typical vagabond behavior. For one, it's not really realistic. Who has that much time? Oh yeah, I do.

During my search of the political archives, I stumbled upon these news gems. I know I am much more informed about issues now that I've read stories about Las Vegas strippers dressing up like Palin and how numberology proves that Obama is not the anti-Christ.

This is what happens when presidential hopefuls kick off their campaigns 20 months before the actual election. The news hole must be filled!

In celebration of Election Day - the first one in 10 years that I haven't been working as a reporter - I have posted a few more fun and weird political stories.

I also would be remiss to not offer up some interesting political stories from my friend, blogger and reporter Rob Mentzer. Here's his blog: http://amillionmonkeys.blogspot.com/

Or go to his pre-election links on his blog at the Wausau Daily Herald, his day job.

Finally, this has nothing to do with the presidential election, but any political ad that compares a candidate to R. Kelly is brilliant.

Here are some other odd political ads. And by odd, I mean really bad.

It's a wrap! Sort of

2008-11-03T11:09:00.000-08:00

It's been six weeks since we finished the Pacific Crest Trail, so I guess it's over. It's no longer appropriate to camp in my mother-in-law's yard.

Our vagabonding ways must come to an end.

And hey, what better time to be out there looking for a job, right? It's not as if there's an economic meltdown occurring.

On second thought ... Maybe now is not the time to stop roaming. Maybe it's just the beginning for us.

We should probably wrap up our Pacific Crest Trail stuff before I start talking about a new adventure. I received a number of e-mails or comments from people who followed our trail journal or blog. There were lots of questions about the trail. I'll answer them as best I can over the next few days. Each post will try and address a different question so people can focus on one subject at a time or skip it all together.

For example, I got a lot of questions about pooping, which is sort of odd because it's pretty straightforward. But hey, I'm here to help, so keep your eyes on the blog for a post on pooping in the wild.

September 25, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-28T23:31:00.001-07:00

Destination: Manning Park Lodge, B.C.
Miles: 15

Adrian: We've finished the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail! It's over. Done. Complete.

Last night it rained the hardest it has the whole trip. On and off, it came down all night. Fortunately, we were camped on nice grass (there were mule deer grazing around us for part of the night), with a good incline and natural trenching for proper drainage. Because the site was perfect, we were perfectly dry. The morning dawned partly cloudy and the sun came out for the 7-mile hike to the border. Camped nearby were Caterpillar, Landshark, and Jesse. Hoffa and Clearwater were ahead about 3 miles and would wait for us to finish together according to plan.

As we worked our way to the monument, the pine forest gave way to a thin strip of clear-cut signaling the border. We stepped off trail and there it was below us, the northern terminus of the PCT. I tried to take a picture but the camera took a crapper. No worries though, Hoffa has a camera that uses the same memory card.

A few more switchbacks and we were there. The group whooped and yelled with the excitement that only long distance hikers can at the end of a journey. We drank some whiskey and popped open the mini champagne bottles our family sent us. Jesse had a cigar and Jack Daniels and a few party poppers. As Doc would say, "a good time was had by all".

The last 8 miles to the road went quick and we dispatched the last 1,000 foot climb in style...effortlessly.

Just before reaching the road, nature demanded I spend a minute off trail. After finishing that business, I heard my Mom yelling congrats. I sped along the last 100 meters and the saw her, Tanya, Cormac and the two girls. Hoffa's mom and dad were there too. I thought I might cry at the end but I was too happy for that. How nice it was to have family at the end...thanks you guys! We opened a Perrier-Jouet bottle of champagne Tanya treated us, Jesse, Hoffa, Caterpillar, Landshark. Hiker heaven!

Thanks for following our journal. It's been a great trip and I hope you've enjoyed the journey as much as we have. We'll be posting a few more entries in the next couple days to record our final thoughts, do some gear reviews and give some advice for prospective through-hikers. I'll also give updates at months 6 and 12 to document re-entry into real life after the hike.

I'm sad this adventure has come to an end, but they all must sooner or later, however, new ones are already brewing on the horizon.

Kirsten: So it ends. Just like that - coming down a switchback - the PCT and my five-month adventure is over. As we approached the northern terminus and our friends started their celebratory whoops, I exhaled. That's what I mustered, one long breath. I welled up and almost cried. I tried to think of something really profound. Nothing materialized and I never broke down into a weeping, hugging mass with Adrian and our friends. I stood and breathed.

The atmosphere swirling around me was decidedly euphoric. I stood there for a minute and let the nearly simultaneous waves of joy, fear and relief wash over me. Finally the cheering and laughter snapped me back and I joined the group in photos and toasts. I can't say whether a thru-hiker should finish alone or with friends. Maybe I would have been more emotional if I had been on my own. I sort of think my reaction would have been the same regardless of who was or wasn't there.

Any cerebral moments were immediately cut short when Adrian trotted back to the group sans clothing and only bright neon orange briefs and a matching sweatband. This was the end-of-the-border outfit my brother Rob and his girlfriend, Natalie, sent us. I received a white unitard and orange sweatband. Classy.

When we finally packed up our things and made it the eight miles to Manning Park, our family was there waiting for us. Adrian's mom, sister, her husband and their two children were at the trailhead - champagne and treats in tow - along with Hoffa's parents. This was overwhelming and I was relieved to have Clearwater and Jesse around to share some of the familial limelight.

It's going to take me a few days before I realize what I did. It's an accomplishment for sure. At least that's what everyone keeps telling me. I don't really feel successful though. Certificates and awards would seem silly and out of place at this moment.

If you want to talk about achievements and success, it was the moment I left what was safe and secure and took my first step on the PCT. If I had quit after that first day I wouldn't have felt like a total failure. It was in that moment of true risk - not bungee jumping risk - I mean leaving-what-you-know- and-trying something-that-you-will- most-likely-fail-at-risk, when I tasted freedom for the first time in my life.

In that moment the PCT didn't seem so impossible anymore. Nothing did.

September 24, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-28T23:25:00.000-07:00

Destination: Hopkins Lake, Pasayten Wilderness
Miles: 26.3

Adrian: Marathon day! Rainy today.

Kirsten: We camped last night on our own and ended up spending the entire day alone as well. As much as I like our friends, it seemed fitting for today to be more solitary. Hiking as a group is usually a lot of fun, but I've found I need a break every few days. This is an odd development for me because I tend to be pretty social back in the non-trail world. I've developed a protectiveness lately over my time alone on the trail, which I can't really explain. I think it may be related to how free I feel when it's just Adrian and me. There are no group discussions on where to camp etc., we stop and rest, eat and camp when we happen upon the perfect moment or spot. Anyway, it was good to be alone and then run into Landshark, Caterpillar and Jesse at our intended camp. Tomorrow we'll finish together.

The weather couldn't seem to decide what it wanted to do changing from snow to partly cloudy skies to a spitting rain throughout the day. We've been blessed with good weather throughout Washington and so I can't really complain now. Well I can. I'm going to try not to.

I am struggling to pinpoint exactly how I feel with only one day remaining. For one of the few times in my life, I am at a loss for words. This trail has become my life. And my life these days is about walking, eating and sleeping. Oh, and many hours of thinking. You might think I spent a lot of time mulling the world's problems around in my mind. It would be far more accurate to say I spent a lot of time thinking about food and my past. The strangest memories would suddenly hit me and then I'd spend the rest of the morning or afternoon reminiscing about that moment. I thought a lot about my grandmother, Mama, who died in 2002. This was a long time ago, I know. Still, from time-to-time she would slip into my thoughts and I'd find myself bringing her up-to-date on the day. I had many horrific and tragic daydreams as well picturing something happening to Adrian or one of my siblings or in many cases, to myself. What would I do? How would I feel? Would I crawl under the warm blanket of depression or would I rise above it and somehow do something brilliant to help myself and other family survive the loss?

I rarely had control over what I thought about on any given day. Actually it would be more accurate to say, I gave up trying to control what popped into my head somewhere in the first 200 miles. Tomorrow should be interesting. God, who knows what will be swimming around up in my noggin in those last few miles.

September 23, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-28T23:21:00.000-07:00

Destination: Road 500, Pasayten Wilderness
Miles: 28.5

Adrian: We left the house and got a ride back up the pass at 7 a.m. We had wonderful views of the Early Winter Spires and Liberty Bell.

The day started with a 2,000-foot climb through snow up to Cutthrout Pass. It was cold but the views were awesome. Big granite spires covered in the season's first significant snow.

We hiked a big day today to try and outrun a predicted rain event coming on Wednesday around 11 a.m. Big mountains dominated the landscape as we climbed more than 5,000 feet.

Kirsten: Before I write anything about today I'd like to take a moment to give a little advice. If your spouse or girlfriend/boyfriend is walking along and trips on a root or say a crack in a sidewalk, do not exclaim as they are laying face down "You should really be careful" or this one "You're going to hurt yourself if you're not careful." This is what Adrian said to me as I laid face down in the dirt today. This was a poor choice. Call it bad timing. Whatever. Just don't say what he did cuz it didn't go over very well.

Back on the trail again and it looks like we made the right decision. The sky was blue and the temperature slowly rose throughout the day. Most importantly, the weather was not obstructing the views of Mount Hardy and a number of other North Cascade peaks.

Cutthroat Pass was snow-covered - maybe four inches or so - and the scene got me thinking about ski season. Maybe the job search will have to wait.

Our pace was quick today and we rested only briefly as we rushed to make it as far as possible. The weather is supposed to turn to rain and even snow and we want to get over Hart's Pass early tomorrow.

Adrian is doing better. I think he may have giardia. He feels weak sometimes and poops a lot. Sorry for the info, but hey this is what's happening. It's not too bad and his condition won't keep him from finishing. It's life after the trail that may be more difficult for him.

September 22, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-23T21:35:00.000-07:00

Destination: Mazama, WA., near Winthrop, WA.
Miles: 0

Adrian: I woke up early with the sound of freezing rain hitting the tarp, no worries though, it soon turned to snow. What a bummer! Then I noticed the wet spot inside the tarp under my pillow, which is also my clothing bag.

We all broke camp and piled our stuff into the bathroom to assess the situation. My clothing and sleeping bag were dry, so I was safe. So was Danger Prone. The weather was looking pretty bad, still snowing quite hard, so we took the ride down to Mazama, a town 12 miles to the east.

On the way down to town we ran across a motorist who rolled his Subaru on the pass, thankfully he was OK. He had a place near Mazama so we gave him a ride to it and he offered us a place to stay to wait out the weather. Strangers helping strangers...magical.

Tomorrow the weather looks better but then it gets bad again till the end. Oh well, looks like Washington is not letting us off the hook quite yet. We leave for the pass at 7 a.m., and the final push, come hell or high water, for the Canadian border.

Stay tuned, this might yet get interesting...

Kirsten: This has been the weirdest day yet on the trail. It started out with an early morning mouse wake-up call and is ending with a night in a Mazama cabin.

We woke up to rain turning to slush. It wasn't stopping, at least not anytime soon. So we packed up and put our stuff in the bathrooms nearby. The trail angels from the night before sort of gathered around and they told us their plans to leave. Some of us in the group had wet gear, namely sleeping bags, and we all started discussing a hitch into Mazama or Winthrop. The trail angels, of course, offered us a ride and decided to go in two shifts.

As we drove out to the highway we all spotted this guy waving us down with jeans, a cotton sweatshirt and a small backpack. He asked for a ride and Catch 23 said yes, "But this round is full, I'll be going down to Mazama again." That's when he mentioned a rollover accident. Adrian quickly jumped out and over the next 30 minutes Catch 23, Hoffa, Caterpillar and myself heard how Reid had hit some slush, spun out and rolled three times into a ditch. I saw the car and I'm not entirely sure how he managed to walk away unscathed.

As we told him about the storm and our plans to stay at the Mazama Inn, he countered. He insisted we stay at his place because, he argued several cars had passed without stopping to help. We hesitated at first, namely because this guy had just narrowly missed an untimely death. He pressed and we finally accepted.

Reid went to the hospital and was completely checked over. He’s fine. Meanwhile, all seven of us were in his house. We tried to stay busy without actually touching anything. So some napped, others read, Hoffa and I took on the ultimate mind numbing challenge: to complete a 1,000-piece Thomas Kincaid puzzle.

Later we bought and cooked Reid dinner. He spent much of night returning phone calls to concerned friends. It is safe to say that his day was slightly weirder than mine.

September 21, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-23T21:32:00.000-07:00

Destination: Rainy Pass
Miles: 20

Adrian: We slept our last hotel night together with Moonpie and Clearwater. No major snoring so things went well.

My condition hasn't improved much, but I do have more energy and no chills.

We took the 8 a.m. bus to High Bridge Trailhead via the bakery for breakfast and lunch resupply. Saying goodbye to Moonpie for the last time really started to make me realize we are near the end.

The trail gained 3,200 feet of elevation in 20 miles, not bad. We did it in 9 hours taking our time. The weather was mostly cloudy early on and then rainy for the rest of the day. It was cold when we approached Rainy Pass and saw the trail magic at the trailhead parking.

Smoke rose from the wet fire they had built and then we saw the tarp and beer. Past PCT hikers Catch-23, Crazy Legs, and friends were set-up there cooking hotdogs and otherwise feeding hikers, who at this time numbered just us. It was great and hung out for a while until the rain chased us into our tents behind the bathrooms.

It rained all night...

Kirsten: OK. I knew it was only a matter of time before it rained. I mean, it is Washington. It doesn't mean I hadn't hoped for sunny and warm. In spite of all of our wishes the rain is here. And it's not that warm, summer rain. It's a cold and steady rain that only occasionally wanes to a drizzle.

The miles came easy enough and Adrian seems to be feeling better. I'm thinking a lot about the next few days and have spent considerable time mentally crossing my fingers.

Our day ended on a fabulous note with the trail angels Catch 23, Scavenger and Crazy Legs as well as Desiree. They made us hot dogs and handed us juice, beer and wine in between bites. They received some trail magic at this spot back in 2000 and thought it would be fun to "pay it forward." And that they did.

The weather, however, hasn't been as cooperative. The rain continues and the temperature is expected drop in the next 24 to 48 hours. I am nervous.

September 20, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-23T21:30:00.001-07:00

Destination: Stehekin Lodge
Miles: 0

Adrian: Last zero day of the trip in the town stop of the trail! I spent pretty much the whole day on a couch watching college football and feeling crappy. I don't know what the cause is, but symptoms range from achy muscles, upset stomach and everyone’s favorite, "the runs."

We all ate dinner together to celebrate Moonpie's birthday, albeit a day early. My appetite was weak but I did manage to get down a salad.

Shortly after finishing the meal I went to bed early. I hope tomorrow is better than today.

Walk good...

Kirsten: I am antsy. I am anxious. I just want to be outta here and hiking on the trail. The weather has been perfect, so perfect that I think it's all going to end soon. Like tomorrow.

By the way, I have proven my psychic abilities once again ... most are hung-over today.

I am happy to be at Moonpie's birthday party though. We didn't think we'd be here for it so it's one good reason for our extended stay. We're staying at the Lodge, which is located along Lake Chelan. At the Lodge there is a general store, restaurant and the hotel rooms - all with a lake cabin exterior.

I should be fair, Stehekin is beautiful and if I wasn't four days from Canada I would love to hang around here. Tomorrow we're out and hopefully in Manning Park on Thursday.

September 19, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-21T16:54:00.001-07:00

Destination: Stehekin, WA., The Landing
Miles: 9

Adrian: We made it to Stehekin!!! This is such a major milestone that all sorts of thoughts are racing in my mind. Two years of planning and just under five months of hiking have brought us here, some 80 miles from the U.S.A./Canada border. We are poised to finish!

You have to take a National Park shuttle from the PCT trailhead 5 miles to town. Along the way we stopped at 300-foot Rainbow Falls, and a world-class bakery called the Stehekin Pastry Company...wunderbar! We stopped at the Lodge right next to he ferry landing. You see, Stehekin is only accessible via plane, boat and of course hiking, but you have to be crazy to hike here because its about 100 miles
from the nearest accessible pass.
The town sits on 60-mile long Lake Chelan and is within the boundary of North Cascade National Park - our 7th of the trip.

Kirsten: I was convinced I was going to hurt myself these last few miles to Stehekin. As we reached the bus stop, I finally relaxed and started to revel in our achievement.

We are here - the final town before the border. This town, which is really a small compilation of buildings set along Lake Chelan, is amazing. I'm already thinking of when I can return. The bus pulled into our stop and as various hikers stepped off we saw Don't Panic and Nick. They reached Stehekin the night before - as I suspected they would - and will likely reach the border two days before us. We said our goodbyes and piled on the bus headed towards this milestone of town stops.

Adrian and I have a room overlooking the lake and we're already contemplating another night. For now we're focused on helping Lorenzo celebrate his 59th birthday along with the rest of the Fun Train Express.

Moonpie will hopefully arrive tomorrow. We all had dinner at the Lodge's restaurant and later had cake, champagne and wine. I predict hangovers tomorrow.

September 18, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-21T16:51:00.001-07:00

N/A

September 17, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-21T16:50:00.000-07:00

Destination: Dolly Camp, Vista Ridge
Miles: 20

Adrian: We finally caught Doc! We actually caught up to him at White Pass at the Cracker Barrel Store, but I wanted to mention this because hiking with Doc and especially Lorenzo reminds me of what it was like hiking with my father years ago. I don't have many regrets since my father passed away but I really do wish he and I could have done more backpacking and climbing together. It's something we both loved to do. At least he's with me in spirit. It's strange, but if I hike behind Lorenzo from a fair distance and can only make out his big backpack, blue button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up showing slender, brown, slightly hairy arms, he almost looks like my Dad. It's funny the things you think of on such a long trail.

Today we hiked 20 miles and it felt like 30. I think the overall elevation we climbed today was about 5,200 feet including about 3,000 feet of descent. Glacier Peak is the dominant mountain around here and is the namesake of the wilderness that we are now hiking through. The landscape consists of spruce and other conifers along with brilliant red ground cover in the form of blueberry shrubs. The fall colors are really starting to pop.

Due to the large snow pack from last winter, the berries are late this year and almost absent in the lower elevations. Why am I telling you this? Because bears need berries for food and they normally would be in lower elevations eating them. However, now they are seeking berries higher up and that's why we saw two today about 30 yards from the trail. We've heard from hunters the bears are all around and today we finally saw some. They were quite large and perfectly content munching away on sweet berries while we watched and took pictures. They look pretty cute from far away.

We're currently hiking with and around Landshark, Caterpillar, Hoffa, Clearwater, Jesse, Don't Panic, Nathan, High Octane, Lorenzo and Bill (a thru-hiker we just met today). We are camped at a nice site high on a ridge with awesome views to the north and east, which should afford us a great sunrise. In camp are Lorenzo and Bill. It's dark out and there is a brilliant, huge, orange moon rising.

Walk good...

Kirsten: I am torn these days. Torn between happiness and a deep sadness to be finishing. Three weeks ago I was ready to be done. Today - after completing one of my toughest days of hiking on the PCT - I'm not so sure.

Here's the tricky part. I can't hike forever. Well, I could. But I can't recreate my PCT 2008 thru-hike. Even if I came back next year and the year after that it would never be like this one. Maybe it would be better. It would certainly be different. I guess I finally understand why some people thru-hike year after year.

The Fun Train Express or Hoffa's Mob, as Don't Panic recently deemed us, is beginning to break up. Don't Panic and Nick are way ahead and I expect they'll get to Stehekin late Thursday. Tonight we're camping about 0.7 mile north of Hoffa, Clearwater, Jesse, Landshark and Caterpillar. Lorenzo is with us and High Octane and Nathan are probably two miles ahead. Moonpie is a whole day behind us. I expect we'll spend time with everyone in Stehekin with the exception of Don't Panic and Nick, who seem to be gunning for the border.

September 16, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-21T16:47:00.000-07:00

Destination: Baekos R., Glacier Peak Wilderness
Miles: 25

Adrian: I rested well last night after taking four Advil to take away the nagging pain of the injury. The good thing is that it feels better this morning and after a few miles warm up, it actually felt almost not so bad. I took a pain pill and did the miles.

We are camped with Hoffa near a creek that has a tremendous amount of huge fallen trees no doubt caused by a catastrophic flood. I hope there's not a occurrence tonight!

The views of Glacier Peak have been phenomenal. It's a volcano and has great symmetry and peak power creating a dramatic scene. Large glaciers tumble down all facets of the peak and create fast flowing, powerful, milky rivers. The rivers appear milky due to all the silt release from the glacier above. These rivers offer sub-standard drinking water but don't panic as there are many tributaries that provide clear, cold agua.

Kirsten: The sunrise this morning may be the best I've seen on the trip. Maybe the sunrise was so sweet because Adrian's calf muscle appears to be OK. It's sore, but walk able.

The trail is certainly tougher than many parts of the PCT, but some how it seems easier than parts of Oregon. The scenery is amazing here and rivals the Sierras. I think I like it even more because of the lack of people. Everything here is wild and I wish I had more time here.

Adrian mentioned yesterday he couldn't imagine having to get off the trail. Today we met Rapunzel, who is getting off the trail because of a knee injury. She seemed to be handling it well. Much better than I would be. I'm crossing my fingers these days for two reasons: No injuries. No rain.

Please let us get through this unscathed.

September 15, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-21T16:43:00.000-07:00

Destination: Pear Lake, Glacier Peak Wilderness
Miles: 19

Adrian: Never count your chickens before they hatch. It ain't over till it's over. A bird in hand is better than two in a bush. It's not over till the fat lady sings.

I suffered a serious pull of my right calf muscle while tripping over a log. We were night hiking out of an overly crowded campsite and I felt the calf tweak as I used my leg to stop my fall. I've never experienced this type of pain from a pulled muscle so I'm scared and not sure what to expect. Will I be able to finish? What would it be like to have to get off the trail so close to the end? Can I still do the hardest section on the PCT in this condition?

Kirsten found an awesome campsite on a large flat rock in a boulder field. Atop this rock we slept cowboy style with the bright full moon overhead. This will be our last full moon on the trail and it couldn't be more spectacular. I'm so happy to be here.

Let's hope the leg feels better by tomorrow. We've got some serious terrain coming up in the next 2 days.

Walk good...

Kirsten: I started the day with a four-hour cluster fuck of a voyage to buy groceries. A number of other hikers gave me a list of food items for their resupply since there were only so many seats in Jerry Dinsmore's truck. I was happy to help out my friends and the task was fairly simple. I made one serious error when I didn't grab something to nibble on at the store. By the time we returned I was completely out of sorts. My body doesn't function well without food and I'm embarrassed to say that I was a bit irrational and grumpy when I got back to the Dinsmores.

Nick and Don't Panic left before us and I was bummed at the time. I really didn't expect to see them again. But we ended up hiking more miles than we thought and it looks like we'll see them on the trail for at least one more day.

What started out as a fun night hike with Jesse, Landshark and Caterpillar ended up a catastrophe. We all had a great time on way into camp, especially when Jesse sang various Disney movie songs including Aladdin's "A Whole New World." The camping area was full so Adrian and I decided to continue. This is when everything got shitty. As Adrian said, he pulled his calf. I ran ahead to find a spot and when I would occasionally look back I could see him slowly limping up the trail. I'm worried. Adrian recovers incredibly quickly from injuries, so I'm hopeful. I do not want to have the "I'm getting off the trail discussion." Tonight I'll dream of a healed leg.

September 14, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-21T16:36:00.000-07:00

Destination: Dinsmore's River Haven, Skykomish, WA.
Miles: 8

Adrian: The Dinsmore's have been putting hikers up at their pad in Skykomish and the place is great. Awesome hospitality and real personalities. The Skykomish River runs through the backyard creating the perfect mountain scenery.

There are many hikers here today, maybe 17 altogether. Sleeping in the same room, there tends to be some interesting sounds and smells occurring throughout the night, therefore, we slept downstairs in the workshop on the concrete floor.

Tomorrow we go grocery shopping for the 100-mile hike to Stehekin, our last town stop on the trail. It feels strange to be so close to finishing. I'm not sure where all the time and miles went as it feels like we just started yesterday. I'm not ready for the trail to be over, even though my feet surely are. They've just about had it and are very tender on the bottoms.

The weather is still perfect but we've been hearing forecasts of rain in about 3 days that couldn't come at a worse time. This next section of trail has the famous closed portion of trail in the Glacier Peak Wilderness. Even though we plan on doing the original PCT, we hear it is full of blown down old growth trees and scary stream crossings, all of which are much more serious and time consuming when wet.

Stay tuned, because tomorrow we blast off into Glacier Peak Wilderness!

Kirsten: Our morning hike to Steven's Pass went quickly and four of us - Adrian, Don't Panic, Clearwater and myself - were packed inside a 2-door Datsun 232 headed towards Skykomish by 10 a.m. When we reached the small town, Jerry Dinsmore pulled up in his GMC truck and we all piled in for the 1.5-mile journey to his home. The rest of the day was spent cleaning out our packs, showering, washing clothes and eating.

Adrian and I finally sat down and figured out our immediate post-trail plans. Adrian's family will meet us at Manning Park and then we'll all head to Vancouver. Adrian and I will take a train to Seattle and hang out for the day before heading off to San Francisco via plane. We plan on staying in the city for two days and then taking a flight to Tucson. Then it's off to Chicago for our friend, Sheila's wedding.

So our group, which some have jokingly deemed the Fun Train Express, will likely break up soon. I've mentioned this before, I know. I'm genuinely surprised it hasn't happened yet because some in the group are significantly faster. I would love to somehow reconnect with everyone for the finish, but know it's not likely. I've come to realize that's how relationships work out here. You meet someone and hike with them maybe a day or two. Or in some cases you hike through most of Oregon and Washington together. And there you'll both be sitting atop some pass or river, when one person gets up, maybe waves and says "Hey, see you down the trail tonight." Except you never see them again. No goodbyes or exchanges of emails. Just poof and they're out of your life. This is what's so great about the reunions that occasionally occur 1,000 miles later. But now, with only 200 miles left, those reunions become rare. If we don't catch Beautiful and Gorgeous in Stehekin, for example, we won't see them again until after the trail.

September 13, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-18T17:10:00.003-07:00

Destination: Mig Lake, Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Miles: 23.5

Adrian: We climbed a lot today and after a full day of hiking, got into camp with plenty of time to cook and eat before dark. We're only hiking with Don't Panic right now, well for most of the time, so we are cranking off the miles and taking nice relaxed breaks. The fact that we only needed to do miles in the low 20s meant there was no pressure at work today.

To the north we can see big, snow-laden peaks that beckon us towards them - Glacier Peak stands out the most and is also the namesake of our next wilderness area.

I've seen an increase in marmots and pikas as of late and it makes me happy. Their whistles and chirps take the place of our iPods...thankfully. Pikas are faster and on the move while marmots tend to lounge in the sun on a flat rock.

It's the weekend, Saturday night, and we're camped at a lake that's only 4 miles from a trailhead. Yep, crowded with Seattleite campers up for the last backpack of the season. In our camp tonight is Lorenzo, the Brits, Clearwater, who made a surprise appearance after dark, and Don't Panic. Sharing our camp are two girls on a 2-night trip.

Tomorrow, to the Dinsmores...

Kirsten: The Alpine Wilderness area continues to impress and I'm enjoying myself despite the constant ups and downs. The views outweigh the switchbacks and keep me going even in the toughest terrain. I am a tad nervous about Glacier Peak Wilderness, specifically one of the river crossings. I've heard words like rushing water, giant log, scooting across. I don't particularly like the image I've conjured up in my mind.

Tomorrow we'll reach Stevens Pass and that means a hot meal and another milestone. The Dinsmores, trail angels living near Skykomish, open their home to hikers, so that's where we'll be. Our group may be reunited here and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone, at least one last time. With Stehekin - our final town stop - just 100 miles to north and visions of crossing the Canadian border swirling in our heads I can no longer predict if we'll finish with our friends. I wish, of course, that Beautiful and Gorgeous were with us as well. I think they're about two days ahead and I don't expect to catch them before the end. Cheers girls, I hope to see you soon.

September 12, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-18T17:10:00.002-07:00

Destination: Deep Lake, Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Miles: 27.5

Adrian: I lost our data book and map pages today while hiking, so that's not good. Luckily it's just the data for today and tomorrow morning.

While Kirsten was reading the guidebook to me in our tent tonight she shrieked when seeing a large spider right next to her. I dispatched it ASAP, and all was well. Phew!

We hiked with Don't Panic for most the day and made good time.

Kirsten: Maybe it was all that Seattle coffee he had. Whatever it was Don't Panic caught us after spending the night in Seattle and getting a late start. It was good to see him and both Adrian and I enjoy his company. Amazingly, Don't Panic manages to hike patiently along as I ramble on about random subjects.

We were going to camp at around 22 miles tonight. Once we reached the tiny spot we decided to push on another five miles and reached Deep Lake around 8 p.m. Everyone is behind us and I don't think we'll see them until Skykomish, our next town stop.

Adrian's mention of the spider, which was huge and about two inches from my head, reminds me of another creature we've had to contend with recently. The mouse has become my new nemesis. Two nights before we reached White Pass a mouse found its way into our tent. How do I know this? Well, I woke up to the pitter-pattering of little mice feet running over my head. I know, disgusting, right? Mice have essentially been given an invitation to our tent ever since our zip busted. I've had one other run in with the stealthy mouse. The night we camped at Mirror Lake I left a tissue outside the tent. I woke up to the loudest shredding sound I've ever heard and there sitting by the tent door was, yup, you guessed it, a mouse. I'm concerned that it's just a matter of time before one chews its way through our tent in search of food.

September 11, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-18T17:10:00.001-07:00

Destination: Spur of Three Queens, Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Miles: 16

Adrian: I'm quite pleased with the miles this afternoon. We climbed steadily from Interstate 90 at 3,000 feet to over 5,600 feet a few miles on.

I had a great hand-dipped corn dog yesterday that I forgot to mention. It was muy bien!

Kirsten: Our stay at the Summit Lodge was restful and the staff incredibly accommodating to hikers. Our efforts to resupply at the convenience store and "grocery" store didn't go quite as well. I won't use the term price gouging because I'm sure these business owners have expensive leases. I will suggest to any future thru-hikers reading this journal: Ship yourself a box.

After picking up some pricey food, we hit the trail and quickly rose above the noisy Interstate 90. The trail today was beautiful and I quickly forgot about the clear-cut areas we walked through just two days prior. Our group - as I predicted - has broken up for now. Don't Panic went into Seattle to visit family and Hoffa took off early this morning in an effort to meet friends some 50 miles from here. Adrian and I camped by ourselves tonight after passing the rest of the group. I keep saying group because, well, it's annoying to list everyone's name and we all agree that the name Fellowship of the Ring is dorky.

September 10, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-18T17:10:00.000-07:00

Destination: Summit Lodge, Snoqualmie Pass
Miles: 9

Adrian: The 9 miles into Snoqualmie Pass went fast with more clear cuts of various ages and occasional views of Rainier. We are now viewing the north/northeast face of the mountain and it's beginning to get snowier with more glaciers. I think the classic climb Liberty Ridge; will be visible soon - maybe tomorrow.

So our plan is to stay a night at the Summit Lodge and leave in the morning. The weather is still perfect, so we will keep pushing.

The next section is supposed to be awesome and we look forward to seeing the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

Huckleberries and blueberries are late this year due to big winter snows, but that just means we pick at lower elevations for now and in a week or two we'll pick higher up. It's all good.

Kirsten: The few hours it took to get to Snoqualmie flew by as most town days do. Snoqualmie isn't really a town. In the winter it's a ski resort. The rest of the year it's a glorified truck stop and occasional stopover for hikers.

We tackled the most important tasks upon our arrival, namely breakfast, showers and laundry.

Hoffa, Caterpillar and Landshark, Clearwater, Don't Panic, Jesse, Doc and Lorenzo are all here. Moonpie hitched into North Bend and will hopefully join us on the trail tomorrow.

We all know that sooner or later this little group that has formed will dismantle for one reason or another. Moonpie is meeting her boyfriend, for one. The rest of us could easily be separated by a few miles the rest of trip if some decide to hike faster or slower. For now we're enjoying the camaraderie, the inappropriate jokes and talk of bodily functions. Yes, farting, pooping, the digging of catholes are all open territory on the trail. And it always amazes me how quickly the conversation turns to this subject. I'm not really sure why. Maybe it's because after camping and hiking with someone for a few weeks you will eventually see a fellow hiker - trowel in hand - tromping off into the forest. And let's face it; we pretend they're gardening buffs for only so long.

September 9, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-12T17:02:00.000-07:00

Destination: Mirror Lake, Mt. Baker/Snowqualmie National Forest
Miles: 23

Adrian: We are getting some good views of Rainier still but it is slowly disappearing to the southwest. We've had more stellar weather today and enjoy the hiking even though some of this terrain can be a bit tiring.

I've noticed the data points in our guidebook are lacking frequency enough to accurately represent the elevation change resulting in brutal hidden climbs. We're hiking through clear cuts of various ages so the hiking seems directionless and pointless. The nice thing is, is that each step is now piercing deeper and deeper into the heart of Washington State.

I've been spying some beautiful mountains to the north that I don't know the name of and I am pretty sure we go through.

Kirsten: I can actually picture Adrian stabbing his way through the forest. Scary. Aggressive? Probably. Hey, hike your own hike. I plan on walking to Canada. If Adrian wants to punch and jab his way north, well, I guess whatever works.

The trail today was a bit of a disaster. It seemed to take an odd and overtaxing route and I have to wonder if it's in an effort to avoid private land. The clearcuts have one redeeming quality - huckleberries. They are everywhere and I have spent a lot of time picking berries the past few days.

September 8, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-12T16:58:00.000-07:00

Destination: Headwaters Pioneer Creek, Wenatchee National Forest
Miles: 27

Adrian: Hidden climbs and lots of clear cuts are what stand out in my mind about today. Also, the trail seemed to follow an illogical course, needlessly up and down hills that offered no view and could have easily been contoured around. Ba!

Kirsten: Some of the hikers in our loosely formed group have taken to calling us "the fellowship of the ring." It's cheesy, I know. It's also funny since Jesse is not a fan of The Lord of the Rings movies.

The trail today is not worth writing about. It went up and down and around. And then we stopped and camped. The end.

September 7, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-10T20:20:00.001-07:00

Destination: Big Crow Basin, Norse Peak Wilderness
Miles: 26

Adrian: The flawless weather continues and we are thankful for it. It is our plan to push hard each day we have good weather because we know how darn hard it is to hike many miles in a freezing downpour. I know that'll happen sooner or later, so we take advantage of the sun.

We got out of the tent around 6:30 a.m. and it is clear we are losing more daylight each day. It's OK though because we are right on schedule for a Sept. 25 finish to meet everyone in Manning Park.

I have to admit to something today. I committed the cardinal sin of giving a thru-hiker the wrong directional information and sent him down the wrong trail. Clearwater, when walking towards the trail from camp, confirmed with me that his direction on the trail was indeed northbound PCT. I said yes and I was wrong. That trail was not the PCT and it took me about 7 minutes to figure it out. I jumped up with my poptart in hand and ran down the trail after my friend. I caught up with him in about 10 minutes of well-paced trail running (I did not have my pack on).
Bad move on my part.

It was another day of great views of Rainier and we crossed into the national park named after it.

At camp we ran into Yeti and Lorenzo. It truly is amazing how you keep meeting people over and again. That's the PCT.

Kirsten:
Thank you Adrian for jinxing us once again with the flawless weather forecast. It is my one fear, the one thing I have no control over. The fabulous weather we've had has left me more nervous than pleased. I know how hard it can be to hike through bad weather. The cold can be especially draining. Every day we have sun I am thankful.

September 6, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-10T20:16:00.000-07:00

Destination: Bumping River, William O. Douglas Wilderness
Miles: 15

Adrian: I woke up a bit groggy this morning after Kirsten's birthday celebration last night. Nothing major, but our lack of alcohol intake coupled with significant weight loss has dramatically lower our tolerance so a few Miller beers go a long way.

After breakfast we went to the store to buy food, about four days worth for the 100-mile stretch to Snoqualmie Pass. As usual, I bought too much food. We met Landshark and Caterpillar at the coffee shop and found out they already secured a ride back up the pass to the trail for us! That's huge! After a quick burger and fries we were dropped off at the trailhead. Thanks Don!

Despite our very heavy packs, the fifteen miles peeled off quickly with only one rest stop. We are very fit at this point and it takes at least a 1,500-foot climb to even break a sweat. The near perfect hiking temperature helps for sure.

The spruce trees and meadows provided lovely hiking scenery. Some of the huckleberry plants are turning colors already reminding us the window of good weather is slowly closing causing us to wonder...will we make it in time before it closes?

Walk good...

Kirsten: Packwood is an interesting little town. It is not really cutesy touristy. Some may even say a bit hickish. The town sits in a valley with forested hills in the foreground and an often cloud enshrouded Mount Rainier sitting in the background.

I'm happy to be back on the trail today and can't quite believe we're heading towards Snoqualmie. Tonight we're camping with Jesse, Landshark, Caterpillar, Clearwater, Hoffa and a British couple - Yankee Clipper and the Duke. Moonpie is intentionally slowing down to be able to meet up with her boyfriend, a 2006 PCT thru-hiker. Hopefully she catches up with us in Snoqualmie.

September 5, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-10T20:13:00.000-07:00

Destination: Inn of Packwood, Packwood, WA.
Miles: 12.5

Adrian: Happy Birthday Danger Prone! I love you!

We had great views of Rainier all morning as we walked towards the road at White Pass, a ski area about 20 miles east of Packwood. The weather has been perfect.

We entered Goat Rocks Wilderness and hiked some of the best trail of the trip. It follows a knife-edged ridge for miles weaving in and out of grotesquely formed towers and spires.

Views of Rainer, Adams, and Helens were abundant and grand. This section of trail would have been extremely dangerous had the weather been foul.

It took about an hour to get a hitch into Packwood. I bought a chocolate cake, icing and some candles for Kirsten's party at the pizza joint. We had about 12 hikers join us for pizza, beer and cake. Later some of the crew went across the street to the Blue Spruce Inn for pool and more beer. It was a great night.

We've been hiking with a group that is jokingly calling itself, "The Fellowship". We are a group of individuals that have come together to create a larger whole. I think the experts call it synergy. Anyway, the group is strong and I'm happy to be hiking with them. I'm told nearing the finish, hikers will group together near the end of a thru-hike to end together. It looks as though that may be happening here...and that's fine by me.

I'm looking forward to finish, but I will miss it when it's over. Until then...

Walk good.

Kirsten: Soooo.... once again Adrian sent out our journal entries before I could finish up my thoughts. I'm in a forgiving mood - it being my birthday and all. I would like to recap yesterday's hike a bit.

Goats Rocks was probably one of my favorite places I have walked through in these past four months. The section was short in comparison with other wilderness areas we've seen. Before we approached the knife-edge traverse, the trail slowly rose through alpine meadows and past creeks and waterfalls.

The trail eventually wound through lava fields before topping out to a view of Mount Rainier. From there the trail crossed a snowfield and then hugged the mountainside until reaching the knife-edge traverse. What was so cool about the traverse were the views. We could see for dozens of miles in every direction from Mount Rainier to our left to the heavily forested valley to our right.

Back to my birthday. Our friends joined us in Packwood, which may sound like no big deal. Let me tell you that it is. To get thru-hikers to change their plans and come into town when they hadn't intended to is flattering. Moonpie, Hoffa, Jesse, Landshark, Caterpillar, Clearwater and Don't Panic were all there. Miss. Potato Head also showed up, which was great.

Beautiful and Gorgeous called and sang a fun birthday song to me. I am blessed to have friends like these. I am especially blessed to have Adrian for a husband. He deals with my teasing and taunting in this journal, for one. He is also patient, endlessly so, with me on the trail and that's not such any easy task at times.

September 4, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-07T17:30:00.000-07:00

Destination: Lutz Lake, Goat Rocks Wilderness
Miles: 26

Adrian:
Today was one of the best days on the trail in terms of weather and scenery. Tomorrow will be one of the best too, because its Kirsten's 33rd birthday!

September 3, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-07T17:28:00.001-07:00

Destination: Northern slopes of Mt. Adams, Mt. Adams Wilderness
Miles: 27

Adrian: Around 5 a.m. this morning Kirsten said she felt a mouse run over her head. I handed her my headlamp and she spotted it in the corner of the tarp and watched as it supposedly fled the scene. True story? You decide.

Today we hiked in perfect weather, sunny and 60s with little wind. We could see for miles and had great views of Rainier, Adams, Helens, and Hood.

The huckleberries are still going strong and every so often we see professional pickers in the woods. They have commercial licenses and sell their berries to local merchants and restaurants.

September 2, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-07T17:26:00.001-07:00

Destination: Road 23 near Trout Lake
Miles: 24

September 1, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-07T17:22:00.000-07:00

Destination: Blue Lake, Indian Heaven Wilderness
Miles: 23.5

Adrian: We had great views of Helens, Adams, and Hood today. The forests are very thick though, so the views are far between.

We woke around 6 a.m. to Clearwater and Don't Panic re-starting the fire from last night. Let me tell you how nice it is to warm up your hands one last time before hiking into a wet, cold, dark Washington forest. Mornings like this remind me of camping with my buddy Scott, who is the defacto morning fire guy. The sound of him splitting wood at daybreak has woken me many a times...good times.

I'm looking forward to finishing soon and seeing family and friends, but until then, we will walk good.

Kirsten: Our progress was slow today, in part because of the morning fire and the 2,000-foot climb right out of the campground.

The cold temperatures appear to be here for good and I spent much of the day hiking with gloves and a hat on. The trail in Washington has taken us through thick forest, which blocks the sun. Hopefully we get high above the tree line in the next few days.

August 31, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-07T17:21:00.000-07:00

Destination: Panther Creek Campground, Pinchot National Forest
Miles: 35

Adrian: Today we road walked 15 miles which equaled 35 trail miles.

Kirsten: Way to keep it short, Adrian. I had mixed feelings about this alternate route most of the morning. I didn't come to hike roads. On the other hand, by doing the alternate we set ourselves up nicely to get into Packwood for my birthday.

Once we were underway I decided to take full advantage of what the road walk had to offer. We had breakfast in Cascade Locks and once we reached Stevenson we stopped for some lattes. Four miles and many handfuls of blackberries later we reached Carson and I was hungry again. So we ate at the local diner and finally reached Stabler Store, where we shipped ourselves a box of food.

Don't Panic and Clearwater were at the store and we all hung out under the awning eating frozen burritos, Oreos and drinking beer. About 15 minutes after our arrival the rains came and we were all happy to be at the store. Once the rain we stopped we all made our way to the Panther Creek campground and built a nice campfire. Another classic day on the PCT.

August 30, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-07T17:18:00.001-07:00

Destination: Bridge of the Gods Motel
Miles: 0

Adrian: We'll head out tomorrow morning after zeroing today. The motel is newly remodeled and has a small kitchenette. Not bad.

Cascade Locks is a small town with a main street that's about 5 blocks long. It sits on the Columbia River and at the base of famous Bridge of the Gods. The hiking possibilities are endless.

Kirsten: Today was a perfect data to get off my feet and after three consecutive 30-mile days my legs needed a rest.

I had a huge breakfast and was stuffed most of the day. I still had room for dinner at the Pacific Crest Pub and later a pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. The plan now is to make it to White Pass and hitch into Packwood for my birthday.

August 29, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-07T17:14:00.000-07:00

Destination: Bridge of the God's Motel, Cascade Locks
Miles: 20.5

Adrian: We made it the Oregon/Washington border today! That's huge.

We woke at 5:20 a.m. and were on the trail at 5:58. A little spring in camp provided the liter we would each take to start the day. We did lots of up hills, many more than what I thought there would be given what the data says. Anyway, Oregon was sending us off with a good workout on a high ridge. Views of Hood, Helens, Adams, and even Rainier were spectacular. The minute you think you've seen it all, the PCT shocks you with its beauty all over again.

We took a side trail down into Cascade Locks. This trail featured some of the most amazing waterfall scenery I've ever seen including a tunnel that goes behind particularly large falls. Much of the trail was blasted out of the cliff wall of the gorge.

We got a hitch into town from a career soldier on leave. He was a real nice guy who waited for us at the post office and then drove us back to a motel.

We went to the Pacific Crest Pub for pizza and Walking Man micro brews. Awesome!

Kirsten: I am typically energized on days when we are coming into a town. It's not about being in a town, although food is always a highlight for me. Reaching a town means we've made it to our destination. It also means we get to prepare for the next five- to seven-day stretch to the town or lodge up ahead.

Today I struggled. The morning started slowly with a rolling trail that took us through overgrown thickets of salmonberry, elderberry and huckleberry as well other regional perennials. The morning dew soaked my pants and I didn't dry out until later in the day.

I finally snapped out of my funk when we reached the Eagle Creek trail, an alternate route that takes you by numerous waterfalls. I was a little panicky we wouldn't make it to the post office in time until I ran into Pothead and Good Times. They told me I was much closer to town than I realized and we made it to the post office with plenty of time to spare.

There waiting at the P.O. were a number of boxes including a birthday card from my Dad, one from my Mom and Bill and another from my good friend Adrienne. Adrienne is the best gift giver I know and so I shouldn't have been surprised by what she gave me. Still, when I opened my card and saw she had collected encouraging words from our family, friends and even a former professor I was shocked to tears. Thank you Adrienne!

The rest of the night was spent with Moonpie, Caterpillar, Landshark, Beautiful, Gorgeous, Clearwater and a few new people including Hoffa.

August 28, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-07T17:11:00.000-07:00

Destination: Northern edge of Mt. Hood Wilderness
Miles: 23.7

Adrian: We woke up and hiked the two miles and 1,000 vertical feet to Timberline Lodge on the western slopes of Mt. Hood. Beams of morning sunlight illuminated select mountain hemlock trees producing vertical shafts of liquid gold.

Timberline was built in the 1930s by the government as a way to help fight the financial depression that gripped the country at the time. A sort of grand Civilian Conservation Corps project if you will. The name of the department overseeing the building went by the name of something like Work Progress Administration. If someone knows the proper name please email it to me. Thanks.

You think a lot on the trail. Today I thought of my family and friends and how I miss seeing them. I'm not sure if it's a motivator to hike faster or get off the trail.

Kirsten: Holy crap, liquid gold? Note to self: Open up liquid gold mining operation in the vertical hemlock forests of Oregon. I also would love to someday see shafts of horizontal light. Maybe once we reach Washington there will be more horizontal shafts.

Once again Adrian failed to mention important highlights of day, namely our breakfast. This morning I had the best breakfast since I started the trail. The cheesy eggs are far more impressive than the liquid gold forests.
We reconnected with Moonpie and Lorenzo today at the lodge and ended up camping with them as well as Landshark and Caterpillar. The cheesy eggs and do-it-yourself waffles put a bounce in my step and the steep hike down from the lodge and subsequent 1,600-mile climb back up to another ridge seemed easier than it should have. If only I could eat cheesy eggs everyday.

August 27, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-07T17:09:00.001-07:00

Destination: Southwest slopes of Mt. Hood
Miles: 33.3

Adrian: A new record mile day for us. We did well considering the hills and weather.

The huckleberries were thick today and we stopped often to pick them a few feet off the trail. The berries grow on bushes from 6 inches to 3 feet high. The berries themselves are green when very young, then turn red on the road to maturation, and finally dark blue when ready to be picked. Yummy!

Again we hiked through deep pine forests laced with old man's beard moss, which I think actually may be a form of lichen. We hiked into the dark to do the miles. We wake in the dark and hike into the dark every day. This is a tough job.

Kirsten: PCTers who celebrate birthdays on the trail oftentimes hike their age. I'll be turning 33 (argh!) in Washington where the terrain will be more difficult so today I completed my birthday hike a week early.

I'm guessing the reason my hips ache and I can barely straighten my legs is because we've now hiked two 30-plus mile days in a row. I sort of feel like I did the first two days of the trail. I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever to be able to walk like a 30-year-oldish person again or if I'll be stiffly stumbling around like a geriatric. Finishing a 33-mile day has boosted my confidence and I now feel more capable than ever. I'm not sure why I needed to hike 33 miles to reach this new level. I try not to argue with what works because frankly, it's too exhausting to analyze why and how I achieve things these days.

August 26, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-07T17:04:00.000-07:00

Destination: Cold spring near Warm Springs River
Miles: 31

Adrian: We woke up with a layer of ice on the outside of our tarp and a bit of condensation on the inside. I'm guessing the temperature was down into the high 20s last night.

We woke at sunrise and were treated to a great view of Jefferson. It was awesome in the morning light.

After a steep climb I caught a glimpse of Caterpillar and Landshark. We haven't seen them for quite some time so it'll be good to catch up.

BIG views of Mt. Hood to the north as well. We even saw Adams way up there in the distant. It's so beautiful.

Kirsten: The bulk of yesterday's storm cleared out by the morning and we woke up to Mount Jefferson towering right above our tent. It's amazing to me how close we were to this striking peak all day and never even got a glimpse of it because of the cloud cover.

We hiked out of the alpine meadow and then up and over a ridge, where we were treated to unobstructed views of Mount Hood. I remember back before Sisters being able to barely see the top of Mount Hood. Now it's right in front of us and within two days we'll be hiking on its shoulder.

We met up with Landshark and Caterpillar on top of the ridge and spent the rest of the day hiking with them. I'm not sure where Beautiful, Gorgeous and the rest of our group of friends are. I hope we catch up we them once we reach Timberline Lodge.

August 25, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-09-07T17:02:00.000-07:00

Destination: Below Mt. Jefferson, Jefferson Wilderness
Miles: 30

Adrian: We added a new wild berry to the list available along the trail; the strawberry! This little guy bears fruit looking just like its domesticated cousin, but only a fraction of the size; think pea sized.

Rain, rain, rain, and wind. It was a nice soaking drizzle most of the day. My hands are suffering most from the cold. I have fleece gloves but I keep them off while hiking because I must keep them dry. Your hands get so cold you can't even open a ziplock bag without a major battle. It's like having lobster claws for fingers.

I'm sad Mts. Jefferson and Washington are shrouded in mist and therefore invisible to us. Jefferson is my favorite peak on the PCT, so I hope it clears soon.

We found a small spot just off the trail to pitch the tarp by headlamp. I cooked a quick meal of mashed potatoes and quickly jumped into my sleeping bag. I slept well.

Kirsten: We realized last night that we'll have to hike 30 miles a day to get to Cascade Locks before the post office closes for the Labor Day weekend.

It turns out it was the wrong day to start hiking 30-mile days. We woke up to a cold drizzle, which lasted much of the day. We took two rests during the brief breaks in the rain and didn't stop hiking until 8:30 p.m. The rain and cold was hard on us, of course.

What really got to me today was the lack of visibility. We are supposed to be hiking through some of the most picturesque sections of Oregon and the thick clouds swirling around us have eliminated all views. We managed to find a small spot to set up our tent just as the sun set and more clouds began to settle into the nearby meadow and surrounding. If this is any indication of what lies ahead for us in Washington, it's going to be a tough ending.

August 24, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-31T01:43:00.000-07:00

Destination: Southeast Spur of Three-Fingered Jack
Miles: 22

Adrian: The lava is everywhere we turn and there is no way to escape it. We resign ourselves to walking for miles on baseball-sized pumice rocks that challenge the ankles at every step.

Today was a relatively active climbing day, with a few 1,000-foot climbs. After getting out of the lava we entered a large burned area, which turned to green forest after a few miles. The wind is picking up and rain has been forecast for tonight and tomorrow. Because it was getting late and there was a long, windy, exposed area ahead, we camped in a spot sheltered by many pines trees, big and small. We bought a ground sheet for the tent and sealed more seams, so we should be good to go regarding rain. We might find out for sure tonight.

It's getting cold at night, sometimes in the low 30s F, and I'm glad we got our gloves, hat, rain pants and windshirt out of the bounce box. Now is the time to have the warm gear for the Cascades in autumn. The wind is whipping in the trees but our site is well protected.

I think I'll sleep well tonight. Tomorrow we're up early for a long day on the trail...

Kirsten: Since Adrian described our day so well I'll focus on other important subjects. By the time you all read this we'll be walking across the Bridge of the Gods into Washington. It's hard to believe our trip is beginning to wind down.

So now is the time for our readers to get involved. Many of you have signed our guestbook on the trailjournals.com site, which is awesome. I look forward to those little messages and every time we receive one it lifts my spirits.

Here is my final request: sign our guestbook if you haven't already. And if you're feeling motivated, send us a card or a treat. :) There are two opportunities in September to send us a care package or belated birthday gift (hint.)

We expect to reach Snoqualmie Pass around Sept. 10. We can pick up letters and packages at the Summit Lodge via UPS ONLY! Address the package like this: On the bottom put hold for PCT hiker, ETA Sept. 10.

Kirsten Korosec
c/o The Summit Lodge
603 State Route 906
Snoqualmie, WA 98068
(UPS only!)

Our last stop before reaching Canada will be Stehekin, a tiny town reached via boat. Send cards and packages through the U.S Mail like this:

Kirsten Korosec
General delivery
Stehekin, WA 98852

On the bottom write: hold for PCT hiker, ETA Sept. 20. From Stehekin it's about 90 miles to the Canadian border. Thanks in advance to anyone who sends us a note or package!

August 23, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-24T22:53:00.000-07:00

Destination: Sisters Inn
Miles: 0

Adrian: Kirsten decided we needed a zero day and I did not protest.

We found out my family is going to meet us at the finish! The date we picked is September 25. I've done some calculations and we'll have to average 20 miles per day till the end to make the date. We've been doing lots of 25-mile days, so I'm confident we'll make it and still have a few zeros to rest and dry up after rainstorms. I'm very excited about them coming to Manning Park. It'll be great to have a cheering squad waiting for us. Now all we have to do is make the date!

We resupplied, ate, and rested. Tomorrow Lloyd picks us up in the morning, around 8 a.m. and we'll continue our hike north to Canada.

Kirsten: Sometimes you need to put your feet up. I'm looking forward to hiking again. I also spent most of yesterday running around Sisters and felt less than rested when awoke. So this morning I was relieved when Adrian agreed to a day off.

After breakfast at a nearby restaurant, we hit the grocery store to resupply for the upcoming 114-mile leg to Timberline Lodge at Mount Hood. We spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon sorting through our food and more importantly, cleaning my funk-infested backpack. Beautiful and Gorgeous called and we all met up for lunch at Sno Cap, a popular hamburger and milkshake joint on Sisters' main drag.

On my way to met them I ran into Lil' Wrangler, who had a wild karaoke-blessed night with Yeti in Bend. Apparently they bought some tight-fitting duds at a thrift store and got a ride up to Bend. After a detour to Sears to have their family portrait taken with the 20-year-old guy who gave them a ride into town, they hit a hotel bar for karaoke. It doesn't surprise me that they had the entire bar singing along.

Adrian and I are full of marion berry milkshakes now and are watching the Olympics. The trail awaits.

August 22, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-24T22:51:00.000-07:00

Destination: Sisters Inn, Sisters, OR.
Miles: 5

Adrian: The tarptent was soaking wet on the inside from condensation. Airflow was good enough, but the nearby lake produced too much moisture for the single-walled tarp. We did the best we could to keep our sleeping bags from brushing the walls.

The hike to the pass was awesome with more lava flows and huge views of the Three Sisters, Broken Top, Washington Peak, Jefferson Peak, Three Fingered Jack, Mt Hood and Mt Adams. Unbroken forests sweeping in all directions with isolated peaks standing like islands in the sky. Clouds left over from the last week of storms provided a mystic backdrop. Basically some of the best landscapes we've seen yet.

We arrived at the trailhead rendezvous and waited for a while before thinking we might be in the wrong place. As we walked up the road, Lloyd drove by and picked us up. Lloyd is a trail angel in Bend helping out hikers in the Sisters area. We'll give us a ride back to the trail tomorrow.

Sisters is a theme town based on the old west that's totally touristy but full service for hikers. We picked up our bounce bucket, went through it, and shipped it back to Tucson. The bounce bucket is no longer needed because we are so close to the end. It seems strange to be nearing the end but there still is 661 miles to go. After dinner we watched the Olympics and went to bed.

Kirsten: We're sitting in Sisters just 10 miles shy of mile 2,000. Did any of us, did any of you think we would make it? I never doubted Adrian's ability. I always pictured him here at this point and beyond.

I wouldn't say I expected to fail. I wasn't completely void of confidence at the beginning or along the way. I wouldn't say I was overflowing with it either.

Somewhere out here I started to believe it was possible. Not just possible, that it would happen. I will be at the end.

I still can't say when or how I turned the mental corner. Maybe it was the number of miles I completed. It's hard not to be confident when you start passing miles 500, 800, 1,000 and then hit the halfway point. I think at least part of my "transformation" began when I stopped counting miles. And it sure doesn't hurt that my hiking partner embraces my good moments and ignores any slips of faith.

August 21, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-24T22:49:00.001-07:00

Destination: South Matthieu Lake, Three Sisters Wilderness
Miles: 27

Adrian: I slept like crap last night and that does not help the effort required today to do the miles we have to in order to get close enough to McKenzie Pass to be there at 9 a.m. for a ride from Lloyd Gust, a trail angel from the Bend, Oregon area. We made it happen, even after a late start. Our performance today gives me confidence we can do some big miles in the next few days. We shall see.

Kirsten: Just so everyone knows I choose to ignore the run-on sentence above. I'm not going to cramp his style.

We got a ridiculously late start this morning. We woke up late and slowly packed up our things. Once we reached the junction there was another delay. Rooster's mentor She-Ra, who thru-hiked the PCT in 2006, set up a shelter and loads of trail magic. Beer, wine, whiskey, candy, snacks, fresh fruit and orange juice filled bags and coolers. I had some hot tea and strawberries, oh and a cinnamon roll. Awesome! She-Ra, you seriously rock. She had to lug all of that stuff a mile or more uphill in the rain. She set up yesterday and camped there overnight. We learned that Yeti, Wrangler and B & G hung out at the makeshift shelter for a while before heading off into the rain.

We left She-Ra around 9 a.m. and hiked through cold rain for a couple of hours. As we finished crossing a windy open area our friends were heading towards us. Last night they made it to a shelter and discovered it loaded with technical gear. A team of U.S Geologists was using it as a base camp. The girls, Yeti and Wrangler were able to stay overnight. The following morning, meaning today, they decided to tag along and help the geologists. The geologist promised the sun would appear today, and he was right.

The sun started to burn off some of the clouds and we were able to eat lunch in a semi-dry space. The scenery the rest of the day filled with volcanic cones and the summits of all three Sisters.

The trail at the end of the day wove through piles of volcanic rubble and pieces of obsidian rock. We crested a hill and there in a neat row were the peaks of Mount Washing, Jefferson and Three-Fingered Jack.

The clouds are beginning to part and as the sky clears the temperature will likely drop to 35 degrees. I'm looking forward to this after weeks of warm nights.

August 20, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-24T22:46:00.000-07:00

Destination: Elk Lake Resort, Three Sisters Wilderness
Miles: 15

Adrian: Rain, rain, rain.

Kirsten: I had grand aspirations for today. The weather had other plans for us. The swarming mosquitoes and drizzling rain kept us moving all morning and we reached the junction to Elk Lake Resort by noon. I figured we could hike the mile down to the resort, grab a hot meal and dry off before hitting the trail again.

And then it happened. The burgers came, the rain continued to fall and we started the fun little math games all hikers play. "So if we had a really big day tomorrow then we could still make it to.... etc., etc."

It didn't help that Clearwater and Rooster also wanted to stay, which is exactly what we ended up doing. We were able to stay in a basic hiker cabin thanks to Free and Easy Going, a Washington couple in their 60s.

I was initially a little bummed we weren't heading out to hike. I changed my mind as the on-and-off mist turned to a steady drizzle and finally to driving rain. As I drifted off to sleep in the incredibly warm loft of the cabin I thought of our friends out in the watery elements. I was certainly happy to be in the cabin. I only wished we had the rest of our loosely organized gang with us.

August 19, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-24T22:44:00.001-07:00

Destination: Cougar Flat, Three Sisters Wilderness
Miles: 26.5

Adrian: It rained a few times last night but we stayed dry. The tent was put away wet and the mosquitoes drove us back to the trail.

Not long after starting this morning I started feeling pain from a crack on my heel. Why it hurts now is beyond me, but hurt it does. I have to alter my step to compensate for the pain and that leads to more pain from stressing already hard working ligaments. Tonight I put Neosporin on it and have it bandaged. I'm not sure what else to do about it. I could use some super glue or new skin, none of which are now available.

We passed many lakes today, and they remind me of northern Wisconsin or Canada. They are usually clear with some sandy shore and surrounded by pine trees. I've heard many of these ponds have gross water for drinking, but so far they've been pretty good to us.

I've got to remember to get some new trash bags to line the inside of my pack. I'm pretty sure the holes are compromising the dryness of my gear. The weather is cold at night, maybe down into the lower 40s, so dryness means warmth, which in turn means safety. I'll get some good heavy-duty trash compactor bags with 3 mil plastic for puncture proofness.

I'm really having a good time as of late and enjoying the hike. I've got a good understanding of what I am able to do physically, so if I stay within those limits, I have more time to work on the mental challenges. More on that later.

Walk good...

Kirsten: The mosquitoes along this stretch are like tiny annoying ninjas. They strike fast - no meaningless buzzing around - and effortlessly find any exposed skin. I had pulled my shirtsleeves down past my hands and within seconds a mosquito found a spot on the tip of my finger.

We found a perfect lunch spot, which means it was sunny, dry and windy enough to keep those stinging bastards at bay. It was comforting to hike and chat with Beautiful and Gorgeous. It's not as if we're all best friends and totally inseparable. Our friendship does have an effortless air to it though and I see it continuing after this adventure is over.

We didn't end up camping together tonight. This is pretty typical among thru-hikers. We hike together for a bit, have a great time and then go our own way for a while. The best part comes days later when you reconnect and the cycle starts all over.

August 18, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-24T22:41:00.001-07:00

Destination: North Rosary Lake
Miles: 9

Adrian: Last night the rain fell hard only a few times for a short period. Wrangler, Lorenzo, Clearwater, Don't Panic, and us were camped on a small spit of land on an unnamed lake. The mosquitoes never let up. These guys are more aggressive and faster than their Sierra counterparts.

We had a short hike to Shelter Cove Resort on Odell Lake, a spring fed, glacial lake. Our boxes were there as planned and we are doing a three-night trip to Sisters from here, a 92-mile jaunt. We'd like to get there by Thursday night if possible, but Friday morning would work too.

At around 5 p.m., Gorgeous found us a ride back to the trail. Gorgeous and Beautiful had rented a cabin at the resort and not only let us use their shower, but they also made breakfast for us. Thanks you two!

We hiked in rain and then hail for a few miles before calling it quits at a nice campsite between middle and north Rosary lakes. A big campfire kept us warm and dried us off before going to bed.

Kirsten: I concluded days ago we weren't going to see Beautiful and Gorgeous anytime soon. I was happily shocked to see Gorgeous walk into the store at Shelter Cove. She had heard from Johnny Cache and Raifiki (Chris) we were most likely coming in today. Within 15 minutes of our arrival, we were all sitting comfortably in their little cabin watching Gorgeous make French toast.

Today was relaxing and felt a zero. I prefer these stops - the ones at lodges and resorts - to towns because everything is consolidated and there isn't much to do. I was able to sort through my food box, enjoy a couple of lattes, wash our clothes and make a few phone calls all within a few hours.

We met some new PCTers today including Professor Party Tent, Hatchet and Steamroller. All of us sat under the covered porch of the store as the rain started once again. During a brief break in the story weather we hit the trail with B, G, Wrangler and Don't Panic.

About 10 minutes later the rain worsened and turned into hail. It was exhilarating and, I don't know, sort of freeing to hike through weather like that. I found myself humming along as I made my way through the forest of mountain hemlocks. I may have even danced to Singin' in the Rain.

August 17, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-23T18:12:00.000-07:00

Destination: North shore of pond in Diamond Peak Wilderness
Miles: 22.5

Adrian: The rain is starting to drip through a few seams on the tent as the droplets increase in size and speed. Kirsten is applying seamsealer to the problem areas but it's clear we'll have to wait until tomorrow when, hopefully, it will dry. We're running low on sealer so we have make it last. So, then, until tomorrow morning, drip, drip, drip...

We are camped at an unmapped and unnamed pond about 4 miles from the road to Shelter Cove.

Kirsten: We took it easy today and wiled away a couple of hours at Summit Lake before moving back onto the trail. It was a wonderful swim and the water was brisk. After I got out and dried off I looked into the water and noticed a leech. As I announced my discovery there were pants dropping everywhere as a leech check ensued. Luckily, we all came out unscathed.

Lorenzo's prediction was right on and around 6 p.m. tonight the thunder, which had been rumbling at a distance all afternoon, was soon right overhead. Large raindrops soon followed and everyone (Lil' Wrangler, Lorenzo and Don't Panic) bailed into the shelters. I think Lil' Wrangler ended up hanging out in the rain and building a fire because after the rain stopped I got out of the tent to discover a raging campfire.

Tomorrow we'll head into Shelter Cove where I hope to run into Beautiful and Gorgeous. Oh, that reminds me ... my birthday is coming up and I know you all probably want to send gifts. For those of you who are interested send gifts to me Kirsten Korosec, general delivery Cascade Locks, OR. Not that I'm expecting anything. :)

August 16, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-23T18:07:00.000-07:00

Destination: Saddle near lakelet, Mt. Thielsen Wilderness
Miles: 25

Kirsten: Our loosely formed group has stayed together for another day and I think everyone is enjoying the company. Adrian seems to get along with Lil' Wrangler and Don't Panic well and they all have a fairly similar hiking style. Don't Panic is a mellow and patient guy, just like Adrian and I can see those two becoming friends.

The day was fairly uneventful until late afternoon when a thunderstorm developed. We all hiked towards the saddle as the clouds, which had been threatening to unload most of the afternoon finally did. Thunder cracked and a light rain fell for maybe a half an hour. At one point I turned and looked behind me just as a bolt of lightening struck several miles away. The thunder exploded less than 30 seconds later right above our heads as we hurried along the trail. Moments later the sky quieted and we made it into camp. Lorenzo predicts a bigger storm tomorrow and I wouldn't be surprised. The rain today was short-lived especially in comparison to the widespread cloud buildup. It seems as if the atmosphere is still unsettled and has more storms in store for us all.

August 15, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-23T18:04:00.000-07:00

Destination: Thielsen Creek, Mt. Thielsen Wilderness
Miles: 20

Adrian: Today I climbed Mt. Thielsen with Don't Panic, Clearwater, Walker Wolf and Mark. It's a magnificent peak with great exposure and is without a doubt one of the best peak bags on the PCT and features a steep ridge on ok rock and a steep headwall to the summit. The weather was perfect and we could see Crater Lake to the south and Sisters to the north. A fire burned to the northwest about 20 miles away and a westerly wind blew the smoke toward the trail.

The berry season is upon us and it will get much better in the coming weeks. We had the sweetest blackberries in the lower elevations and now huckleberries higher up. The huckleberry is a relative of the blueberry and grows on a similar bush except that it is a bit higher.

We had a campfire and were very close to an ice cold spring fed creek. A great ending to another awesome day.

Kirsten: Another great day on the trail. I did have a few struggles in the middle of the day because of the heat. I had imagined Oregon as a lush Rivendale. The trail today and the few days coming into Crater Lake have been hot and dry. We spent much of the morning and afternoon walking through the Oregon desert, a waterless and lodgepole pine stunted forest north of Crater Lake.

Once we reached Mount Thielsen the day improved. The heat subsided and we all relaxed at the Thielsen trailhead. It was wonderful seeing Adrian so excited to tackle the climb. I think his enthusiasm rubbed off on some of the others and soon a whole group was headed up the hill.

I opted to stay behind and after 20-minute rest headed down to the creek. I can't explain how relaxing it was to wash up by the creek and then set up camp before dark. Lil' Wrangler, Kach and Chris set up camp in the same area. Adrian and Don't Panic showed about two hours later and we all enjoyed a small campfire before heading off to bed.

August 14, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-23T18:01:00.000-07:00

Destination: Along rim of Crater Lake
Miles: 14 miles

Adrian: We hiked into Crater Lake National Park, our 5th of the trip, and made our way to Mazama Village. Here we collected our resupply box, had a beer and organized our food for the next 84 miles to Shelter Cove Resort, where our next box will be. We also ate at an all-you-can-eat breakfast, took showers and did laundry.

We thanked Moonpie for caching some water for us on the rim, thus cutting about 7 miles out of the 25-mile waterless section coming up. After that we hiked up to the rim.

This park is amazing. A bunch of us stealth camped right on the rim and enjoyed one of the best sunsets we've seen yet at the same time the full moon rose over the lake. One of the best nights on the trail yet!

Kirsten: I'm not sure if it was humming along to Bolero with Lorenzo, Lil' Wrangler, Adrian and Don't Panic or our campsite overlooking the Crater Lake. Maybe it was the sky with its charcoal wisps of clouds that slowly turned orange and then gold. Or the nearly full moon that rose over the east rim and cast its shadow over the lake below. Hell, maybe it was the wine. Whatever it was I could say this has been one of my best days on the trail.

It started with our arrival early this morning to Mazama Village, located within Crater Lake National Park. We hit Annie's Creek restaurant first for the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. After we had our fill we walked to the camp store where we collected our boxes, took showers and did our laundry.

We hiked the steep 4.5-mile trail up to Rim Village and ate one more meal before setting off again. I had an embarrassing moment at store in Rim Village. I had just showered and washed my clothes so when I was browsing the racks of souvenirs I assumed the funky cheese smell was coming from Lil' Wrangler, who was nearby. He turned to me and asked if it was him that smelled and it was then we realized that both of us reeked. It seems that all of us including Adrian are suffering from moldy backpack straps. This is a new development and after 1,800 miles shouldn't be a surprise. Still I was shocked and disgusted by my stinky shoulders.

We left the overpriced cafe at Rim Village and hiked for a few hours until we discovered a camp spot located on a saddle overlooking the rim. We cracked our Gatorade bottles filed with wine and took in the views - first to the east where Crater Lake lay below us and then to the west as the sun lit up the clouds as it sank into the horizon.

August 13, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-23T17:59:00.001-07:00

Destination: Just inside Crater Lake National Park
Miles: 27.5

Adrian: The sting has gotten better regarding the swelling, but the itching continues. It feels so good to itch it.

The mosquitoes are back and while they are hit or miss, when they do they hit hard. We used deet for the first time in a while. Our supply is running low so we'll have to pick some up in Mazama Village at Crater Lake. Our box is there too.

We've done some decent mileage today and are in great position to get into Mazama early since its only 5 miles away. Our plan is to do laundry, shower and eat.

We've been hiking and camping on and off with Lorenzo and Clearwater. We are all having a great time and casually running into each other all day.

The trail has been staying quite high and traversing the tops of many ridges. We've left Sky Lakes Wilderness and entered Crater Lake National Park. We are excited to see the attraction and plan to camp on the rim for sunset and sunrise viewing.

Kirsten: We had some of the best views in Oregon this morning as we walked a ridge in the Sky Lakes Wilderness. We met our first southbound thru-hiker along the ridge.

As we descended the ridge into Douglas fir forest the butterflies were thicker than the mosquitoes at times. I occasionally had to slow down to avoid stepping on them.

My food situation would be a crisis if we weren't getting into Crater Lake tomorrow morning. I spent large chunks of the day hungry and this isn't fun for Adrian. I know what a lack of food does to me so I've been trying my hardest to keep my head. I've done a pretty good job of rationing. I figure if I ever get captured by guerillas this skill might come in handy.

August 12, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-23T17:56:00.000-07:00

Destination: Sky Lakes Trail Junction
Miles: 25.2

Adrian: This morning the sting was stiff and quite swollen. On top of that, it itches like hell. All day it feels like this.

We hiked past Mt. McLoughlin, a magnificent peak. Kirsten, Lorenzo and I were tempted to do the 5-hour detour to climb it, but we were low on food and need to get to our boxes waiting at Crater Lake National Park.

In the evening we hiked a short time with Don't Panic, something we haven't done since Idyllwild. That's over 1,650 miles ago! He's a great guy.

I heard Sparky is way ahead. Too bad, I would like to hike with him again. On we go...

Kirsten: Adrian mentioned being low on food. This doesn't quite describe my situation. I'm not sure how I got so low on food. I think I put all my treats and such in the boxes sent to Crater Lake and Shelter Cove. I have good food. There just isn't enough.

Moonpie has affected my food choices probably more than any other hiker on the trail. This time around I have bagels, blueberry cream cheese, carrots, apples, peanut butter and pepper jack cheese. You're probably thinking "Cream cheese in a backpack?" If its placed far enough into a pack cheese and other products like it will keep for about four or five days.

August 7, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-23T17:53:00.000-07:00

Destination: Best Western, Ashland, OR.
Miles: 16

Adrian: Got some great trail magic today in the form of three coolers with soda, water and beer. It's truly amazing what hiking will do for the taste of Natural Ice beer. I had two by 9 a.m. :)

I should backtrack and mention that we were camped with Beauty and Gorgeous (b and g from here on out), and Pothead. We were pleasantly surprised to see Moonpie and Uncle Lorenzo show up at about 7 a.m. I enjoy hiking with both of these fine friends and hope we can stick together for a while.

Kirsten and I were hiking swiftly along with our music players on and we totally missed a crucial spring before a long waterless section. I found our mistake on the map only when we were a half-mile passed the spring. Bummed, we took our packs off and quickly hiked back to the spring with our water bottles. Turns out the spring was gushing loudly just a few feet off the trail, though we were totally oblivious of that due to our music players. Thank God I found our error soon enough!

Moonpie had some friends meeting her at Callahan's and she took off for the road to Ashland. A few minutes later while we were all getting water near the Ashland Inn and playing with the resident Golden Retriever, Powder, I decided to take off after Moonpie who I know was trucking to catch her friends. Little did I know that Beautiful also decided to take off soon after me, so us three did some fast miles trying to catch one another. So much fun!

Kirsten: Meanwhile, Gorgeous and I chatted as we hiked along about where we should take our next trip. We discussed various hiking and kayaking trips, of course.

We arrived at the road about 15 minutes behind the leaders. B, G and Miss P. were not going to go into Ashland for resupply. So we said our goodbyes and almost immediately got a ride from two girls and a guy, who all work at Callahan's, a well-known restaurant and lodge.

Our hitch was amazing and as we drove through Ashland they stopped to point out the good grocery stores, coffee shops and eateries. As they dropped us off the two girls gave me their cell numbers just in case I had any questions.

The town itself is picturesque with its cafes, boutiques and theatres all tucked below rolling, forested hills. We decided to skip the hostel and get our own room at the Best Western next door. We ate a late lunch, picked up our box at the Post Office and bought some new shoes, a purchase I've been looking forward to for weeks.

Later we decided to eat dinner at the Indian restaurant in town. We were finishing our meal when the owner, Deep, a younger man from Indian, came over started chatting with us. Before I knew it he was handing me a colorful sari, which belongs to his mother. He insisted I take the sari, saying his mother, who lives in India, no longer wears these bright and flashy saris. Unbelievable. I get to Oregon and someone gives me a sari.

I should mention that our friend Stephen, who joined us for three days out of South Lake Tahoe, is a dad now. His wife, Saskia, had Conrad today. Go Saskia!

August 06, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-23T17:50:00.000-07:00

Destination: 5-way road junction on Long John Saddle
Miles: 26

Adrian:
Mini-series to be continued...

Today was historic for us as we passed into Oregon at mile 1,698.8 and celebrated with Beautiful, Gorgeous, and Miss Potato Head. Beautiful packed in two beers that we drank at the border. The line is located on an uphill section with a trail register and simple wooden sign nailed to a tree reading, "Oregon / California". We finally made it out of the state that lasts forever! It's an amazing state with such diversity and awesome natural resources. The fires have been bad this year, but they are a big part of what summer in California is all about. Thanks Cali, it's been a wonderful, long, strange trip.

Kirsten:
I got a little misty today thinking about how far we've come, how much we've gone through since leaving the Mexican border more than three months ago. I thought about how weak I was when we started. I actually a little surprised I made it through those early days. I wonder why I made it and others have not. The only reason I've come up with is my steadfast belief that it would get an easier as time went on. I really believed and still do that tomorrow will be better that today. It's a bit delusional, I know. There are still many days or parts of days where I think, "This is the hardest part yet." You'd think I would start losing faith. That's not to say I haven't absolutely miserable, break-down-and-cry-because-you-can't-pound-your-tent-stake-in kind of moments. Tantrums - silent or balls out fist flying scenes - happen on the trail. It's what happens after that seems to separate those who can rise above their bad moments and those who continue to pick at it.

August 4, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-23T17:46:00.000-07:00

Destination: Seiad Valley Campground
Miles: 0

Adrian: Part three of a series...
Your pack is on, trekking poles in hand, and sunglasses at the ready. As you hike there are things to consider. Will you be talking? If so, you'll have to have to follow Kirsten close enough to hold a conversation, which means you'll also be close enough to breath in, and get covered by, all the dust kicked up by her. The dust comes from a mixture of soil, dried plant material and several different types of shit. Think cow, horse, bear, wildcat and human urine. So yeah, hike real close to Kirsten and take deep breaths between sentences. Sweat a bit too as this will help the dust stick to your face, neck and hair. We don't talk much on the trail when it’s really dusty. Pine needles, rocks and other materials can help keep the dust to a minimum, so choose your conversation time wisely. Otherwise, stay about 20 yards behind your hiking partner to keep yourself relatively free of the filth...or be the first in the line of hikers.
In about two hours you can start looking for a good place to take your first break.
To be continued...

After a fitful sleep, we walked to Bob's for breakfast and then came back to pack up and go to the Post Office to ship the bounce bucket up to Sisters, OR. I wanted to ship it to Ashland, but it might not make it there in time so it goes to Sisters about 3/4 the way through Oregon.

We caught the 12:22 p.m. bus to Yreka and resupplied out of a Riley's Food Store and a General Dollar Store. We bought some party hats and leis for picture taking at the California / Oregon border. That's right, in a couple days we'll be leaving California. It's been such a long state and I never thought about finishing it until just recently because if its vastness. We've been in it for over 101 days and 1,600 miles.
Thoughts of actually finishing the hike are beginning to enter my mind for the first time as well. I know we have another 1,000 miles to go, but spirits are high.

Tonight we are having a weenie roast with other hikers at the campground. Seiad Valley Cafe is home to the famous pancake challenge that Kirsten wanted to participate in. Alas, tomorrow is Tuesday and they are closed on Monday and Tuesday. Because of this fact, we'll be hiking out tomorrow morning instead of afternoon, which I prefer anyway as a pancake is just a pancake.

The hike tomorrow starts with a 4,200-foot climb in the morning! Stay tuned for that freak show...

Kirsten: If we didn't just have an awesome wienie roast I would be disappointed about the pancake challenge. The pancakes served at this cafe are one pound. The pancake challenge is five pancakes, therefore five pounds of delicious batter.

The owner of the store offered to contact the cafe proprietor to open the restaurant up for us. It's just as well as that it's closed. Five pounds of pancakes and a hot, exposed and steep climb out of the valley probably don't mix.

We've reconnected with Miss Potato Head, Beautiful and Gorgeous and will hopefully be together when we cross into Oregon.

August 11, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-15T23:12:00.000-07:00

Destination: South Fork Little Butte River
Miles: 26

Adrian: We got out of camp around 6:50 a.m. and made slow time all morning for some reason. I bought new Nikes in Ashland and am still breaking them in, so my feet are a bit tender. Things should be worked out soon.

We enter Rogue River National Forest, which features vast pine plantations. Section B gets sour reviews, but if you big forests mixed in with a small bit of logging, it's fine. Water is scarce here and we have to leave trail to get it most times. I'll have to increase my water capacity for after Crater Lake there are 25 miles segments without water.

While walking today I got stung by something fierce on my right calf, near the bottom. It hit and then kept stinging until I was able to swipe it away. It hurt. It hurt so much I had to look at it to make sure it wasn't a snakebite. So it continued to hurt all day and then it mellowed out at night.

Today we hiked through the Sky Lakes Wilderness, staying high above the numerous lakes below. A light breeze blew into the thick pine forest. Spanish moss look-alike hung from the tree branches and bright green lichen clung to the trunk.

Kirsten: Wow, Adrian let me know when you've traded in your skirt and are ready hike with the rest of us. Actually I hike in a skirt so I just ripped on myself. Although I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have cried like a baby after getting stung. His ankle does look a little nasty though.

We met a couple today from Switzerland, Mamma Mia and Philip. There are a number of overseas hikers on the trail. The Swiss couple, Lorenzo, a couple from Belgium called the Belgian Waffles, Germinator from Germany and a number of others. Mamma Mia was so positive about her time here. She said a number of people, all strangers, had taken them in along the trail. It's comforting to know these overseas travelers will leave the United States with a good impression. Our country certainly some positive PR these days.

August 10, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-15T23:08:00.000-07:00

Destination: Just past a spring fed faucet
Miles: 22

Adrian: We got a late start out of Bob's place after dropping off Rooster at the hostel.

The trail wound up past Pilot Rock near Mt. Ashland, a ski area and into rolling Douglas fir trees.

We camped with Clearwater and Lorenzo next to a gravel road and slept well. We didn't get the 25 miles in we wanted, but we hope to make it up tomorrow with some bigger miles. We have no real schedule to keep and we have a little extra food, so we might ease up on the 25-mile days we planned on to make it to Crater Lake National Park.

I promise to bring back the mini-series soon. It has been hard finding the time to write during the day.

I weighed myself last night a came in at 165, about 15 pounds off my starting weight of 180. Not bad but I hope to lose a bit more before its over.

Walk good...

Kirsten: Getting started today was easier than I expected. I didn't have the typical town hangover and was excited to get on the trail.

Tonight we are camped with Lorenzo and Clearwater. Moonpie should be maybe two miles behind us. I expect she'll pass us tomorrow since she has to get to crater Lake by 5 p.m. Wednesday. Hiking with Lorenzo has been entertaining. He is always singing to himself and shouting exclamations like "I ah like ah too much" or "Bellisimo!" Sometimes his accent throws me off a bit. His English has improved significantly. Oftentimes I speak a Spanglish type dialect since he is fluent in Spanish as well as French.

August 9, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-15T23:04:00.001-07:00

Destination: Bob's
Miles: 0

Adrian: A double zero! Boom! It will take eight 25-mile days to make up this time off. Guess what? Who cares, not I. This was worth it.

Yesterday, after a nice evening watching the opening ceremonies from China we slept well. In the morning we cooked blueberry pancakes, sausage, eggs, coffee, orange juice, and French bread.

We went into town for various reasons and spent about 3 hours there. After coming home I helped Bob fix some irrigation pipe in the pasture.

The gentleman who was with Bob, named Bob, visited this evening with his wife, Linda, and brought some home made lasagna. A great evening with great people. We rounded it out with some Olympics, watching Phelps capture a gold in the 400m medley.

Ashford is a great town. One of the best on the trail.

Kirsten: Last night as we sipped wine and stuffed our faces as politely as possible, Bob threw out an idea and then watched it bounce around our heads. "So, you know we have some hammocks here. Maybe you all should consider resting here another. You're more than welcome to stay."

And there it was sitting out in the open. No one said anything and dinner along with chit chat conversation resumed. Of course everyone thought about it and by morning most decisions were made. I needed another day of rest. I wasn't sure if Adrian felt the same way. So I waited. And waited. Our backpacks were sitting ready to go by the door. As our leisurely breakfast continued and I didn't notice any anxious fidgeting I knew we would stay after all.

Bob has been an amazing host. He should probably be sainted for his patience and generosity. I mean he invited five stinky hikers into his home. These are folks who typically eat on the ground, lick their cook pots clean and dig catholes to go to the bathroom. Bob, I don't know what was going through your head when you welcomed us into home. Whatever it was, thank you.

August 8, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-15T22:57:00.000-07:00

Destination: Bob's House
Miles: 0

Adrian: One of my best friends and his wife brought a baby boy into this world yesterday. Steve and Saskia welcomed Conrad into the family yesterday. I'm so happy and proud of all three. God bless! I can't wait to see the youngster.

Thanks Tanya, Bostjan, and Mike for signing the guestbook. These three great people remind me of my home and heritage. Delafield, Kamnik, Slovenia, and Menomonee Falls...all great places with great people.

Sometimes you meet special people and special things happen. Bob has a wonderful home and made us feel quite welcome. His organic cattle pasture, pond and landscaping has made for a very comfortable stay. With Bob's persuasion, we are taking a zero here and staying for two nights. Thanks Bob!

Bob lent us his truck to resupply for Oregon. We are shipping four boxes to various points north because there simply are no towns close enough to the trail to resupply at. It was quite a job to buy so much food, box it up, and ship it out. Some shipment locations are only serviced by UPS and others by USPS. Yes, a logistical headache, but necessary.

Bob treated us to a wonderful dinner and opened a bottle of 1996 Paulliac that perfectly complimented the New York strip and shrimp.

Life is good right now...

Kirsten: Um, I'm not really sure what Adrian's implying. Special people? Special things happen? I'm picturing soft light and Hummel statues.

We have met some amazing PCTers and other folks including Bob Baumann. We met Bob at the Etna Brewery. He had just finished a hike with his friend, also named Bob. As dirty, smelly hikers we didn't exactly blend in. The two Bobs started asking us questions about our hike and before we knew it an invitation had been extended to stay at Bob No.1's house in Ashland. He handed us his business card and we went our separate ways. Enough trail magic has happened to us that we took his offer seriously. I no longer worry "Did he really mean it?" A common and cynical reaction many of us suffer from back in the real world.

When we arrived in Ashland I gave Bob a call and left a message. Within a couple hours Bob had returned our call and offered up his house and car. This morning Adrian, Moonpie and I shopped for our Oregon resupplies, about 470 miles of food, which we will ship ahead to various lodges and towns.

After we shopped and shipped, Adrian, Moonpie, Rooster, Clearwater and I went to Bob's, where we spoiled with wine, dinner, real beds and laundry. Nothing short of a miracle.

August 5, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-15T22:50:00.000-07:00

Destination: Junction with old PCT, mile 1,684.5
Miles: 23

Adrian: Part four of the series will be continued...

Hi. I fell behind on the journal and won't be able to catch up, but I'll continue tomorrow. Please stay tuned.

Kirsten: What a slacker. To be fair I am usually the one who falls behind on the journal. I think about what I want to write while I'm hiking and will generally "catch up" every few days.

The climb today went well, largely due to our 6 a.m. start. We lunched with Beautiful, Gorgeous and Miss P. Later, Johnny Two Stoves, Lil' Wrangler, Cache and Chris showed up.

Beautiful has been carrying cardboard around with the intent of making small awards for some hikers. I think Lil' Wrangler was given smelliest fart. I concur with Beautiful's choice. One of these days I'll have to write about farting and pooping on the trail because I know you all secretly want to read about it. I mean, come on, it's the first thing that would pop into my mind if I had just met a thru-hiker. "So where do you ... um, you know, go to the bathroom?" Or, "How many catholes did you say you've dug?"

I'll spare our readers for now. Just know that at some point I'll write about the topic.

August 3, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-07T08:29:00.000-07:00

Destination: Etna Motel, Etna
Miles: 14

Adrian: Part two of a series...
Out of the tent you go and as you do you grab your sleeping pad thus emptying the tent of all its contents.

Placing the sleep pad next to the tent and all the items you've placed outside the door, you sit down and prepare breakfast. Go ahead and take the stove and windscreen out of the cook pot and pour about 2 cups of cereal (usually granola or Cap'n Crunch Berries) into it along with about a half a cup powdered milk and finally a little under two cups milk. Stir and enjoy. When finished pour some water into the cookpot and wash it out the best you can with as much water as you can spare (sometimes you are dry camping in a long waterless section, sometimes you are next to a river). Yes, the next meal may taste a bit like cereal if you can't spare water, but the cereal tasted a bit like pad Thai from the night before so who cares.

Take an energy bar and some dried fruit out of the food bag for your mid-morning snack. Put that stuff into the mesh pocket on the outside of your pack so you don't need to unpack all your stuff to get at it in a couple hours.

Now, if things are regular, take the tissue paper and go for a walk off trail into the woods. Dig a "cat hole" 6 inches deep, make your deposit, and bury the treasure. Clean your hands with the gel alcohol...this is very important.

In camp, fold and roll the tent (hopefully Kirsten has pulled the stakes and poles as agreed upon). Pack your backpack by putting the sleeping bag in first followed by the clothing, food, stove/pot, windscreen, personal items, maps and wind breaker jacket. Fold and insert the sleeping pad into the back of the pack and close the top. Oh yeah, and don't forget to brush your teeth too!
Before hiking away from camp be sure to check the map for water sources and make sure you've got enough to make it. If you are on time, it should be around 6:30 a.m. when you begin the day’s hike. If you're not on time, you will have to make it up with fewer rests and more time at the end of the day. Enjoy the morning hours, as they are the best of the day.
To be continued...

Rooster left very early to hike into town and we left a bit later because we were going to hitch it. Rooster is going to hike around the closure tomorrow too while we take a bus. We've had enough of the smoke around the area and done with dangerous road walks.

We entered the Russian Wilderness and for a time re-entered a granitic realm that looks, and actually is out of place here. The tread was pretty rocky and there were many hidden climbs in the last few miles of the hike. The road was pretty quiet but we got a ride in about 20 minutes from a guy and his son who was running supplies to the fire lines in the area.

We stopped in the historic town of Etna and had some beer and burgers at the local brew pub. After lunch we went to the motel, did laundry (for the first time in a few weeks!), and hung out till dinner at Bob's Ranch House down the road (mediocre food).

Later we watched The Wedding Crashers with Squatch, Cache, Chris, and Landshark. Went to bed pretty late, but tomorrow is a zero day.

Walk good...

Kirsten: Moonpie came up with a wienie roast idea. Yes, three cheers for nitrates! I left a note for our friends (Lil' wrangler, Beautiful, Gorgeous, Mr. Clean, Chris, etc.)

The idea is meant to celebrate our "almost" crossing into Oregon. I'm calling it the "Damn-We're-So-Close-Oregon-We-Can- Nearly-Taste-It Wienie Roast."

Etna, by the way, is such a neat little Norman Rockwell town. The streets were emptied when we arrived because it’s a Sunday. The only restaurant open is the brewery, which offered burgers, salads and several locally brewed beers.

Guess what today's highlight was? Laundry. This may gross some folks out. I haven’t done laundry in a washing machine since Truckee. I've washed my clothes in rivers, sinks and showers. It's not like I'm a vagrant. Don't judge!

August 2, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-07T08:17:00.001-07:00

Destination: Saddle on border of the Russian Wilderness
Miles: 26

Adrian: This is how a day goes on the PCT. Part one of a series:

Alarm goes off at 5:45 a.m., but you've been up 10 minutes prior. The sun is just rising, and if you have a clear view east you can watch it do so. This morning you're camped in Scott campground on a wooded saddle with no view.

You reach down to the foot of the tarp tent and grab the backpack that has all your loose items and the food bag and put it outside the tent.

Reaching into the clothing stuff sack, you grab the running shorts and nylon long pants you've been wearing for the last 101 days. The pants go on over the shorts while in camp because it's quite cold up in these mountains during the early morning hours. The long sleeve, lightweight capilene top comes off and the sweaty, long sleeved desert shirt goes back on. Whipping around in the tent you put the socks on that you rinsed in the stream the afternoon before and finally your shoes go on.

Everything else in the tent that is yours gets put outside the door of the tent. Then, out you go.
To be continued...

A section hiker came into camp late last night asking about the facilities. He turned out to be a nice guy doing the PCT in something like three or four sections. He was asleep when we left but caught up to us later in the day.

We leave the Trinity Alps Wilderness tomorrow and enter the Russian Wilderness. The nearby Quartz Wilderness is closed due to fire.
The day today was hard with lots of ups and downs. I felt like we earned all these miles and that there were no "gimmes" today. We did well and there are only 14 miles till Etna Summit road where we hitch into town!

Stay tuned...

Kirsten: Adrian forgot to mention how part of his morning routine involves gassing out the tent before quickly ducking out. I'm convinced he does this in an effort to get me moving in the morning.

I'm pretty bummed about the fire closure. We haven't skipped a single section yet. Although I suppose one could argue that the biking portion wasn't a "hike." I'm letting Adrian decide what we should about the closure. I'm pretty sure we'll end up taking a bus from Etna to Seiad Valley.

I don't want to skip. I also am sick of walking through smoke and haze. I'd rather hike on the actual trail. So I hope to return to this area on hike this section without the fire.

August 1, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-07T08:13:00.000-07:00

Destination: Scott Mountain Summit, Highway 3
Miles: 31

Adrian: A record day for on trail miles! After what might be the best sunrise of the trip, Moonpie, Kirsten and I started hiking at 6:40 a.m. (Moonpie a bit earlier) and finished at 8:30 p.m. (me a bit earlier). We all felt solid right to the end and could have put more miles in if we felt we needed to. We are trying to minimize the miles required on Sunday into Etna so we have more time to do town stuff.

The smoke was worse today than it ever has been on our trip. Visibility was about 1 mile and our throats; nose and eyes were feeling the effects. It feels claustrophobic with no views due to smoke. I hope the wind changes tonight.

38 miles to Etna Summit, where the closure starts and we hitch into town. I can only hope the smoke clears...even just a little bit.

Kirsten: I was convinced I was getting a head cold. And then I realized I've been hiking through smoke for days. My throat has been scratchy for the past day and my eyes feel red. I say, "feel" because I don't have a mirror.

I can't believe how good my feet are holding up after 31 miles. I only hope this is a sign of what's to come.

July 31, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-07T08:10:00.001-07:00

Destination: View of Lake Siskiyou
Miles: 22

Adrian: We started a 4,200-foot climb first thing in the morning. Just when you think your 4,000-foot plus climbs are over…boom! It took from 7 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. to do 7 miles. It was uphill all day, and we hiked for 13 hours with only about 4 short rests to make 22 miles by dusk. Not the most productive day mile-wise, that's for sure.

Moonpie, Chris and Clean hiked with us. We found a nice large spot without too many cow patties. It faces east so sunrise should be wonderful with Shasta in the background.

Kirsten: It was a rough day for me. For one, I decided to take gum with me, courtesy of Lil' Wrangler. I chewed so much of it as I tackled the climb that my jaw was almost too sore to eat dinner.

Our progress was slow today. It was as if we were back at Campo. Tomorrow is supposed to be easier and I hope to put in some big miles.

July 30, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-07T08:02:00.001-07:00

Destination: Sulphur Creek, Castle Crag Wilderness
Miles: 12

Adrian: This morning I woke up to a diesel engine firing and workers talking. Camped just inside Castle Crags State Park, we were a bit too close to a logging zone. Earplugs helped for a small time but fear of a 300-foot redwood crashing down on our tent prodded us along.

We completed the quick 5-mile jaunt down to the I-5 and to the small town of Castella. Todd, an eccentric citizen of Orange County, gave us a quick ride to the Chevron where we resupplied for the 100-mile hike into Etna. The fire closure is still in effect from Etna Summit northbound, and people are recommending a bus trip to Seiad Valley, thus skipping 55.8 miles of the trail.

Today we entered Castle Crags Wilderness and left Castle Crags State Park. Towering white granite spires are the gem of this park.

We took showers and clean some clothes at the park campground while other hikers caught a ride into town. We wanted to get going so we could be in Etna by Sunday night. That way, if we needed to, we could catch a bus to Yreka and onward to Seiad Valley.

We hiked up the Bob's Hat trail to the PCT and met up with Moonpie again and met Rooster for the first time. We camped at Sulphur creek, which was very nice and quite spacious for all four of us.

Kirsten: I've discovered a new trick for getting through tough parts of the trail. It's called daydreaming. I did this yesterday and got so involved in my daydream that we had completed 15 miles before I even realized it. My daydream got pretty random. It went something like this: I was hiking out to the Canadian border with Beautiful and Gorgeous and I was maybe 400 yards ahead. Then out of nowhere I see a dark blur moving toward me. A bear! It knocks me over and I barely and able to yell, "Bear!" And then the bear swipes at me, scratching my arm. Out of nowhere the girls run up and fight off the bear. Chaos ensues. Fast-forward two weeks. I hold a gala dinner for them at some fancy hotel with dinner and dancing. I meet Tony Bennett in the elevator and convince him to entertain for the event.

So this is what happens when you have a lot of time on your hands.

We reunited with Moonpie today! It's funny how everything works out. I was sort mad at Adrian for making me hike out of Castella instead of going to the new Batman movie with Lil' Wrangler, Beautiful, Gorgeous and Johnny Two Stoves. And just as I was starting to get over it we run into Moonpie. If all goes well we will be hiking with B & G and the rest of those guys soon.

July 29, 2008 Pacific Crest Trail

2008-08-07T07:57:00.000-07:00

Destination: Just inside Castle Crags State Park
Miles: 25.5

Adrian: A special thanks to Steven, Suzy, Sven, Cuddles and Holly for signing the guest book. We miss you guys!

So, I should start by saying that today we hit the 3-month mark of our trip. It's been a great few months with many ups and downs. I can honestly say that I truly feel trail hardened and accustomed to life on the PCT, which makes life a lot easier. We need to pick up the pace and reduce days off if we want to finish by Oct. 1, but we couldn't be more pleased with how things are going. I no longer wonder if I can finish the trail, I know I can, I just need to stay healthy.

What a difference a day can make with smoke. Today it was totally hazy and visibility was cut down to about 3 miles. Shasta, which was in full view yesterday, is completely hidden from view even though it is only 15 or so miles to the north. Ouch.

We ran into Miss Potato Head today, hiking with her the first time. We had a great time-sharing new trail gossip and news about old friends on the trail. We also found out Beautiful and Gorgeous are not far behind while Lil' Wrangler, Squatch and a few others are heading southbound for a bit and will be catching up with us in or around Castella.

We arrive Castella tomorrow after a 6 miles morning walk. We were thinking of hitching up to Mt. Shasta City for a motel and meals, but we've decided to try and resupply out of the store in the small town of Castella. We'll save time and money employing this strategy, but will not be able to do laundry and have a good selection of trail food. A world of trade-offs.

Today's hike started with a 1,500-foot climb followed by a 1,300-foot descent followed by a 2,100-foot ascent followed by a 2,000-foot descent. The trail was well graded so the climbing was not too hard and the descents not too punishing. There are still plenty of springs in the area, so water is plentiful and safe to drink untreated.

Tomorrow we'll try and still do 15 miles even though we need to hitch, take showers, do laundry by hand, eat, resupply and relax. We also need to get info on the fire near Etna that has the trail closed. Let's hope for the best!

Kirsten: So I want my $20 now from any of you who sided with Adrian and thought we would head into Mount Shasta City as originally planned.

We met - as Adrian mentioned - Miss Potato Head and hiked with her for most of the day. We passed through quite a few clear-cut areas and our campsite is surrounded by logging operations. Toward the end of the day we found ourselves crawling over recently downed trees and branches. I realize that logging operations are bound to happen. Walking through them is a bummer especially when the trees are lying haphazardly along the trail.