Kauai

I have spent most of my winter working in Alaska, but I took a break from the cold for a solo trip to Kauai in February.  In addition to seeing the main sights, I was able to get in 40 miles of hiking and run in a local 10k.

Waipo'o Falls Trail

Fresh coffee 

Wailua Falls 

Near Kapa'a

Hiking Sleeping Giant

Butterfly on the Kalalau Trail

Waimea Canyon

Na Pali Coast from the Kalalau Trail

Na Pali Coast

Renaming the blog

This blog was created for my hike of the Continental Divide Trail.  As I have decided to keep posting my other adventures, "CDT 2012" will no longer do.  The new name is a reference to my favorite song, "I don't mind" by the Tobasco Donkeys (which is based around several Edward Abbey quotes).

Blanca Lake, Mt. Rainier, and Mt. Shuksan

The northwest had a wonderfully clear September, which made for great end-of-summer adventures.

Blanca Lake

I have been meaning to hike to Blanca Lake since seeing a friend's photos a couple years ago.  I was not disappointed--the weather was clear and the lake was a brilliant turquoise.

Blanca Lake's signature color

Mt. Rainier

The weather was agreeable for an end of summer climb of Mt. Rainier.  This was my fourth climb and second summit.

On the way up to Camp Muir

Ice axe self-arrest practice

Setting up the belay system for crevasse practice

Practicing crevasse rescue

Sunrise over Mount Tahoma

A successful climb

Mt. Shuksan

At 9,131', Mt. Shuksan is Washington's ninth highest peak.  It is a fantastic climb--not so high as to cause altitude problems, a pretty approach hike, a few crevasses, and a rock scramble to the top.

Camped on the glacier

Mt. Baker from camp

Attempting to get an early start

Crevasses below the summit pyramid

On top

Harrison rappelling down from the top

Mountain goat

A Road Trip and a Conclusion

In 2006, there were two sections of the PCT that were closed due to fire.  A couple weeks ago I went on a road trip in an attempt to make them up.

I started in Sisters, Oregon to hike 17 miles between McKenzie and Santiam Passes.  I completed it in a day before heading to Bend to visit friends from the PCT.

On the PCT, Mt. Washington in the background.

My plan was to then hike a section in the Marble Mountain Wilderness, near Etna, California.  Unfortunately, road construction made the shuttle between endpoints prohibitively long, so I headed over to Mt. Shasta.  I hiked up the 14,179' peak via the Clear Creek Route.

The summit of Mt. Shasta.

I hoped to climb Lassen Peak while in the area, but the trail was closed for maintenance.  This allowed me to spend more time in Sebastopol with another PCT friend and his wife.  We went into San Francisco and then out to the coast, where there were whales within a couple hundred yards of the shore.

Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge.

On the way north, I spent the night in the redwoods before visiting friends in Eugene and Portland.

The Tall Trees Grove after camping along Redwood Creek.

Hiking through the Lady Bird Johnson Grove as the fog was breaking.

Finally, I will not be returning to the CDT.  I have been waiting for the day when I wake up with an itch to get back on the trail, but that has not happened.  Right now, I do not have the deep drive the trail requires.  My only regret is that I will not be able to spend more time hiking with the good friends I made along the way; the trail itself will always be there.  I would like to thank everyone who supported me along the way and helped me learn about myself and what I value.

My next adventure will hopefully be non-adventure.  Living out of a duffle bag or backpack for the last couple years has been a valuable experience, but I think I am ready to be in my own bed at the end of most days.

My last few weeks

I have been having a great time since coming home from the trail.  Here are a few photos.

I am heading out tomorrow down to Oregon and northern California to make up two sections of the PCT that I missed in 2006.  I will be visiting friends along the way, and hope to climb Mt. Shasta and Lassen Peak while I am down there.  Clement will be finishing northern Montana in the second half of August.  I hope to join him for that stretch, assuming I have not softened up too much during my time home to be able to keep up.

Atop Mt. Townsend in the Olympic Mountains.

Sunset over the Straight of Juan de Fuca from Mt. Townsend.

Scrambling up a pinnacle near the top of Guye Peak.

Trillium in bloom near Snoqualmie Pass.

A new bulletin board for camp.

The pier at camp.

Oregon dunes.

A change in plans

It has been a while since my last post because I have been uncertain how to announce that I have changed my CDT plans.

After two months and ~950 miles, I returned home a couple weeks ago after realizing that a true, five month continuous thru-hike was not the right thing for me to be doing to be happy, as I badly missed friends, family, and favorite non-hiking activities.  I left the trail from Salida by hitching to Colorado Springs and flying back to Seattle.  I arrived in time to see my brother and his family who were in town for a few days, go on a trip with friends to Oregon, and participate in the Fremont Solstice Parade.  I am also helping with the sea kayaking and hiking treks and carpentry projects at the camp I used to work at.

My CDT journey is not over, however.  I plan to return to hike several hundred more miles in Montana (Glacier NP, Bob Marshall Wilderness) and Wyoming (Yellowstone NP, the Wind River Range) in late July and August.  For those who have not done so already, please follow the blog by entering your email to receive updates when I get back on the trail.

Lake City to Salida

I arrived in Salida first thing Friday morning from Monarch Pass.  I will head back to the trail today and should reach Leadville on Wednesday.

On Tuesday I climbed my first Colorado fourteener, San Luis Peak (14,014').  There was hardly any snow left on the trail and I was able to make great time, including my first 30 mile day on the CDT.  Apart from trees blown down across the trail in the next section, I expect few delays and should be able to keep my mileage in the mid to high 20s from here forward.

The last patches of snow.

Top of San Luis Peak.  It was quite windy.

This terrain made 30 miles fairly easy.

Hikingin east in the cool of the morning.



Old grazing land.



Back in aspen.

Wildflowers scattered amongst the rock.

Following the ridge south of Monarch Pass.