Hiking Dude Blog
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08/29/2017
Done Hiking Today
I finished hiking for today. You can check out my current location on the map and I'll post about my day when I am in coverage.
08/28/2017
Day 36: Ice in the Water
I walked 45650 steps on the trail today.
I traveled about 18 miles today.
8/25/17 I made two lightweight camping quilts for my long hikes. One has half the insulation as the other. Josh has been using the lighter one but last night we swapped because it was cold and I stay warmer sleeping. I didn't sleep well. It got cold. We had ice in our water bottles this morning! So, we broke camp quickly and started hiking even before eating. A vigorous climb up Bunker Hill warmed us up and gave us wonderful views in all directions. Down the other side, we entered a large burn area of nothing but dead snags and down trees. The trees seemed to do their best to land on the trail when they fell. I counted 158 that we had to climb over in 1/2 mile and then stopped counting. But, future PNT Hikers don't need to worry because we met a trail crew working their way from the Pasayten River up Bunker Hill clearing out logs from the trail. The four of them each got a hiking dude sticker. We passed Thumbalina this morning. We had another nice but short chat and may see her again down the trail. She had hiked through some wild areas all on her own. After crossing the Pasayten River on a convenient log, we hiked through the burned forest another 6 miles until the trail headed up a new draw to the west. This live forest was green, fresh, cool, and very pleasant to travel through on our way up to our campsite at Chuchuwanteen Creek. We're much lower tonight so I hope to stay warmer. I'm looking forward to the wonders that come our way tomorrow. We did see one beautiful deer with velvet antlers today.
Day 35: Fire on the Mountain
I walked 58470 steps on the trail today.
I traveled about 24 miles today.
8/24/17 It was cold when we got up and cold when we went to bed and cold all day. Josh wore his down jacket all day. I enjoyed the cooler temp since I hardly sweated on the uphill climbs. Our day started with a nice hike up and over cathedral pass with amazing views out across the mountain ranges. After that, we had super views all day as we climbed more ridges and passes. We met a couple out on a 10-day trip this afternoon, and a man and his dog out working in the woods for a week. Shawn and Bandit are doing data gathering for the forest service and we had a nice chat for awhile. Toward the end of the day, I went ahead of Josh since he had no problem catching up. At an intersection, I went the wrong way but figured it out after about 5 minutes as the trail descended instead of climbing. My concern was that Josh would take the correct trail and be far away by the time I got back on course. Luckily, he saw my footprint in the dust going the wrong way and we met as I was heading back. So it all worked out. On our last ridge walk of the day, we could clearly see the Diamond Creek fire burning just a couple miles south of the trail. We could see orange flames consuming trees, and smoke fortunately being blown east while we were north. This fire had been threatening to closethe PNT for the past couple weeks so we're very glad to be past it. We reached camp just as the sun was sinking and just had time to set up, eat, and bundle up to try and stay warm all night. I'll let you know how that goes.
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Posted: 08/28/2017
Posted: 08/28/2017
Day 34: Paysaten
I walked 54190 steps on the trail today.
I traveled about 23 miles today.
8/23/17 Good bye, cows! After climbing a few hundred more feet, chasing cows out of the way, and bush whacking when the trail disappeared, we finally entered the Pasayten Wilderness and an entirely new experience. The trail is no longer 2 or 3 inches deep of dust and cow manure but is now a beautiful, cared for tread that carries us through wonderful scenery. We are only 15 miles in but it has been super. We've even been able to see tracks from hikers days ahead of us, so it's a fun game to wonder where they are now and if we might be getting closer to them. Mountain views have been constant and the arid desert terrain has given way to high mountain meadows and forest. I think we're done with sagebrush and stickers. We met 4 people on trail today - We can't remember the last time we met other hikers but it might have been pyramid lake. Two guys were on a week long trip and another couple were doing a 5 day loop. Both of them had met Thumbalina last night so we know she's just a day ahead of us. We are getting plenty of water and food. I was actually stuffed after my dinner of sausage, tuna, and tortillas tonight. We are set up at the tungsten mine camp at about 6800 feet and at the 633 mile mark of the PNT even though we've hiked farther than that. Tomorrow morning, we cross Cathedral Pass which is the highest point on the PNT.
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Posted: 08/28/2017
Posted: 08/28/2017
Day 33: Up
I walked 41300 steps on the trail today.
I traveled about 18 miles today.
8/22/17 Tonight, we are all alone at a great campground over 5000 feet higher than last night. Up in a pine forest and I'm hoping we've left the sage brush and dry grass behind us for good! It was a very long hot trek up into the mountains, but we found water as needed. We also encountered the usual cows along the way - again hoping this will be the last of them. The PNT route had us go right through 4 tiny bits of private property far away from civilization, but not far enough. Two atvs stopped by Josh after we had passed through the last gated area and a guy talked to him. I was farther up the hill and wasn't about to walk way back down to see what was up. I waited for Josh to catch up to me after his conversation. The rancher ( I guess) was upset that a lot of people had been going through his land and leaving garbage. But we were on public land so he just vented his frustration. Josh said we would let the PNT association know about his concern. The rest of the day was hiking and eating and drinking water. We have plenty of food with us on this stretch - it's heavy but nice to feel satisfied. Near the end of the day, two guys in a pickup stopped on a gravel road way up in the mountains. They had seen us earlier in the morning way down on the valley so asked what we were doing. It was a nice chat and break from walking. They were looking for a lake to fly fish in. I got rid of another sticker! So, we're now Up in the mountains with the Pasayten Wilderness coming up tomorrow. Getting Up here was work but we should have a few days of high mountain ridges and great views of the wilds. Maybe even some interesting wildlife.
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Posted: 08/28/2017
Posted: 08/28/2017
Day 32: Eclipse Day
I walked 40280 steps on the trail today.
I traveled about 17 miles today.
8/21/17 Before our hike started, we had some key chores to attend to. I went to the Oroville post office to pick up my shoes, but Wal-Mart sent them via FedEx so the post office sent them back. So, a 2 mile round trip walk to the country store and I've got a cheap pair that will hopefully last 250 miles at least. To backpack through the northern cascade mountains we are supposed to have a permit, so Josh spent a lot of time and a handful of phone calls trying to get our magic 5-digit permit number. In the end, they have all our info but did not get back to Josh with the code number. Oh well, we might be able to contact them in 155 miles to straighten it out. For the great eclipse of 2017 we noticed our shadows got a little blurry. Then it just got hot again. We both feel this may have been the hottest hike of our trip and we both got a little burned. Seventeen miles of very hot paved road got us to Palmer Lake campground. There are car campers all around. We are sleeping out with no tent again, pretty certain there will be no rain and few bugs. I tend to worry about upcoming parts of the hike. Josh just forges ahead. For example, we have a huge climb tomorrow after we walk 13 miles. I'm concerned about the heat and water. But, it all tends to work out. At about 10pm, a car drove in and set up camp right by us. It took him almost 30 minutes of idling car with headlights shining in our tent and him pounding stakes into the ground and talking. We were quiet as mice at 5:30am when we got up and hit the road.
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Posted: 08/28/2017
Posted: 08/28/2017
08/25/2017
Done Hiking Today
I finished hiking for today. You can check out my current location on the map and I'll post about my day when I am in coverage.
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Posted: 08/25/2017
Posted: 08/25/2017
08/24/2017
Done Hiking Today
I finished hiking for today. You can check out my current location on the map and I'll post about my day when I am in coverage.
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Posted: 08/24/2017
Posted: 08/24/2017
08/23/2017
Done Hiking Today
I finished hiking for today. You can check out my current location on the map and I'll post about my day when I am in coverage.
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Posted: 08/23/2017
Posted: 08/23/2017
08/22/2017
Done Hiking Today
I finished hiking for today. You can check out my current location on the map and I'll post about my day when I am in coverage.
Leave Comment
Posted: 08/22/2017
Posted: 08/22/2017
Older Posts Newer Posts
All Comments:
Feb 13, 2020 - Jason Berklund
Hey hiking dude I have several questions planning my first north to south trip
from 270 all the way down. I kind a know what to wear what to eat all that
important jive. I am in relatively good shape definitely Not concerned about
where in tear. 45 years old going with a 21-year-old nephew. My question is
I have friends in Duluth that I don’t want to burden with driving me what’s the
best way to get up to otter Lake Road that’s not gonna cost a crap ton. We
were thinking 15 miles a day. We were also thinking hammocks. Let me
know what you think please. I have read so much and look at so much and
heard so many opinions but You seem to be very realistic on your
comments. Thank you
Feb 13, 2020 - Hiking Dude
@Jason - Hammocks work fine - most campsites have lots of trees.
15MPD is realistic, and you'll probably do more than that many
days.
Getting to the northern terminus is expensive (in my mind). If you can schedule correctly, Arrowhead Transit is cheapest to Grand Marais, but then Harriet Quarles is the only shuttle I know of. You might find a good ol' boy in Grand Marais willing to drive you the 35 miles to the end for a few $$$.
It's a 3 hour drive from Duluth - that's 6 hours and 300 miles round-trip. Maybe your friend would like to drive up the north shore for a day.
Getting to the northern terminus is expensive (in my mind). If you can schedule correctly, Arrowhead Transit is cheapest to Grand Marais, but then Harriet Quarles is the only shuttle I know of. You might find a good ol' boy in Grand Marais willing to drive you the 35 miles to the end for a few $$$.
It's a 3 hour drive from Duluth - that's 6 hours and 300 miles round-trip. Maybe your friend would like to drive up the north shore for a day.
Feb 04, 2024 - John
Me and my fiance are going to Costa Rica for our honeymoon and we
are so excited!
May 02, 2024 - Zeke Mead
Has anyone cycled this Camiño? Sounds like the trail is a road
and if trucks are able to do it, maybe bikes too?
May 03, 2024 - Hiking Dude
@Zeke - Someone could certainly bike part of the Camino de Costa
Rica, but other parts are simple trail that would not be passable
by bike.
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