I hike in trail runners. Even though they’re lightweight (compared to hiking shoes or boots), I almost always carry camp shoes. It’s nice to let my trail runners air out a bit when I get to camp. I’ve used a variety of shoes as camp shoes, and these are keepers. They’re not the lightest out there, but they’re very lightweight. Unlike Crocs, Zpacks camp shoes aren’t a back-up for water crossings. I wouldn’t want to try to hike in them, either. But for walking around in camp, they’re ideal (for me).
Continue readingAugust Oregon PCT Hike
Last year, I decided that I’d hike the Pacific Crest Trail through the State of Oregon to celebrate my 60th birthday. The PCT covers about 460 miles as it makes its way from the northern border of California to the Bridge of Gods over the Columbia River. Assuming one “zero” day for every 4-5 hiking days, covering that distance in one month means hiking an average of 18 miles/29km a day. In a normal year, that would have been a stretch but still do-able because of some of what makes Oregon unique among the PCT’s regions. Alas – 2025 was not a “normal” year.
So What’s Unique About Oregon?
Continue readingBTG Stubby Titanium Spoon
I bought this as a back-up eating utensil. I used to carry a full-sized titanium spork as my back-up, but this one won me over because it’s ridiculously lightweight and small enough to tuck into a pocket.
Continue readingMorsel Spork
I’ve had a Morsel spork for about five years now. I own two – the original and a back-up I bought that’s still pristine. One big change is that the majority of the body of the sporks they sell is aluminum instead of the polycarbonate mine are made from.
My Morsel spork weighs just about an ounce. I can’t find a weight for the new aluminum ones, but they’re very likely to be lighter weight.
Continue readingTune-Up Hike – and Boy Howdy is this Engine Rundown! ;-)
I headed out to hike a section of the PCT that’s widely reviled as being “ugly.” I like it – not for its soul-inspiring views or quiet solitude, but for what it represents.
Continue readingTimothy Lake Hike
I went out for a much-needed hike this past weekend. Things didn’t go as planned, but it was a good trip overall.
Continue readingJuniper Dunes Hike
I’ve been hankering for the past few weeks to spend the night outside. I’ve had opportunities, but I begged off because the overnight lows are still in the mid-30s. I’d be okay sleeping in that; the idea of getting out from under a warm down quilt at 7 a.m. when it’s 36°F? Ugh.
I had Friday off, and I planned to head out to the Juniper Dunes Wilderness to possibly spend the night – despite the cold nighttime temperatures. I dawdled. I hemmed & hawed. I put it off, yet again. I was at risk of doing the same thing Saturday but I managed to get my pack loaded & head out the door at the crack of 1 p.m.
Goat Rocks Wilderness Hike
I did this hike back in mid-August. I thought I’d written a post about it; if I did, it’s vanished. Given my ambivalence about the hike, I wouldn’t be surprised if I wrote a post and then the post vanished out of shame.
To say this hike did not go as planned is an understatement.
Continue readingUpdate
This post isn’t about hiking. It’s a general update about what’s going in with me.
Continue readingWhat’s So Special About the PCT?
I walked across an empty land
I knew the pathway like the back of my hand
I felt the earth beneath my feet
Sat by the river and it made me complete1
I grew up hiking, mostly in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. I’ve hiked all around Washington State — we are certainly blessed with so many hikes on public land. With so much on offer, why do I keep going back to the Pacific Crest Trail?
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