Although I have done more than 6 backpacking trips, 6 work parties, 2 scout trips and at least 10 day hikes over the last 10 years that have included parts of the PCT, it was in 2012 that I got the hair-brained idea to hike the entire section of the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington State the following year in 2013. My first night on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2013 was my first solo night in the woods. EVER.
The Washington section of the Pacific Crest Trail covers about 520 miles from the WA/OR border to Canada and I took about 5 weeks to walk it (4 weeks on trail and a week’s worth of “zeros” at my resupply stops). I had the support of friends and family who met me at all the passes and at the end in Manning Park. I hiked mostly solo, except for a few days when a friend would join me to be a part of my journey or when I met “Dream Laugher” and hiked together for 3 days.
The adventure of hiking the Washington section of the Pacific Crest Trail changed my life, I will never be the same again. Something about being in the outdoors for that long, reducing your very existence down to the basics resets you body in such a way that you will only want to return to the trail. I think it awakes a memory in your DNA of how you were meant to live and you will not feel right unless you return again. And again.
I wrote about my experiences on the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington on Trail Journals and had such a great time connecting with other hikers that I have continued to write about my journey ever since. Those journal entries can now be found here in a series of posts, you can start following them here. You can also check out my resources HERE if you want to get started on your own PCT journey.
These are some of the PCT day hikes, overnighters and work parties I have enjoyed since then. Can’t wait to get out more, especially on my newly adopted Pacific Crest Trail section from Janus to Pear Lake north of Stevens Pass!
- 2021 Smithbrook to Pacific Crest Trail Section K to Pear Lake
- 2020 Meadow Creek to Fortune Ponds to Pear Lake to Pacific Crest Trail Section K to Benchmark
- 2019 Pacific Crest Trail Smithbrook to Pear Lake to Pacific Crest Trail Section K to Benchmark to Top Lake
- 2018 Pacific Crest Trail Section K Union Gap to Pear Lake
- 2017 Pacific Crest Trail Section K Union Gap to Top Lake and Fall Mountain Scramble
- 2017 Suiattle River Trail to PCT and Vista Ridge Work Party
- 2016 Hart’s Pass Trail Work and Magic
- 2016 North Cascade Signage Part 2
- 2016 Girlfriend Backpack-Pear Lake to Stevens Pass, Benchmark Mountain
- 2016 PCT Union Gap To Pear Lake
- 2016 Mirror Lake, Cold Creek Loop
- 2016 Stevens Pass to Josephine Lake Scout
- 2016 Rainy Pass North Log Out
- 2016 Stampede Pass Logout
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