Date: July 28, 2018 Start: Sloan Creek Campground Distance: 34 miles Duration: 17 hours 28 minutes (breaks included) Type: Out-and-back References: Best Climbs: Cascade Volcanoes by Jeff Smoot; The Mountaineers The sound of low rumbling shook me from a deep sleep. Bursts of light cast shadows of the surrounding trees on the walls of our tent. I... Continue Reading →
Mount Thielsen
Date: May 13, 2018 Start: Mount Thielsen Trailhead Distance: 9-10 miles Duration: 10 hours 4 minutes (breaks included) Type: Out-and-back References: Best Climbs: Cascade Volcanoes by Jeff Smoot; Outdoor Project I laced up my climbing shoes and took a deep breath. Hischokwolas' summit spire loomed high above us, its basaltic andesite rock glinting in the sunlight.... Continue Reading →
Grand Canyon R2R2R
Date: March 26, 2018 Start: Pipe Creek Vista Distance: 44-45 miles Duration: 14 hours 51 minutes (breaks not included) Elevation gain: 10,780 feet Type: Out-and-back Map: Sky Terrain Trail Maps: Grand Canyon National Park Visions of cheese bagels danced in my delirious head. I searched my pack in vain for something appetizing to eat. Applesauce, Larabar,... Continue Reading →
Bryce Canyon Fairyland, Queens Garden, and Navajo Trails
Date: March 24, 2018 Start: Sunset Point Distance: 12-13 miles Duration: 2 hours 36 minutes (breaks not included) Type: Two different loops The packed dirt beneath my feet was heaven to my restless legs. After 16+ hours cramped in a car over 1,000 miles, we were finally hitting the trails on our long awaited Southwest... Continue Reading →
Prairie Creek & Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Parks
Date: February 17, 2018 Location: Northern California Start: Prairie Creek Visitor Center; Stout Grove Trailhead Distance: 11.5 miles (Prairie Creek); 5.6 miles (Jedediah Smith) Duration: 2 hours 25 minutes at Prairie Creek (breaks not included); 1 hour 17 minutes at Jedediah Smith (breaks not included) Type: Balloon route (Prairie Creek); out-and-back (Jedediah Smith) References: Redwood... Continue Reading →
Wilson River Trail E2E2E
Date: January 27, 2018 Location: Tillamook State Forest Start: Elk Creek Trailhead Distance: 42 miles (only completed 39-ish) Duration: 10 hours 15 minutes (breaks not included) Elevation gain: 3950 feet (one way) Type: Out-and-back References: Oregon Hikers Stupid. Stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid. That was the only word (minus a certain descriptive expletive preceding the... Continue Reading →