Ashland, OR (Mile 1727)

At last, we have a little time to update the blog! We've passed some big milestones over the past couple of weeks: reached the halfway point, less than 1,000 miles till Canada, and we are now is Oregon! We are still having a blast and we are working very well as a team. It's been so wonderful to have each other to fall back on when the going gets tough, because Northern California was a lot more challenging than expected. There were bugs (mosquitoes, midges, horse flies and biting flies), LOTS of poison oak, overgrown trail, and perhaps worst of all soaring temperatures with high humidity levels. But we made it and have a lot of good memories!!

Yesterday we pulled into Callahan's Lodge, just south of Ashland, and put up our tent in the lawn for the night to ensure we'd get an early start into Ashland for our resupply weekend. The trail doesn't run close to many towns/cities in Oregon, so we are having to mail ourselves food. I thought this would be a good chance to explain what we eat and how our fellow hikers handle their resupplies. On the PCT you have two good options for resupply, either you buy everything at the local grocery store or you mail food to local businesses or Post Offices, commonly called mail drops. Hikers that mail themselves food tend to do a lot of planning and dehydrate meals that only require boiling water. We have been lucky enough to receive some extras, which are pictured below.

From the left: stuffing with chicken and gravy, buffalo chicken with rice, cheesy hamburger rice, dehydrated mac n' cheese and vegetable chili.

The mail drop meals are delicious, but the additional postage cost can add up and also you have to make sure you time town stops when businesses/POs are open. The advantages of buying food as you go include: fresher foods are available, you don't have to worry about getting sick of eating the same grub, and there is very little planning involved. On the flip-side, it takes significantly more of your town time, smaller grocery stores tend to mark up everything, and sometimes choices are more limited. Regardless of how you resupply every hiker cleans there bowl/food bag at the end of the day!

We are trying to get to Timberline Lodge (~mile 2,100) before we take any time off again. Look for updates August 19th or so!

A storm rolled through the South Lake Tahoe area just as we were leaving. Thankfully it never moved towards us.

A beautiful day of ridge walking (notice Iceman's beard flapping in the wind)!

Mac n' cheese with lots of real cheese! One of my favorites!!

Our first bear!! He's probably only a yearling. The black bears on the west coast are commonly this cinnamon color or a lighter brown rather than black found on the east coast.

Another successful stream crossing.

The Benson Hut run by the Sierra Club that rents it out during the winter to backcountry skiers. We will definitely be coming back here in the winter!

It's hard to read, but the sign says "Ken's Place". There's a ladder to get in, because in the winter there would be snow on the ground. Plus there's an escape hatch in the roof for the most extreme snow conditions.

A field of daisies and a setting sun make for great hiking.

Iceman failed to see this little rattlesnake on the way up Sierra Butte. Fortunately, it was far enough to be out of striking distance.

We went for a dip in the Feather River. It's the best swimming hole on the PCT so far.

Iceman was just a little excited for his birthday dinner in the tent (the mosquitoes were bad).

Looking eastward before descending down to Beldon, CA.

If you look at the smallish rock in the middle of this picture there is an angry baby rattlesnake behind it. I was fairly concerned about passing after the sucker struck out at Iceman when he passed. 

A different kind of PCT marker.

Halfway marker! Mile 1330!!!

Ridge top campsite with a great view of Mount Lassen.

Great tread and scenery.

Hiker meet-up! From the left: Cattywampus, Gumby, Packman, Lodgepole, Dora the Explorer, Double It, Maverick, and Texaxs Grit.

The infamous birthday box from my parents made it successfully to Drakesbad Resort. It contained handmade birthday cards for Iceman and myself, yummy pound cake, other delicious treats, and the all important Aquamira water treatment drops. Thank you!

Fire damage around Mount Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Mount Lassen!

Woke up early to hike across the Hat Creek Rim, which is shade-less, hot, and no on trail water for 35 miles.

Hiking on the Hat Creek Rim with an excellent view of Mount Shasta (14,180').

It was blistering hot, but we made it down off the rim!

Getting closer at Burney State Falls Park.

Midnight Chocolate and Cowgirl needed to trace their sleeping positions on their tent ground sheet.

Best night on the trail hands down! Mrs.Chief (Chief's wife) surprised us with hamburgers, hot dogs, salad, olives with cheese, etc. and a cooler overflowing with beer!!!

And it got even better with fresh out of the oven chocolate chip cookies! No one is happier than Iceman.

Great campsite with Mount Shasta in the background.

Glorious sunset!

These ants were doing one of two things: moving their nest of eggs or they were stealing their neighbors eggs for food. It was more likely a move, because a trail crew was working and disturbing the area when we came through.

Standard sign at Castle Crags State Park (make sure to read the black text on the board....).

Good water temperature for a dip/bath/laundry at Porcupine Lake.

It was really hot and I had wetted down my bandanna to keep cool (per Iceman's request I added this photo). Seemed fitting since we were in the Russian Wilderness Area.

Iceman's custom Pancake Challenge. It's close to 2 1/2 lbs and includes blueberries. On the side are 2 eggs, a large serving of hash browns and some Canadian bacon. Compliments of the Lions' Club at the Etna Bluegrass Music Festival. Can he do it?

Success! Finished every last crumb and had no problem biking back to the hostel.

Nothing like listening to some bluegrass and seeing an old friend. Kevin came from Weed, CA to see us. During the winter he patrols with Iceman at Crystal and he's fighting fires now in the Northern California.

California Pitcher Plants! One of my most exciting plant finds on the trail. They eat flies and other insects for nutrients!! How cool is that??!?

Tiger Lilies were in full bloom! There were hundreds all up and down this drainage.

Every kind of wildflower you could want!

Woo-Hoo! Huge milestone checked off. It took us close to 1700 miles to complete California!

Beautiful sunset for our first night in Oregon.

Look at all the water flowing from that spring. Ice cold and no treatment necessary.

We can't wait to see all Oregon has to offer!!

A little wash for our backpacks at the Best Western (thanks parents!) in Ashland, OR! The water was quite dark when it was all said and done.

Iceman couldn't take a day off. Getting swoll' in the BW Gym!