Total miles… day 1 was 5 miles, day 2 was 15 miles. Day 1 was sunny then foggy. Day 2 was rainy. Highs upper 50s, lows upper 40s.
A few notes right off the bat….. ALL mileage totals are approximate. There’s not an app for the O.C.T. that makes it easy to figure miles like there is for the PCT. The mileage totals will be approximations, accurate to within 3 miles. I apologize for not blogging regularly. I’m hiking this nearly 400 mile trail by myself, so my phone’s battery must be used for navigation and logistics. There’s often not a marked trail to follow like there is on the PCT. Lots of this OCT hike is on sand or road shoulder as the OCT is in its infancy and not yet a finished thru-hike trail.
Finishing this trail will give me around 1,000 miles hiked, counting the hiking I did while in Klamath Falls on the OC@T old train trail and the small sections of PCT I hiked in Oregon. That will be a proud feeling….hiking 1,000 miles!
Hiking the Oregon Coast Trail will have advantages and disadvantages over the PCT. Advantages include the fact it’s mostly flat, so no expended energy on 3,000 foot climbs, there will be no snow, and there are many towns dotting the coast, so I can carry less weight in food and water! Disadvantages include the weather. It’s often raining or foggy. I’m totally alone. I eventually learn that there are very few attempting this. I’ll have to figure out ride charts and plan some beach walking around low tides, or end up walking more highway!
I only hiked 5 miles on day 1 because I wanted to start easy, stopping at the first camp site. It was Memorial Day weekend, so crowds were absolutely crazy. I walked past the old Peter Iridale ship wreck.
Day 2 was a rainy hike, ending up on the coastal mountains, Ecola State Park. I walked past the communities of Gearhart and Cannon Beach today. Ecola State Park was a beautiful, yet muddy trail. I ended up at the free, first come first served huts. There are 4 bunk style beds in each hut. Not having to set up my tent in the heavy drizzle was wonderful!!
You are braver than I, my friend.
More insane maybe!!!