I will start on the O.C.T., in Astoria, Oregon, in 3 days. I will hike from Astoria, in far north Oregon, to the end of Redwood National Park, about 60 miles into California. This will put me over 1,000 total miles hiked. I’ve been hiking in and around the Klamath Falls-Ashland, Oregon area trying to keep my “hiker legs”. The PCT continues to get hammered with snow storms every 3-6 days.
I dodged a bullet!!! I took a train ride from Topeka, Kansas, to L. A., planning on hiking the remaining portion of the “desert” PCT up to Kennedy Meadows, gateway to the Sierra Mountain range.
I decided against that at the last minute, deciding to stay with my wife in Klamath Falls, Oregon. That would prove to be a great decision. The foot hills between Tehachapi and lake Isabella got hit hard with an unprecedented winter storm. There were rescues performed between Tehachapi and Walker Pass as temperatures were in the upper 20s, heavy snow, and 80 MPH wind gusts, pushing wind chills to well below 0…. in May!!! I’m not equipped to handle that. Conditions were worse beyond Walker Pass. Look at the numbers on the right side of this picture!!!!!
My wife and I have been touring Oregon and I’ve been hiking, tuning up for the Oregon Coast Trail.
Toulamine Meadows has recently said services/roads won’t be open until mid July at the earliest, and Monarch ski had said they will have snow until August! Creeks in the Sierras won’t be crossable until late July, early August!!! It’s appearing like there may not be many thru-hikes on the PCT this year!
I’ve been hiking 14-20 miles about 3 days per week, on Oregon sections of the PCT, and the OC@T trails. I’ll post again in 2 days.
Seeing all of that beautiful scenery is making me homesick. I may have to make a visit back soon. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome! I’m really liking the southern Oregon coast.