pacific crest trail

Slack packing is a term used to describe hiking part of a trail with a near-empty pack. Even though we had 17 miles to hike, our fourth day was light and fast. Plus we had a bath and a bed to comfort us at the end of the day.

Our second day out on the PCT had us doing ups and downs, following roads, and visiting campgrounds.

In early December I travelled south to the warm high deserts east of San Diego. My husband and I were going to hike the first 110 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail.

More excitement awaited me after crossing the Knife’s Edge in Goat Rocks Wilderness. I had a detour to face and decisions to make to get me to the trailhead and the end of my 500-mile adventure.

My most exhilarating day on the PCT in Washington was hiking through Goat Rocks. My day was full of epic views, mountain peaks, and steep terrain.

The PCT from Mount Adams to Goat Rocks passes through a variety of forest, some lakes and offers up the occasional view. Plus the weather took an unexpected turn.

The PCT through the Mount Adams Wilderness is a spectacular section of trail. I only had 10 miles to hike along the PCT and threw in a two-mile detour to get closer to the Adams Glacier.

After a few weeks’ delay due to smoke I was back on the PCT in Washington. I had 65 miles to hike through the Mount Adams and Goat Rocks Wildernesses to complete the trail.

Reaching the northern terminus of the Pacific Crest Trail doesn’t mean the hike is over! There are 8 more miles yet to reach Manning Park Lodge where hikers can find fresh food, showers, and a ride back to civilization.

My last full day on the Pacific Crest Trail. I hiked through a variety of terrain and a variety of weather to reach the famous monument at the northern border.