Here we go!

Time has flown by and suddenly it is time to hike!

I am still going to attempt an FKT (speed record) of the trail, finishing in under two months. I will be self-supported. No help on the trail from friends/family. No hitchhiking. Just me, my feet, and nature. It is likely impossible, but I am not going to let that stop me! I will be careful with water in the desert over the next two weeks. I will be careful on the snow and crossing streams in the Sierra. I am excited to see what the trail throws at me and to test my limits!

If you want to see my current progress, click here.

Fyi, the page only shows my last week of check-ins so my initial check-ins will not show after a week has passed. I start Sunday 6/18/17 in the mid-afternoon.

P.S. Thanks to my wonderful wife, Laura, for supporting this crazy venture and dropping me off in the desert! I love you, babe!

Training Hike: Angel's Rest to Multnomah Falls

These are pictures I took during a spring training hike. I only did about 15 miles due to lack of time. I started at the Angel's Rest Trailhead. I hiked up past Angel's Rest to Devil's rest, then down to the Multnomah Falls Lodge. Then, I headed up toward the peak of Larch Mountain but didn't have time so I cut back across to the Angels Rest Trailhead. 

It was a beautiful day. A little bit overcast. When I got up high enough in elevation, the flowers were still starting to bloom. I like hiking up a mountain and seeing the increasingly young spring growth as I go.

I saw a rock pile which reminded me of our crazy old friend, Ahu!

Up higher, the flowers were so young they were still white.

The view from Angel's Rest was nice! Took a little break before heading higher!

There is no view from Devil's rest so I started down toward the lodge. Wahkeena falls was beautiful and became more and more populated at I headed down past Lemmon's viewpoint.

I headed away from the falls to the Lodge, got some more water, and headed back up the mountain!

It was really crowded heading up to the top of the falls but there is almost nobody once you head past the falls toward the top of the mountain. There was still plenty of snow here and there in the particularly shady spots.

I took a right above Ecola falls and headed back to the car. It was easy sailing and I was enjoying my book.

I made a Chipmunk friend when I stopped for a short break. I think he thought I had a treat for him...

This was a nice hike on a cool day. I am so thankful to live in a place where such a beautiful hike is such a short drive from home!

2017 FKT Plans: Obstacles, Hopes, and Fears

Mount Adams (Day 47)
Picture borrowed from this site

A lot of things have happened since I decided to attempt a FKT hike of the PCT.
1. I have been very busy with springtime school and music events.
2. Plans have been changed due to small trail closures and a couple resupply locations have been changed.
3. There has been a LOT of snow this winter on many sections of the trail... and it is still falling!

Knife's Edge (Day 48)
Picture borrowed from this site

It has been a very busy spring! While I had hoped to do a lot of training, I have been buried in work and haven't gotten out as much as I would like. That is not to say I haven't been training! During spring break I got a couple 15 mile hikes in on open afternoons but weather was not always helpful. It is still very snowy in the higher altitudes and I turned back from one hike rather than wandering aimlessly in the snow looking for a trail without any "proper" gear. I will try to ramp things up over the next couple months but much training will have to take place near home as I am juggling a lot of school and musical performances right now.

Rainier near Dewey Lake (Day 49)
Picture borrowed from this site

I found out that Ziggy and the Bear (a popular resupply point on the trail) is closed this year. There is also a section of trail closed near Fuller Ridge, just south of that resupply point. I will therefore be moving my resupply to Idyllwild. I originally was going to avoid that town to save time but will now look forward to buying some good food! I also have a gigantic food carry from Tuolumne Meadows to Belden... Will be resupplying earlier in Sierra city so I can carry more food.

Mirror Lake (Day 50)
Picture borrowed from this site

Finally, snow... this has been a record year for California precipitation, particularly in the high elevations! In many locations along the leg of the trail through the Sierra mountains there are still 60+ feet of snow covering the trail. The result: A much more difficult hike! I will be spending a lot more time walking on snow. But that will not likely be my biggest risk. I will also be passing through just as the extra snow melts in earnest so I will have to be very careful about high runoff in the streams.

Kendall Catwalk (Day 51)
Picture borrowed from this site

I will need more gear than I originally planned on, spikes for my feet and an ice axe or acceptable substitution. I will need more food in case I hike slower or need to turn around at some point. I will also have a bit more rope in case I have to cross a particularly scary stream without a partner.

Glacier Lake (Day 52)
Picture borrowed from this site

I am still going to shoot for my record but I am acknowledging that this is not an ideal year and am making lots of plans "just in case". If I can pull this off though, it will be a truly amazing feat!
 
With all of these complications and the lessening possibility of actually achieving an FKT, I am thinking a lot about what I want from the hike.

Glacier Peak (Day 53)
Picture borrowed from this site

1. I want to push myself farther than ever before. I am a meticulous individual who is usually well-prepared for what I put my mind to. What's wrong with being prepared? Nothing really. But I can't remember the last time I was truly unsure of how something would turn out. Usually, I have put in the proper amount of practice or other prep time (or not) and I have a good idea how things are going to happen. In fact, I rarely attempt anything without a plan that gives a very good chance of success.  Well, my mantra during this hike is, "If you only do things that you are sure will work out, you will never achieve anything truly exceptional."

2. I want thinking time. Life is busy. I don't get to think much in the hectic whirlwind. I am feeling a little down about my teaching, which is super difficult and tiring. I miss music. I sometimes feel off balance about these things. I hope to come back from the trail having thought and prayed about these things a lot. I hope for a well thought out next step in my life and peace in that decision.

3. I want to talk with God. I have always loved nature! It feels like a gift for me when I see something beautiful. I feel small, special, and at peace. It is difficult in my busy life to even find time to throw up prayers to God... I almost never have time to listen. Well, there will be plenty of time on the trail. I am excited for that time because it is really imprtant for me to feel grounded in that part of my life.

Mountains near Hart's Pass (Day 54)
Picture borrowed from this site

As for fears...
1. Snakes: I will almost certainly see quite a few hot and grouchy rattlesnakes. I am scared of not noticing one until too late.
2. Cougars: Wolves and bears don't really worry me at all but those cats scare the crap out of me! I would love to see a cougar but definitely not up close!
3. Dangerous snow and stream crossings in the Sierra: I have little idea what to expect but hiking alone and coming to a situation one deems dangerous at all is very disconcerting! Being a detail-oriented guy, I am very aware that nobody has my back and that I had better make the right decision!

Those are my three biggest fears that are threats. I accept them as part of the hike. In fact, this hike would not be the crazy adventure it is without those dangers! I embrace the fear! I embrace the fatigue! I embrace the uncertainty! I am so excited to experience it! What I am more afraid of when I think about it is letting such things stop me from living an abundant life!

Canadian Border (Day 55)
Picture borrowed from this site

I am coming for you, PCT!

2017 FKT Plans: The Current Record

Three Fingered Jack (Day 42)
Picture borrowed from this site

If I were really organized, I would have posted this a week ago on the "day without women" because it is an amazing story about a woman who has been a game-changer in the hiking world.

Mount Jefferson (Day 43)
Picture borrowed from this site

Heather Anderson, who is also called "Anish" on the trail, was just another unknown hiker on the trail until the summer of 2013 when she set the current unsupported record time on the PCT, beating the legendary Scott Williamson by about 5 days! I won't go into the details more than that. Instead, I will direct you to a source that narrates the feat better than I ever could. Read her amazing story here!

Ramona Falls (Day 44)
Picture borrowed from this site

Since breaking the record on the PCT, Heather has hiked record times on two other trails, including the Appalachian Trail! She is the first in history to do that! This is all the more impressive when you consider the demographics of people doing things like this. There is definitely a "macho" crowd of primarily guys on the trail who hike major miles and don't mind telling you all about it... and some girl came up and quite simply hiked harder than them because she wanted it more. It makes me smile to think about it.

Cascade Locks (Day 45)
Picture borrowed from this site

So I want to tip my hat to my current trail hero, Anish:

Anish,

You are an inspiration to me and countless other people! Keep on hiking your own hike. I am gonna try really hard to beat your record. If I fail, I will be disappointed but glad to have pushed myself as far as I can go like you did. If I succeed, I will have all the more admiration and respect for you, having experienced many of the same things. Thanks for really pushing yourself to the limit. I find that inspiring. In fact, I do not know if I would have attempted this without hearing your story, so no matter what happens, you get a bit of the credit!

P.S. If I do have this kind of hike in me, I will try to take the record from the runners too... us thru-hikers deserve the overall FKT! ;-)

Sincerely,

Me

Blue Lake in Indian Heaven (Day 46)
Picture borrowed from this site

Training Hike: Hamilton Mountain

On February 25, I went on my first of many "training" hikes in the Columbia river gorge. I had just finished a fun day accompanying 7 High School students at the local Solo and Ensemble contest. The sun was out and it was only about 3:00 pm. I started up the gorge and stopped at Beacon Rock but found it was closed.

No Beacon Rock hike for me

It was about 4:00 at this point and I didn't want to drive anywhere else so I hiked across the highway to the Hamilton mountain trail head. It is a great hike and just about 9.5 miles long. Click here for more info on that trail. Now is the part where I will give a short disclaimer: What I chose to do next was pretty dumb. I mean, I did bring a headlamp and food and water and I knew the topography from hiking this a few times before but it is rarely a good idea to hike in the dark. So what did I choose to do? I decided to hike the entire loop as fast as possible! It was a training hike, wasn't it?

Building at the trail head

I left the trail head at about 4:15, having hiked about a quarter mile up from the highway to get there. I knew I would likely arrive back after dark and didn't want my car to be locked behind the park gate at dusk.

Hamilton Mountain, here I come!

There were patches of snow all over the place, occasionally on the trail as well. I booked it up to Hardy falls in about 15 minutes due to how level the terrain was. The falls was gigantic compared to other times of year and I could see it well since there were no leaves in the trees.

Snowy trail

As I crossed the bridge below the pool of the winds, I ran into a group of people who said the trail ahead was muddy and difficult. I hiked on knowing I could always turn around if I thought the trail was too rough.

Hardy Falls

I immediately ran into the biggest obstacle on my hike, a big tree that had blocked the trail pretty well. But I felt confident and climbed around it without even slipping!

Hmmm...

How'd that get there?

View to the south

I love the Hamilton mountain hike because of the great views!  About half of the way up the mountain there is a grassy bluff above the trees with a great 180-degree view of the gorge. I stood there and took in the evening light at about 5:00. Sunset was just beginning and I got to watch it progress as I hiked the rest of the way to the peak of the mountain.

Hamilton mountain

Beautiful sunset

As I approached the peak, the snow became more substantial. Soon I was scrambling up a solid snowy bank following footprints left by earlier hikers.

More snow

Sunset from the peak

I stopped at the peak of the mountain to take in an amazing panoramic view! Usually I can't see much from the top of the mountain due to the trees but they had no leaves and I was standing on a solid 3 feet of snow at this point. So I could see forever in all directions. It was almost 6:00 at this point and I made another questionable decision: Continue to follow the trail around the loop.

Table mountain and the gorge

Before I got to the peak of Mount Hamilton, I had decided that I would follow the trail if I saw substantial footprints in the snow. I did not want to lose my way! I assumed that the snow would quickly disappear as I lost altitude and that the trail (really an access road) would be much easier is I continued.

That's my ridge walk

What followed was a twilight ridge-walk on 3 feet of snow. I was simultaneously stunned by the beauty of the landscape and frightened to still be so high and exposed as darkness began to gather. I hiked as quickly as possible to make it down to the access road and off the snowy ridge before the light made it hard to see good footholds.

Table mountain and the PCT...

I eventually made it down to the saddle behind Hamilton mountain where the road walking begins. But I found that the road was on a very shaded part of the ridge and had a solid foot of snow on it. Also, there were many downed trees trying to trip me up. Still, I jogged long sections of this road to get down below the snowline before it got really dark.

On the road again...

At about 6:20 I arrived at a fork 4 miles from the trail head. The remaining trail was well graded but there were many sections in which a steep bank of snow stretched across it, making the hiking less than ideal. There were also many downed trees. But I watched my step and worked my way down to the trail head and then the car by 7!
 

That bridge is BURIED!

I had hiked about 10 miles in 3 hours... not my goal on the PCT but not bad for my first training hike on a snow-covered trail and in the dark! One voice in my head screams that this was a stupid idea but another voice argues that I would never have seen that beautiful sunset without a little risk! I refuse to take sides. They are both fair arguments!