Tag: plants
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Una Boda en Colombia – Cali
15-20 June 2023 No, not that Cali. My cousin invited Maggie and me to his wedding in Cali, Colombia. This wasn’t necessarily intended to be a destination wedding. Rather, his fiancé (now wife) is from Cali and it made the most sense for the American invitees to make the trip instead of the reverse. Maggie…
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A Castle of Rock and Ice – Cerro Castillo National Park
Well into Patagonia by this point, Maggie and I were eager to explore the mountains. We continued south to a small, but epic national park where we got out for a full value day hike. 18 January 2023 Maggie and I got our day going on the Dolphin Rocks just off the Carretera Austral. We…
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Berries, Beer, and Rainier – White Pass to Snoqualmie Pass
The crown jewel of Washington state – Mount Rainier. If you’ve been keeping track, then by now you may have noticed the PCT doesn’t actually go over any high peaks. Rather, the trail just gets close enough for a good view. Mt. Rainier is one peak I was happy to admire from a distance as…
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Into the Green Tunnel – Cascade Locks to Trout Lake
For much of the PCT up to this point, wide open views are the norm. While I do love the sense of wonder and mystery that fills the air in the lush rain forest of the Pacific Northwest, 80 miles of trees becomes a bit of a blur after a while… Day 138 – 10…
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It’s All Good in Mt. Hood – Government Camp to Cascade Locks
Mount Hood – Oregon’s conspicuous crown jewel. Another lonely Cascade volcano standing 11,240 feet above sea level, Mt. Hood holds glaciers and snow fields year round. The PCT would take us around the flanks of this massive mountain, showing us the magic of what happens when high altitude meets temperate rain forest. Day 135 –…
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Extrusive Volcanic Exclusive – Ashland to Crater Lake
Oregon has a reputation amongst PCT hikers for being flat and boring. I would tend to agree, for some stretches anyways. Nevertheless, the Cascades delivered the volcanic goods on occasion throughout this 100 mile walk to Crater Lake. Day 114 – 0 miles/1718 (7/19/22) Laundry was our top priority. Have I mentioned that we wear…
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Beaver State Bound – Etna to Ashland
It is true, we were still in California after more than 100 days of hiking. Geopolitical boundaries seem arbitrary to a dirt path, but walking to Oregon from the Mexican border felt like a major milestone, and it was finally within reach… Day 108 – 22 miles/1624 (7/13/22) Our day started with passing through a…
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Traversing the Trinity Alps – Mt. Shasta to Etna
This section is perhaps one of my favorite hidden gems of northern California. The shift in geology from the white granite Sierras to the extrusive igneous (volcanic) andesite and basalt of the Cascades was instantly noticeable. However, the extrusive volcanic rocks are not continuous across the entire length of the Cascades. Enter the Trinity Alps:…
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Timberland, Old Growth, and Old Friends – Burney Falls to Mt. Shasta
Day 98 – 21 miles/1440 (7/3/22) Maggie and I woke up early to beat the crowds to Burney Falls. We packed up around 7 and checked out the falls, the cool mist chilling us in the shady morning light. It was amazing to see so much flowing water in a part of California that otherwise…
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Welcome!
Sit down, stay a while, weary traveler. You’ve only just found the beginning of, what will hopefully be, the adventure of a lifetime. This blog serves to document our journeys so friends, family, and fellow citizens of earth may follow along. The adventure begins in January 2022.