Hyatt Reservoir near Ashland Oregon 8/9/2012
Change of State
On Monday August 6 I reached a huge milestone. I'm talking about 1700 miles big. I'm talking about the border of California and Oregon. I've walked all the way across California, the long way. The border really wasn't a glamorous place by normal standards, just a wooden sign on a tree, "Oregon/California" and a register, but this was a place I had only seen pictures of and fantasized about.
I reached the border alone and enjoyed a surge of emotion. Only a quarter of a mile later, where the PCT crossed a dirt road, I was stoked to find a surprise party of hikers. Balls and Sunshine, who hiked the PCT last year (she is 12), hosted this awesome trail magic surprise. I hung out for lunch.
My last day in California included a 4500 foot climb that my buddy Mike joined me for, and a thunderstorm. I chose to pitch my tent and wait out the storm instead of hiking an exposed ridge in the lightning and rain. The whole thing only lasted about four hours.
I took a nice rest in Ashland, OR where my mom drove up to meet me. Since crossing the border I feel like I'm trying to complete something that I don't want to end. The trail has been a blast and I am very excited for the next two legs: Oregon and Washington. I have less than 1000 miles to go, but the weather window will close in the end of September, so in an effort not to battle the snow in running shoes it is time to move.
Kathy salutes the thru-hikers, Hyatt Reservoir 8/10/2012
Today is the last day of my summer holiday of being a PCT groupie. I hiked my last small stretch of the PCT, looking for Histo's shoeprints (he took off three hours earlier from our camp at Hyatt Reservoir in southern Oregon. It was a pleasure spending two days with Histo in Ashland and then camping with him once more. Now I return to work: seven packages to send north on the trail over the next month; school prep, meetings and classes starting.
What a tremendous privilege it has been to meet Histo during parts of his adventure, and to meet many of his fellow amazing, intrepid thru-hikers, on and off the trail. It's still hard to believe they're doing this, and STILL doing it--Oregon and Washington here they are!
Thank you Histo/Karl/son for sharing your world with us "others" so graciously. Though I won't be meeting you on the trail again, I'll continue celebrating every mile with you in my heart. love, Mom
Change of State
On Monday August 6 I reached a huge milestone. I'm talking about 1700 miles big. I'm talking about the border of California and Oregon. I've walked all the way across California, the long way. The border really wasn't a glamorous place by normal standards, just a wooden sign on a tree, "Oregon/California" and a register, but this was a place I had only seen pictures of and fantasized about.
I reached the border alone and enjoyed a surge of emotion. Only a quarter of a mile later, where the PCT crossed a dirt road, I was stoked to find a surprise party of hikers. Balls and Sunshine, who hiked the PCT last year (she is 12), hosted this awesome trail magic surprise. I hung out for lunch.
My last day in California included a 4500 foot climb that my buddy Mike joined me for, and a thunderstorm. I chose to pitch my tent and wait out the storm instead of hiking an exposed ridge in the lightning and rain. The whole thing only lasted about four hours.
I took a nice rest in Ashland, OR where my mom drove up to meet me. Since crossing the border I feel like I'm trying to complete something that I don't want to end. The trail has been a blast and I am very excited for the next two legs: Oregon and Washington. I have less than 1000 miles to go, but the weather window will close in the end of September, so in an effort not to battle the snow in running shoes it is time to move.
Kathy salutes the thru-hikers, Hyatt Reservoir 8/10/2012
Today is the last day of my summer holiday of being a PCT groupie. I hiked my last small stretch of the PCT, looking for Histo's shoeprints (he took off three hours earlier from our camp at Hyatt Reservoir in southern Oregon. It was a pleasure spending two days with Histo in Ashland and then camping with him once more. Now I return to work: seven packages to send north on the trail over the next month; school prep, meetings and classes starting.
What a tremendous privilege it has been to meet Histo during parts of his adventure, and to meet many of his fellow amazing, intrepid thru-hikers, on and off the trail. It's still hard to believe they're doing this, and STILL doing it--Oregon and Washington here they are!
Thank you Histo/Karl/son for sharing your world with us "others" so graciously. Though I won't be meeting you on the trail again, I'll continue celebrating every mile with you in my heart. love, Mom
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