Doaf’s 2018 Pacific Crest Trail Blog

This is the Blog Summary page. Each time Doaf completes a segment of the Hike, he will submit in a blog entry. Click on the blog entry and you will see the full blog post and be able to comment on it. Check back often to see how the Doaf is progressing in his PCT HIke. Not all parts of the PCT are in cell phone range, so some entries might be delayed a day or two. Also – be sure to comment or ask questions using the provided comment field in each blog entry.

7/31 Day 11 Tamarack Lake to Carson Pass

I awoke early, and was on the trail by 6:15. It was unusually warm last night and sleeping was difficult. The first five miles was up hill from thick forest to barren rocky mountain side. Camp at Tamarack Lake Smokey View of Lower Blue Lake The 5 mile climb ended with...

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7/30 Day 10 Ebbetts Pass to Tamarack Lake

I drove up to Ebbetts Pass early and arrived at 8:45 AM. It was very smoky, primarily from the huge fire west of Yosemite. This trailhead is remote and there is no trail quota which is rare now a days in the Sierra. I got on the trail at 9:15 and soon entered the...

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7/9 Day 9 E.Carson to Ebbetts Pass

I got up with the birds a little before 6. The five Through Hikers around me got up after me but hit the trail before me. They all have been on the trails for many weeks and have perfected the process of moving out in the morning. I made coffee and ate some Nutella...

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7/8 Day 8 Sonora Pass to East Carson River

I got a ride from Frankie and Linc to Carson Pass to hike a 32 mile section of the trail to Ebbetts pass. We fished in the morning in the Kennedy Meadows area but did not get a bite. It was very hot today, which often makes fishing difficult.                          ...

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6/20 Day 7 Carson Pass to Echo Lake

Plans change. One theme out there on the PCT is HYOH or Hike Your Own Hike. I got fairly discouraged about how the first six days of hiking went so after recuperating I took the train to Reno to get my car and to day hike the PCT from Carson Pass to Echo Lake.        ...

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6/10 Day 6 Hike out to Recuperate

I woke up feeling bad and decided to hike out to Florence Lake and head back to civilization. Only 4 hiking days to Mammoth but I didn't feel I could make it. I crossed the steel bridge out of Kings Canyon National Park and headed down 2 more miles of the PCT where it...

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6/9 Day 5 to the end of KCNP

I got up early, I wish I could say I woke up early, and hit the snow while it was still firm. My boots were frozen solid so I hiked in my backup trail runner sneakers. They actually had excellent grip on the hard morning snow, but on rock they were slippery. Looking...

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6/8 Day 4 Muir Pass

Today is the day I conquer the last 12,000 foot pass of the PCT, Muir Pass. I dread the inevitable snow hiking as I slowly move up toward the pass. Black Giant - 13,330 ft Trail on edge I passed the Welshmen here, about where the snow began again, he had hurt his knee...

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6/7 Day 3 Muir Pass Approach

  I hardly slept last night as my stomach was in pain and I could not hold down food. Writing of down, that is where I will be heading all morning as I pass lower Palisade Lakes and down Palisades Creek to where it meets the Middle Fork of the Kings River. Lower...

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6/6 Day 2 Mather Pass

After a ruff hike yesterday, I got up late and didn't get out hiking until 10am. I could not eat. I headed cross-country on the east side of the South Fork Kings River hoping to find a way across to get to the PCT. After a couple miles, the River had branched off...

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