Start Point: Ashland
Trail access desc: 13.0mi road
Guidebook start location: Interstate 5 crossing
Depart: 8-14-16 (Sun)
Plan Overview Notes:
1. Ashland to Highway 138 (Oregon) (7.3 days)
8-14-16
to 8-23-16
135.5 mi *
11,326 ft EG
18.6 mi/day
1,556 ft/day
* Adjustments:
2.50 mi pace
9 hours/day
60 minutes added per eg comp
+9.6 mi extra distance
Highway 138 (Oregon) exit
Exit pt:
Highway 138 crossing
Arrive:
8-21-16 (Sun)
Layover:
1.7 days
Depart:
8-23-16 (Tue)
Cumulative distance: 135.5 mi
Notes:
PCT 1716.2
PCT 1845.5+9.6
Crater Lake has lousy resupply so I am bypassing and heading to Diamond Lake Resort. This West of the PCT - Take Diamond Lake Trail at 138 (PCT 1845.8). Parallels 138 into the resort.
2. Highway 138 (Oregon) to Sisters (6.7 days)
8-23-16
to 8-31-16
137.0 mi
10,951 ft EG
20.5 mi/day
1,635 ft/day
Adjustments: none
Sisters resupply exit
Exit pt:
Highway 242 crossing
Detour:
15.0mi road
Arrive:
8-29-16 (Mon)
Layover:
1.3 days
Depart:
8-31-16 (Wed)
Cumulative distance: 272.5 mi
Notes:
PCT 1856+7
PCT 1990
Leave Diamond Lake with 7 days food (if possible!)
Sisters is 15 mile hitch from PCT on 242. Zero day here! Take the Lava Lake Camp Trail at PCT 1980.1 and hitch from there - easier than McKenzie Pass.
3. Sisters to Cascade Locks (7.5 days)
8-31-16
to 9-9-16
148.6 mi *
16,495 ft EG
19.8 mi/day
2,193 ft/day
* Adjustments:
+-17.0 mi extra distance
Cascade Locks resupply exit
Exit pt:
(on trail)
Detour:
on trail
Arrive:
9-7-16 (Wed)
Layover:
1.5 days
Depart:
9-9-16 (Fri)
Cumulative distance: 421.1 mi
Notes:
PCT 1998 Rejoin PCT at HYW 20
PCT 2043 Olallie Lake Resort (0.1 miles off trail)
PCT 2094 Timberline Lodge (on trail restaurant/small store)
If lodge store sucks - bus to Government Camp
PCT 2144
Long section but several places to resupply - about every 50-60 miles so only need 3 days of food at any one time. Zero day in Cascade locks.
4. Cascade Locks to White Pass (7.7 days)
9-9-16
to 9-18-16
147.7 mi
20,822 ft EG
19.1 mi/day
2,697 ft/day
Adjustments: none
White Pass resupply exit
Exit pt:
Highway 12 crossing
Detour:
.5mi road
Arrive:
9-16-16 (Fri)
Layover:
1.3 days
Depart:
9-18-16 (Sun)
Cumulative distance: 568.8 mi
Notes:
PCT 2144
PCT 2292
Long section with not much chance to resupply. Carry 7-8 days of food (no choice). Either stay in White Pass or hitch (20 miles) to Packwood.
Zero Day here
5. White Pass to Snoqualmie Pass (4.9 days)
9-18-16
to 9-23-16
99.0 mi
9,185 ft EG
20.2 mi/day
1,871 ft/day
Adjustments: none
Snoqualmie Pass resupply exit
Exit pt:
Interstate 90 crossing
Detour:
.3mi road
Arrive:
9-22-16 (Thu)
Layover:
0.3 days
Depart:
9-23-16 (Fri)
Cumulative distance: 667.8 mi
Notes:
PCT 2292
PCT 2391
Pretty much on the PCT. Two large C-stores for resupply. No zero here? Plan to spend the night at Summit Lodge. Leave late following morning (after resupply).
6. Snoqualmie Pass to Skykomish (3.7 days)
9-23-16
to 9-28-16
74.5 mi
13,450 ft EG
20.2 mi/day
3,650 ft/day
* Adjustments:
2.5 mi pace
9 hours/day
15 minutes added per eg comp
Skykomish resupply exit
Exit pt:
Highway 2 crossing
Detour:
16.2mi road
Arrive:
9-26-16 (Mon)
Layover:
1.1 days
Depart:
9-28-16 (Wed)
Cumulative distance: 742.3 mi
Notes:
PCT 2391
PCT 2462
Hitch to Skykomish (16 miles) or Leavenworth (35 miles). Leavenworth is a much bigger town with better lodging/resupply options.
Zero Day
7. Skykomish to Highway 20 (Rainy Pass) (6.4 days)
9-28-16
to 10-5-16
117.5 mi
20,760 ft EG
18.4 mi/day
3,256 ft/day
Adjustments: none
Highway 20 (Rainy Pass) exit
Exit pt:
Highway 20
Arrive:
10-4-16 (Tue)
Layover:
1.0 days
Depart:
10-5-16 (Wed)
Cumulative distance: 859.8 mi
Notes:
PCT 2462
PCT 2589
At Hwy 20 Hitch to either Mazama (18 miles to the right) or Winthrop (also to the right, 35 miles). Winthrop is bigger with more options. Mazama is just a store/inns. Current plan is Winthrop. This is also where I will ship my duffel for the return flight (Hostel):
Jason MacInnis
PCT Hiker, ETA 10/02/16
North Cascades Mountain Hostel
PO BOX 1338
Winthrop, WA 98862
8. Highway 20 (Rainy Pass) to Manning Park (3.6 days)
10-5-16
to 10-8-16
69.7 mi
9,453 ft EG
19.2 mi/day
2,609 ft/day
Adjustments: none
Manning Park finish
Exit pt:
Highway 3 crossing
Arrive:
10-8-16 (Sat) (finish)
Cumulative distance: 929.5 mi
Ashland to Manning Park
8-14-16 to 10-8-16 (1.9 months)
(northbound hike)
47.8
days walking
0.0
on trail layover days
8.2
in town layover days
(6.3 in town "zero" days)
56.0
Total days
1.9
Total months
without layovers:
19.4 mi/day
2,352 ft/day
with layovers:
16.6 mi/day
2,008 ft/day
Base Distance:
936.9 mi
Extra Distance:
-7.4 mi
Total Distance:
929.5 mi
Base Elevation gain:
112,442 ft
Extra EG:
0 ft
Total Elevation gain:
112,442 ft
Resupply count:
7
Plan Considerations:
If you are planning a longer hike, the plan above might be incredibly accurate or completely off. You might find that after a month of hiking your pace will change. You might find out that you are a Secret Superman (or Wonder Woman) and are knocking out a lot more miles per day than you planned. On the downside, a forest fire might add a +10 mile detour or a sore foot might cause you to spend a few extra days in a town.