1800 Miles, 3 Months...Finished (for now?)

Yay!! Our summer journey of 1,830 miles across the varied terrain of California and Southern Oregon has come to an end after 3 months on the trail. It was glorious, it was painful at times, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
It feels like a dream now, some two months later. This is a blessing and perhaps a curse.
Blessing: fond memories remain. We look back and think: hey that was kinda fun.

Curse: fond memories remain. We look back and think: hey that was kinda fun. Or worse, sometimes we can´t even remember what it was like at all and we think: Hey what do you think it would be like to hike the PCT? Hey, that sounds crazy, maybe we should try it. And so the rest of Oregon and Washington calls.... (when we´re warm, our tummies are full, and most importantly, when we´re not walking 25 miles a day.)

And now we´re in Guatemala with Jon´s sister, Maria, attending language school for six weeks. No, we didn´t walk here.

Thank you everyone for your prayers and encouragement, even though some of you dirty rascals were sending bad vibes with your negative thoughts. May the Lord not punish you with a 1800 mile walk. And anyone who wonders why we didn´t go to the remaining 800 miles to the Canadian border, please walk the length of the State of California and then we´ll have a good long talk about it over a pint of Ben and Jerry´s ice cream (a thru-hiker´s must-have).

Much love and fewer miles,

Jon and IvaJo

Crater Lake!

Behind of us, of course, is the magnificent Crater Lake. We got up early that morning and ran 3 steep miles to the rim. We were fortunate enough to make it by sunrise, a beautiful sight to sum up this year's hike.

There we were treated to breakfast by a very friendly and fascinating fellow hiker, and then we began our trek down south, getting rides from park rangers, our good friend, Vanessa, and IvaJo's wonderful parents.

More Miles, More Smiles

Yep. :) :) :)

Majestic Shasta

This shot is from near the CA/OR border. The trail makes almost a three-quarter circle around Shasta, and it was in view for about three weeks. The trail used to make a more direct, shorter shot on the East of Shasta, but because of the lack of water they routed it to the beautiful west through the Trinity Alps, the Marble Mountains, and the Russian Wilderness. We can see why this celestial rock has captured the heart of our good friend, Zoe (Just thinking about Zoe brings out the poetic nature in one). The Hawk is pleased...what do you think, Zoe?

Bear Paw Prints

We saw a black bear tromp across our path somewhere near the Oregon border, leaving this beautiful specimen for us to study.

Good Bye, California

Behind us lies a big, big state. Wow.

We had been in California for just about 3 months with all its diverse geography.
If ever California gets to feel a little cramped, just take a little walk on the PCT.

Not Even 1000 Miles Left

999.9 miles...we had it calculated at .01 mile later, but...that's what the rock said.

Some more S'mores

Big thanks to Jon's brother, Mark, and cousin, Tyler (and dog, Henry) who were able to meet us at Lake McCloud around the middle of August. There was great fishing (although Jon caught nothing) and great food (including blackberry cobbler made on the site from the nearby bushes!)

One note about the food, however: the trip will ever be remembered as the one on which Mark ate a full pound of Hershey's chocolate and a bag of marshmallows. His evident stomach pain did little to prove his case in our debate over virtues of patiently roasting your marshmallows versus eating them "raw" and in rapid succession. Mark's feeling better, thankfully, in this picture of the following morning.

Big Miles

These overall mileage signs are very few, so we thought we'd take a picture as proof that we've been on the trail. Of course you can't prove anything with digital pictures these days. They don't allow them in court because of the possiblity of photo editing.
So for all you know, we could have spent these months chilling in Hawaii and photo editing. And for all you know I don't really have a beard, and IvaJo does.

Thank You, Georgie and Dennis

This is a tree house at the home of two wonderful "Trail Angels" who open their home for us dirty hikers. And not only can you camp on their property, but they provide you with amazing family meals. Definitely a favorite memory.

Thanks again, Georgie and Dennis.

Brain Face

Our friend, Steven Braney, is the one and only to have joined us on a significant portion (a very good, hard 50 miles along Hatcreek Rim, South of Burney, CA). He got the whole PCT experience: A night at a "Trail Angel's" house in Old Station, a little time in a desertish type place, a grand finish at Burney Falls, and a trail name (even we never got one of those): "Brain Face". Here we are in some caves near Old Station, CA.

Oh, We´re Halfway There! Oh, Living on a Prayer!

Take my hand and...sorry... So here we are halfway to Canada somewhere a few miles South of Seiad Valley, California. Please excuse us if the title above caused the song to get stuck in your head.