PCT: “Best of” Highlights

ByPurple Haze Posted on

I took 28 zeros and 9 neros (less than 7 miles) on this hike, a few more than planned due to illness and weather. But I still finished a week ahead of plan because of higher daily mileage. The biggest day for me was 35 miles which got me close to Timberline Lodge on Mt Hood – quite the motivation!

So my “best” list:

Best Hiking Day:

  • Goat Rocks (WA) – had it all with a little danger thrown in! Most pics in a single day.
  • Three Sisters Wilderness to McKenzie Pass (OR) – mountains, waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes and obsidian hills.
  • Thousand Island Lake/Ansel Adams Wilderness (CA) – drop dead gorgeous and coldest night.
  • Glacier Peak Wilderness north of Stevens Pass (WA).
  • Mt Jefferson (OR)

Best Off-Trail Hike:

  • Mt Whitney of course

Best Week of Hiking:

  • Crabtree Meadow to Forester, Glenn, Pinchot, Mather and Muir Passes. I could have spent a week at Evolution Lake alone.

Best Trail Town:

  • Idyllwild (CA) – everything you need close by, good food & drink!
  • Etna (CA) – brewery, good eats, could have spent more time there.
  • Mammoth Lakes (CA) – great free public transportation, brewery and bakeries!

Best Pigfest:

  • Vermillion Valley Resort (CA) – first the PCT breakfast special, several beers, Saturday night BBQ and whole peach pie alamode.
  • Timberline Lodge (OR) – the breakfast buffet, not once but twice!

Best Ice Cream/Milkshake:

  • Windjammer milkshake from Nelda’s in Lake Isabella
  • Banana Split from Jolly Kone in Bridgeport
  • Mango/Banana milkshake from Echo Lake Resort
Banana Split from Jolly Kone

Best Wildlife Encounter:

  • All the bear encounters were up close and personal but most memorable was the big papa bear near Tinker Knob near Donner Pass

Best Post Office:

  • Chester CA – banged on the door on a Saturday morning, officially closed but package was cheerfully retrieved!

Best Trail Angel:

  • are you kidding me – all are No. 1 in my book!

My congrats and regards to all the other hikers I met, hiked with, ate with, drank with, camped with, talked with and laughed with along the way. These shared experiences were often the most memorable.