PCT Day 95: Getting Close to Oregon

Daily Miles: 26.7, Total Miles: 1688.7

All of us went over to the Seiad Cafe for breakfast. No one accepted the PCT Pancake Challenge – if you can finish five of their pancakes in a two-hour time limit, you don’t have to pay. Each pancake weighs about one pound. Someone actually finished all five pancakes yesterday, the first time in 5 years.

I was told Puma, who I know from earlier on the trail, attempted the Challenge yesterday. The waitress/cook said he ate maybe one and a half pancakes and took the rest with him to nibble on and use as a pillow.

Anyway, we had a great breakfast – Stilts and Peter topped it off with peanut butter and coffee milkshakes. I was tempted but didn’t want to be too sluggish for the upcoming 6,000 ft plus climb today.

After about a one mile walk west down Highway 96, then started a steady 4,400 ft climb to Upper Devil’s Peak. Topped out at lunch time and took a breather.

Much of the hike was through old burn areas, still very smoky and dense in places. The RV Park owner said this morning that the smoke is coming from uncontained fires near Grants Pass, Oregon, where I was born and raised.

I headed down to Cook and Green Pass and climbed back up another 2,000 ft towards Copper Butte. I passed a campsite at dusk and ran into Puma and Tumbleweed. Great to see them both again! No more flat spots so had to keep moving. Camped near Condrey Mountain and set up camp with my headlamp on.