Section: Crater Lake to Canadian Border

SYSTEM	GEAR	CARRIED	WORN
BACKPACK SYSTEM
Pack	ULA Circuit	40	yes
Pack Liner	Trash Compactor Bag	2.18	yes
SHELTER SYSTEM
Tarp	Outdoor Equipment Supplier Maccat Tarp	15	yes
Ground Cloth	Tyvek Ground Cloth	4.8	yes
SLEEP SYSTEM
Insulation Top	Enlightened Enigma 20 Quilt	22.85	yes
Insulation Bottom	Thermarest NeoAir Xlite (long)	15.92	yes
CLOTHING SYSTEM
Socks #2	Socks	1	yes
Underwear	Patagonia Underwear	4.7	yes
Hiking Shorts	NYU Shorts	11	yes
Hiking Shirt	Marmot LS Shirt	7	yes
Insulation Top	Arc’Teryx Cerium LT Hoody	13.85	yes
Wind Shell Bottom	NOLs Wind Pants	10.63	yes
Rain Shell Top	Marmot Super Mica Rain Jacket	9.95	yes
Insulating Hat	Outdoor Designs Hat	0.74	yes
Bandana	Bandana	1.29	yes
FOOTWEAR
Shoes	New Balance Trail Runners	23.52	yes
Socks #1	Socks	1	yes
COOKING SYSTEM
Stove	Snow Peak Giga Power Stove	1.98	yes
Cook Pot	GSI Outdoors Cook Pot	7.69	yes
Utensil	Long Spoon	0.51	yes
HYDRATION SYSTEM
Water Filter	Sawyer Squeeze	3.42	yes
Water Scoop	DIY Scoop/Adapter	0.59	yes
Water storage	lL Bladder	1.41	yes
Water Bottle	smart water bottle	1.29	yes
Water Bottle	smart water bottle	1.3	yes
SURVIVAL
Light	Petzl Tikka Head Lamp	3.19	yes
Fire Starter	Mini Bic Lighter	0.4	yes
Toothbrush	Portable Toothbrush w/ toothpaste	1.05	yes
Cash/Credit Card	cash/Credit/atm Card/ID	0.5	yes
ELECTRONICS
Phone/music	Galaxy s4	6.27	yes
Charger	phone charger	2	yes
Battery	Anker Battery	4.78	yes
ITEMS CARRIED
Trek poles	Black Diamond Trek Poles	20.22	yes
	Base Weight	173.3	68.73

 

Conditions Faced:

North of Crater Lake, it rained almost continuously for four days. Had I not been given a rudimentary tarp, I would have been in big trouble. From that point on, it did not rain until Washington.

Through Oregon, temperatures stayed hot, but all the trees provided enough shade to not hike in a hat. Some people never ditched their sun hats. I hiked in a bandana from mid Oregon to the border.

Mosquitos were still a problem through most of Oregon and the southern half of Washington.

It rained three times in Washington, and temperatures reached a low of 17 degrees on the third to last night on the trail. For the most part, the weather was perfect for hiking. North of Trout Lake, days fluctuated between 60 to 75 degrees. 

After Hike Notes:

Backpack System

• By this point, my pack felt like a part of my body.
• The trash compacter bag stayed perfect, without any holes, for the duration of the entire Thru Hike. It was pretty amazing.

Shelter System

• From Crater Lake to Cascade Locks I used a rudimentary ‘blue tarp’ given to me by a nice lady after a hitch. Lucky for me, I accepted it, as it rained for several days after that. This tarp would later team up with other hiker shelters to create The Darla Module. It is a  conglomeration of tarps and tents creating a four person shelter.
• From Cascade Locks to the border, I carried a real, silnylon tarp from Outdoor Equipment Supplier. It kept me dry when it rained a few days in Washington. I would have liked an enclosed tent for some of the colder nights. Or, at least a bivy.
• I ditched the Gossamer Gear Polycryo ground cloth at The Dinsmores (Skykomish), and began using a tyvek ground cloth. It is heavier, but possibly the cheapest, most effective ground cloth you can use.

Sleep System

• By Washington, my Enigma quilt was pretty dirty. Loft and therefore warmth, was effected. The 20 degree quilt was probably a 30-35 degree quilt now. I had my hottest night on the entire trail just north of Cascade Locks (lowest elevation on the trail), and my coldest night on the trail three days south of the border. 17 degrees marked the lowest temperature. I was very uncomfortable that night.
• I would not recommend cowboy camping in Washington, especially after mid September. A bivy, or tent would have made some North Cascade nights more comfortable.
• The Thermarest NeoAir Xlite is the best sleeping pad money can buy. Worth it. Always.

Clothing System

• I definitely wish I had a heavier pair of sleep socks.
• One pair of boxers was enough for me. The Patagonia Boxers were very comfortable and durable.
• I hiked mostly in shorts, but needed a good pair of pants too.
• The Marmot Stinson shirt I wore the entire trip lasted, but a lot of seams were starting to burst. Super glue melted a small hole in the front.
• My Arc’Teryx jacket was not as warm as it should be, due to being dirty. It was an absolute necessity for Washington. I could have used one more, light insulation layer for a few nights at the end.
• I ditched the Montbell Dynamo pants at Cascade Locks for the much heavier, but warmer and more durable NOLs wind pants. I hiked in these pants a bunch of times, especially when it rained. They are very quick drying. Many parts of the trail are lined with brush and scratch your legs. Pants help with that.
• A rain shell is very useful in Washington.
• Ditched the gloves. Needed all the warmth the hat could give me.
•  I ditched my hat and just wore a bandana for the duration of this section.

Footwear

• I used the same New Balance 610s from Mt. Shasta to the border. They were destroyed and the soles were totally crushed. My Superfeet insoles were flat. I don’t recommend wearing trail runners for over a 1000 miles.
• I had to repair multiple rips in my Dirty Girl gaiters, but I love these little things. They never come off.

Cooking System

• By this point, cooking is a science. Stove, fuel, cook pot, utensil. All working fine and efficiently.
• The long spoon is still the King of Utensils!

Hydration System

• The Sawyer Squeeze is still alive and well.
• Through Oregon there were a few, dry stretches. Washington had a lot of water.
• I’ve broken so many bladders. I finished the trail with a 1 liter bladder. It was given to me by another hiker. I did not carry water in Washington. There was so much around.

Survival

• I found uses for my pocket knife daily.
• A lighter should always be in your pack.
• Advil!
• Not very hygienic.

Electronics

• I used the Halfmile App and PCTHYOH App on a daily basis on my phone.
• I used the Anker Battery for all of Washington. It is an awesome battery. It charged my iPod three times, or my Galaxy phone twice.
• I listened to books or music everyday.