PCT Hike Photos

[John H]

This is a little off topic for a fishing board but I did take photos and did catch some fish. The hike took about four months on the trail. Lots of 25 miles days. The PCT was intended to follow high ridges and get great views and does not pass by much fishable water. Through the Sierra it does pass some good lakes so I carried a rod there. These pictures are all taken on the iPhone. No room for a camera in a PCT pack. These pictures are generally in the order of the hike. I went Mexico to Canada but did the Sierra last to avoid the spring snow pack. Hopefully this gives you a feel for what the trail looks like.


An old PCT trail marker in Washington


The intersection of Die Hard Way and Pacific Crest Trail in Southern California. A long way between water sources down there.


Campsite in the Mojave desert.


The familiar sight of Mount Shasta and Castle Crags on the approach to crossing the upper Sac.


Crater Lake panorama. Awesome place in person and a highlight of the hike.


The north side of Mount Jefferson in Oregon. Pretty good mosquito mugging was going on while I took this photo.


Walking through the clouds in northern Washington.


Frosty morning in Jack Main Canyon, northern Yosemite.


Rainbow trout at Smedberg Lake, northern Yosemite.


Waiting for a storm to pass in Skykomish, Washington.

[johnsquires]

Great trip, great photos, and I'm sure stories that will last a lifetime.
How much weight did you lose?
I had breakfast in Skykomish a few weeks ago. Nice little place.

[John H]

You probably ate at the same place I stayed overnight. There is only one place in town. I probably lost close to 20 pounds. You eat a ton to keep the weight on and when you get home it comes back fast.

[DLJeff]

Fantastic photos John. Great quality too for cell phone pics. Had to chuckle at your mosquito comment - we do have a massive mosquito air force up here. Thanks for sharing.

[John H]

Oregon was the worst bugs for me. I was in Oregon from July 7 to the 23rd which is probably a peak time for them. I did not have a head net. I picked one up in Portland but that was too late. I got killed one night coming through a hemlock forest into Summit Lake. Beautiful spot but bug hell when I was there. They did motivate to increase my mileage and get through there.

[johnsquires]

How many were on your trip?

[DLJeff]

Oregon was the worst bugs for me. I was in Oregon from July 7 to the 23rd which is probably a peak time for them.

Yup, that'd be just about the peak in any places where there are marshy spots or lakes.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

You probably ate at the same place I stayed overnight. There is only one place in town. I probably lost close to 20 pounds. You eat a ton to keep the weight on and when you get home it comes back fast.

We met a school teacher who spent 2 months in Desolation Valley and lost a lot of weight every summer.

[John H]

It was a solo hike. Most people do it solo. It is hard to find someone who wants to hike for four or five months. Some people join up with another hiker and stay together for company. Many nights you camp with others who are on the trail also.

[johnsquires]

What's next?