PCT Day 104-106 – Double Zero In Medford to PCT mile 1744.2
July 17-19, 2026
Total PCT miles: 25.0
Non PCT miles: 0.0
Total: 25.0 miles / 40.2 km
Total elevation gain: 3894 ft
Total elevation loss: 3138 ft
Steps: 51545
Remaining Distance: 910.8 miles
Double Zero In Medford
The term double zero is really misleading. The first day was really an “admin” day and the second day more a relaxing zero day. My biggest hope was some rest would give my body a chance to recover a little and hopefully reduce the amount of pain I’ve been feeling while I hike. The second reason for the double zero was I plan on doing Oregon completely with resupply boxes to various resorts that are all either on trail or a very short distance from trail. This will reduce my need to travel into towns over the next 20ish days.
New shoes!
The first day I shopped until I dropped at the grocery outlet, Walmart (twice because I didn’t count the number of days I would ve hiking correctly), REI for new socks, shoes and a few other odds and ends and the post office to mail out my first box to make sure it gets there in time.
16 days of food… wish I could carry more.
The first three boxes have 4 days of food in them and the last one has 2 along with anything I didn’t want to carry through Oregon. I decided to mail my warmer sleeping clothes up as the chances I need them are slim to none.
By the end of the day I had taken almost 30000 steps. Definitely not a zero.
On my second day I still had three boxes to get in the mail. My first box was rushed and I actually didnt put everything I wanted to in it. Unfortunately two of the boxes (Shelter Cove Resort and Timberline Lodge) had to be shipped with UPS and not by mail. Which cost more than I would have liked.
The rest of the day I ate lots of food, updated my blog and even watched a movie! It was hopefully the rest I needed.
July 19 – Medford to Hyatt Lake Campground (1744.2)
I wanted to get back on trail early today to get some miles in before it got too hot. This meant taking an Uber vs a potential ride via a trail angel. My initial plan has been to bus from Medford to Ashland and Uber from there but surprise, buses don’t run on Sundays in Medford.
I arrived at the trailhead shortly before 0630 and was hiking soon afterwards. Fortunately the smoke from the nearby Evans Creek Fire wasn’t anywhere as bad as it had been in town the last two days.
A few miles into the hike I came across a little bit of trail magic. Hollywood who owns the property here had left out a giant cooler of Gatorade. It was already hot and I was already sweating so I helped myself to half a liter.
This section is really really dry and most of the seasonal water sources that one can use in the early season are dry. I picked up an extra water bottle in Medford bringing my carrying capacity to 4 liters plus my GNOC filter bag. I hope to rarely need to carry more than 3.
Unfortunately my rest day seems to have done very little to reduce the amount of pain I feel throughout the day. Between my sciatic nerve, Achilles and other random foot pain it was sometimes hard to tell what hurt worse. To make it worse my back is also quite sore… probably from the hotel bed which was very comfortable but not very supportive. The pains are all weird as all I need to do I rest for 10 ish minutes and they resolve for a few more miles. But resting so often means longer hiking days with less miles accomplished.
Tonight I’m camping at Hyatt Lake. There is a PCT campsite here that costs 2$. There are washrooms with running water and hot showers and picnic tables here. So definitely worth the 2$. Unfortunately the site is small and full. After my shower I saw a doe and fawn walking around the campsite.
Fortunately the forecast is saying that tomorrow will be a bit cooler with clouds. I’m still planning a fairly early start to provide lots of time for breaks.
Lots of smoke in the air from the Even Creek fireAlways nice finding an unexpected outhouse on trail
PCT Day 103 – PCT mile 1703.9 to Ashland (1719.2) to Medford.
July 16, 2026
Total PCT miles: 15.3
Non PCT miles: 0.5
Total: 15.8 miles / 25.4 km
Total elevation gain: 1991 ft
Total elevation loss: 3891 ft
Steps: 32223
Remaining Distance: 935.8
Mount Shasta
I think today is the first town day where I had a hard time getting out of bed. The exhaustion of walking a marathon yesterday combined with the poor sleep I had due to the less than ideal camp site had me hitting snooze on my early alarm. That’s not to say I “slept in” as I was was still on trail at 0530 but I had intended to get moving sooner to get to town faster.
There is no forest fire smoke from where I am now but as the sun rose I could definitely tell it’s in the valley below. I made okay time but I’m really feeling the aches and pains in my ankles today. Fortunately unlike yesterday it got better throughout the morning.
I was ecstatic when I came to the end of the only real climb today and found coolers full of soda and chairs to sit in. Trail magic really does get one into a positive head space. I sat on the chair and relaxed much longer than I planned but that’s okay.
From here it was basically all down hill to Callahan’s where I would attempt to get a hitch into Ashland before bussing into Medford. I decided to get a hotel in Medford because it’s significantly cheaper And it’s close to all the things I need.
When I arrived at the road I found Two Plates, Buzz Lightning and Squeeks trying to hitch a ride. Buzz had gotten impatient and ordered an Uber and took us all into Ashland where we went our separate ways.
I bussed to Medford, checked into my hotel and enjoyed a wonderful shower.
I’m taking a double zero here for a number of reasons; I’m tired and hoping some rest will help my ankle, I’m going to be doing my resupply for all of Oregon and mailing boxes and because I deserve it.
To finish on September 1st I’ll need to do 21.3 miles per day not including zeros. Which I think is absolutely more than attainable.
I was woken up around 1:00 a.m. by the sound of something moving through the bushes. When I caught a glimpse of a white light, I assumed it was another hiker heading down to the water and rolled over to go back to sleep. Later that day, “Two Plates,” who had camped just above the trail, told me there had actually been a bear wandering through camp. The light I’d seen was him chasing it away.
Well… crisis averted, I guess. Maybe mailing my bear canister home wasn’t my smartest decision.
I got an early start this morning but it was late enough that I didn’t need my headlamp. My Achilles tendons and ankles were hurting from the very first steps. The discomfort stuck with me all day. I took plenty of short breaks to try to keep things manageable. I’m hoping the new shoes waiting for me in Medford, along with a little rest, will help settle down the extra pain I’ve been dealing with lately.
One thing I did well today was staying on top of my hydration. Water sources were much more plentiful than yesterday, and every time I stopped I made sure to drink at least a litre before moving on. Looking ahead, Oregon has several notoriously dry stretches, so staying ahead of my water intake is going to be important, especially if this heat continues.
At exactly 2:00 p.m., I finally crossed the state line and said goodbye to California and hello to Oregon.
It’s hard to believe I’ve spent the last 102 days hiking across one giant state. California feels a lot like Ontario—it just keeps going and going.
At the border I ran into Stats, Perfect Day, and Buzz Lightning, hikers I’d been leapfrogging with throughout the day. It was fun sharing this milestone with them.
The trail conditions immediately improved once I entered Oregon. They’re the best I’ve seen since leaving the Sierra. Almost no blowdowns, very little overgrowth, and wonderfully graded trail.
One of the classic sayings on the PCT is that “Oregon is flat.” That’s definitely an exaggeration. The state still packs in more than 70,000 feet of elevation gain, but the climbs are much more gradual and forgiving than what I’ve grown used to. Many thru-hikers even take on the “Oregon Challenge,” trying to hike the entire state in just two weeks by averaging around 32 miles a day. My goal is a little more modest: around 25 miles a day. That said, I’d still love to knock out a 30-mile day at least once before this journey is over.
Throughout the afternoon I could see smoke from the East Evans Creek Fire burning northeast of Medford. Fortunately, it’s nowhere near the trail, so aside from hazy skies and smoky air it shouldn’t affect my hike. Still, seeing the number of fires burning across Oregon and Washington is concerning. It also serves as a reminder of the incredible work firefighters are doing under extremely difficult and dangerous conditions.
Later in the day I passed the 1,700-mile marker. I know I haven’t actually walked every single one of those miles, but the milestone still means something. Every marker I pass brings me one kstep closer to home.
Finding a campsite proved surprisingly difficult. Much of the afternoon was spent hiking along exposed ridgelines where flat ground was hard to come by. After walking a full marathon, I eventually settled for a less-than-ideal spot. It’s dusty, uneven, and now just about everything I own is covered in dirt—but it’ll do for one night.
Oregon has officially begun, and with fewer than 1,000 miles remaining, the finish line finally feels like it’s coming into view.
PCT Day 100 & 101 – Chester to Seiad Valley to PCT mile 1677.7
July 13&14, 2026
Total PCT miles: 20.2
Non PCT miles: 0
Total: 20.2 miles / 32.5 km
Total elevation gain: 7395 ft
Total elevation loss: 2688 ft
Steps: 48660
Remaining Distance: 977.3
Day 100 – Chester To Seiad
I slept in until around 0700 this morning in Dale’s backyard. I actually had a great sleep and felt rested for a change. It must have been the full belly I went to bed with. I packed up my belongings and said farewell to Dale before heading out. I really appreciated his generosity and wish I had more time to chat.
Today I’m getting a ride from Chester to Seiad Valley from Emily. I had posted on a Trail Angel page looking for advice on how to do this via public transport and Emily offered to drive me. I’m still a bit in shock over this if I’m being honest.
Before she picked me up I needed to have breakfast and do my resupply at the grocery store. From my understanding there wasn’t much in Seiad so I wanted to get that done here. I’m really glad I did because my understanding was correct.
I and two other hikers were picked up by Emily before noon. She’s doing a bit of a tour. Dropping off a few hikers in Burney, picking up more and dropping them off in Shasta then finally dropping me off before taking the last hiker to Ashland. It was quite the beautiful drive especially as we neared Mount Shasta. I don’t think I’ll ever come back to hike the section of PCT I am skipping. But maybe someday I’ll road trip and day hike around here.
I was dropped off at the Seiad Valley General store around 1700. Sadly the restaurant was closed but I grabbed a few more beverages before hiking down to the Wildwood RV park which has PCT camping for 15$. Fortunately I was in time for dinner! For a 20$ donation it’s ribs, salad, bread and beans. Not bad!! Showers and Landry were also available for a fee but I needed neither so I passed. Thankfully the WiFi was free as there is no cell service here.
Here I ran into two hikers I had last seen way back in the Desert section. Sicko and Rocket.
Day 101 – Seiad to PCT mile 1677.7
I knew today was going to be hot and I also knew I had a massive 4500 ft climb out of Seiad Valley onto the sounding mountains. Maybe I should have just skipped to Ashland to avoid this climb. What I didn’t have a full appreciation of was how exposed the remainder of the day was going to be and that I would be hiking through another burn scar during the peak heat of the day.
I was up near zero dark thirty and hiking by 0430 am. I tried to be as quiet as possible while packing up as I was surrounded by other tents. Everyone else but one other hiker was getting up at a more sensible hour but I wanted to do as much of the climb as possible while it was cooler out.
As the sun started illuminating the valley below I was treated to a beautiful view of Seiad. I reached the top of the first climb of the day and started the ridge walk past the lower middle and upper devils peaks and had amazing 360 views. The trail continued to loose and gain elevation but overall was fairly cruisy. I passed a few questionable water sources and was happy I had carried 3 heavy liters with me.
I descended towards a forest service road and saw a pickup truck that had a camper parked and I immediately started drooling thinking trail magic was to be had. Unfortunately they were just camped there, in this random spot and no such magic had been brought. But at least the water source here was cold and there was good shade for lunch. I rested about an hour until I had enough of the bees. It started with one but continued escalating. They seemed particularly interested in my hat for some reason.
I left here up the next climb in the peak heat of the day and entered a very exposed, burn scar area. The heat was intense and I took lots of breaks but I was moving slow. I had to be cautious with my water because the next source was some distance away. The trail was in pretty horrible shape and I completely lost it once. I also ripped the knee of my pants on a downed tree. I mean I’ve worn these pants for every day for the past 101 days so I can’t really complain. I’ll try to have them repaired or repair them myself in Ashton. Along this ridge walk I could see the smoke from the Evan’s fire thst is burning north of Medford. Fortunately its not impacting the PCT at this time.
There have been several new fires in the past few days in Northern California and Oregon. I suppose it is the season. I check a website called Watch Duty anytime I get service to make sure there is nothing nearby I need to be concerned about.
I reached Bear Dog Spring around 1700 and decided Id had enough hiking for the day. The spring is barely a trickle but easy enough to collect and it’s cold. It’s not the best camp site, I’m on a bit of a slant, there’s an overly friendly rabbit and I’m camped under a large dead tree. But there’s no wind tonight so I doubt the tree will cause me any issues fortunately.
I was up early, just as the sun started to outline the mountains far off in the distance. I should have stayed and watched the sun rise from where I was because it was spectacular. But instead I had made the decision to start hiking as the sky was being illuminated in bright reds and oranges. No doubt due to the pollution from nearby wildfires. One started yesterday between here and Quincy.
I over did it yesterday and my body was letting me know this. My sciatic nerve on my left side was on fire radiating pain down my entire leg. I’ve been having issues with my sciatic nerve since the Sierra. Some days it really bothers me and others it does not. But nothing was going to stop me from reaching my goal today. I took my time and took lots of breaks.
Today I reached the halfway point of the Pacific Crest Trail.
When I stood at the Mexican border 99 days ago, I honestly wasn’t sure I would ever make it here. I knew the statistics and my own personal tract record having only done 200 miles in 2018. I knew how many people start a thru-hike and never reach this point. Between the desert heat, my ankle injury early in the hike, the Sierra Nevada, my sciatica, and all the unknowns that come with walking across a country, this milestone always felt incredibly far away.
Yet 3.2 million steps later here I am.
One of the things I’ve learned over the last 99 days is that thru-hiking can be deceiving. On any given day, it often feels like you’re not accomplishing much. You wake up, pack your tent, and start walking. By the end of the day you’ve covered another ten to twenty-something miles, crawl into your sleeping bag, and when the sun comes up, it feels like you’re starting all over again. Back at zero miles for the day.
But that’s the beauty of this trail.
Progress isn’t measured by one incredible day. It’s built one ordinary day at a time. Every climb, every blister, every early morning, every tired step slowly adds up. You don’t notice it happening until one day you look behind you and realize you’ve walked 1,325 miles from Mexico… and Canada is now only 1,325 miles away.
The halfway marker itself is surprisingly understated. There’s no giant monument or elaborate sign. Just a simple concrete marker with “PCT Midpoint” engraved on it. One side reads “Mexico 1325 Miles”, the other “Canada 1325 Miles.” That’s it. After everything it takes to get there, I think its simplicity makes it even more meaningful.
The night before, some incredibly kind trail angels gave me a small bottle of champagne. It seemed only fitting to carry it the final miles and celebrate at the halfway marker. Standing there, raising the bottle in the middle of the forest, was a moment I’ll never forget.
As if reaching halfway wasn’t emotional enough, Mel somehow found another way to surprise me. She put together a gift with more than 70 video messages from family, friends, and my colleagues back home, all wishing me well on the rest of the journey. Watching those familiar faces from thousands of miles away was incredibly special, and I can confidently report that it definitely did not make me cry.
(Okay… maybe just a little.)
Reaching the halfway point also came with one of the toughest decisions of the hike. After a lot of thought, I’ve decided to skip approximately 300 miles of Northern California, from Chester to Seiad Valley. My goal has always been to walk every mile of the Pacific Crest Trail, so this wasn’t a decision I made lightly. But I also have another adventure waiting at the end of September, and I want to finish the trail with enough time to spend a little while at home with Mel, my family, and friends before heading off to New Zealand.
Rather than spending the next two months constantly racing the clock, I’ve chosen to make a strategic skip through a section many hikers consider less iconic than what lies ahead. While I won’t be walking every mile, I’ll be hiking every remaining mile from Seiad Valley to Canada, and I know I’ll arrive at the northern terminus with memories and experiences that few people are fortunate enough to have.
Today isn’t the finish line. There are still 1,325 miles between me and Canada, and I know there will be plenty of difficult days ahead. But today also proved something I wasn’t sure of back on April 5.
I belong out here.
The trail has challenged me, humbled me, and changed me. It has taught me that big goals aren’t accomplished all at once. They’re achieved by showing up every single day, putting one foot in front of the other, and trusting that all those ordinary days will eventually become something extraordinary.
Halfway to Canada.
Let’s go.
After about 30 mins I left the 1/2 way marker and started my way to the trail head only 8 or so miles away. I’m not sure if It was the champagne or the emotions but my sciatic nerve finally calmed down and I was making good time.
It was hot and there wasn’t a lot of water in this stretch so when I finally got to the first stream I’d seen all day I drank 2 liters of nice cold water! I arrived at the trail head at around 1500 and waited for GunSlinger to arrive. He’s section hiking the parts of the trail he missed in 2023 due to fires and the record snow year and had his car at the trail head. I’m grateful for the ride into town he provided and wish him well in completing the rest of the PCT this year.
One of the highlights of this section wasn’t on the trail at all—it was meeting Dale in Chester. After I posted on Facebook looking for advice on getting from Chester to Seiad Valley, Dale reached out and offered a place to stay for the night. I pitched my tent in his backyard, enjoyed my first real shower in days, caught up on laundry, and we shared a fantastic homemade chili over great conversation. It turns out he’s originally from Canada, so we had plenty to talk about. Trail angels like Dale are a reminder that the PCT isn’t just about the miles—it’s about the incredible people you meet along the way. Next week he’s heading out on his very first overnight backpacking trip, and I wish him nothing but the best. Thanks again, Dale, for your kindness.
