PCT Day 102 – PCT mile 1677.7 to 1703.9

July 15, 2026

Total PCT miles: 26.2

Non PCT miles: 0

Total: 26.2 miles / 42.2 km

Total elevation gain: 4751 ft

Total elevation loss: 4984 ft

Steps: 61276

Remaining Distance: 951.1

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.