PCT Day 114 – Bobby Lake (1919.2) to PCT Mile 1951.8

July 26, 2026

Total PCT miles: 32.6

Non PCT miles: 0.3

Total: 32.9 miles / 52.9 km

Total elevation gain: 3996 ft

Total elevation loss: 4068 ft

Steps: 74290

Remaining Distance: 703.2 miles

The alarm went off early as usual, and before long I was back on the trail. From the first few miles I could tell it was going to be a good day. My legs felt strong, nothing was really hurting, and the terrain was some of the gentlest I’ve seen in quite a while. Days like this are dangerous—they make it almost too easy to keep walking.

Before long I entered another large burn area. Unlike some of the previous fire scars I’ve walked through, almost nothing had grown back here. It felt more like hiking through a desert than a forest, with blackened tree trunks standing like skeletons across the landscape. As bleak as it looked, the lack of trees opened up incredible views of the Three Sisters towering on the horizon. It was easily the best scenery of the day and a reminder that even landscapes shaped by wildfire can have their own kind of beauty.

Later in the morning I met the support crew for someone attempting the Fastest Known Time (FKT) across the Oregon section of the Pacific Crest Trail. They’re aiming to complete the entire state in just six days. an absolutely mind-blowing pace when I think about how much effort it takes me to hike one good day. A little while later, while I was stopped filtering water, the runner flew by. There wasn’t much time for conversation before he disappeared up the trail, but it was incredible to witness someone moving at that speed.

Not long after, I officially entered the Three Sisters Wilderness. The scenery continued to improve as I passed countless small lakes and ponds scattered through the forest. They seemed to appear around every corner, each one calm enough to perfectly reflect the surrounding trees and mountains.

My original plan had been to spend the night at Dumbbell Lake, but when I arrived there were already several non-PCT hikers camped around the shoreline. Rather than squeeze into an already busy campsite, I decided to keep going. Since I was still feeling good, it seemed like the right decision.

That extra push turned into something I never expected. When I finally stopped for the evening, my watch read 32.9 miles—a new personal record on the Pacific Crest Trail. If you had told me back in Southern California that I’d one day hike nearly 33 miles and still feel good, I probably wouldn’t have believed you.

To top it all off, I camped beside an actual flowing stream. It might sound funny to get excited about something so ordinary, but after so many stagnant ponds and carefully rationed water carries, hearing moving water again was surprisingly refreshing.

If everything goes according to plan, tomorrow I’ll make my way into Bend. A shower, some real food, and a little time in town are sounding pretty good right now.