Pacific Crest Trail: Week Ten Brought Comfort from Home

The Pacific Crest Trail is a thru hiking adventure, that stretches 2,600 miles between Mexico and Canada. While my partner has been hiking since March 18 when I dropped him off on the border of Mexico, my adventure started the first week of May, with my good girl Chloe Rue at my side. We had to skip north of the Sierra Nevada Mountains this year, and plan to end with them. Instead, we started where our pets can officially join us: Old Station, California. Follow along for stories, dog tails and things I am learning on the way- about my dog, my partner and life in general.

Mount Hood in all her glory is a special sight to behold. Our time at Timberline Lodge savoring that sight with Seth’s parents was amazing. I watched The Shining in the very place it was filmed which was awesome. Chloe Rue loved walking around outside the historic hotel at sunset, and the pet friendly patio was SO awesome. When we left Timberline, the views of Mt Hood continued to be staggering. We realized we were officially in a “bubble” of hikers, with people who caught up to us going NOBO (North Bound) and people who were beginning their hike going SOBO (south bound).

Mount Hood is a special place for Chloe and I. I first visited Oregon WAY back in 2015 with my sister, before Chloe was even born. We camped alongside Mount Hood, and I remember even then feeling my entire heart feel full at her beauty. When I first formally moved to Oregon for work with Chloe we returned to the mountain again. I took snowboard lessons in her fluffy, plush, powdery snow and though I fell a few times I was never injured because the snow was so full. I returned multiple times and eventually got a season pass to enjoy those snowy slopes; and while Chloe didn’t like waiting for me in the truck, she LOVED running around the pet friendly area on the mountain. Chloe and I also savored so many hiking adventures at her base, up Bald Hill and Tom Dick and Harry trail. After the trauma that was 2020, when I decided to leave and try to move back to the Midwest; it was truly the mountain that brought me back to Oregon. It’s a whole story, but in seeing old work friends I wound up with a great job offer- that on top of just standing in the trees, sliding across the snow on my board, adventuring to all her beautiful falls- I just knew the mountain was my home. Once I had officially returned to Oregon, the mountain blessed me again when at its base was the first time Seth and I said that we loved each other. Then to top the entre, this mountain was my backdrop for 3 months while on a contract in the Columbia River Gorge this past winter. To say that the mountain was welcoming us, beckoning us home is an understatement. It almost felt like she was there with us, every second she was within our sights.

Pickles!

A special encounter with someone prior to entering another limited entry area made my whole day. Now if you’ve ever eaten a meal with me, you may know my obsession over pickles. I LOVE pickles and everything that has ever been pickled. Even spicy foods, once pickled are amazing! I honestly had been dreaming about pickles, and even making up pickle themed songs while on the trail. I missed them so much; and with this new appreciation of food, pickles were something I couldn’t wait to enjoy again.

As we walked in this area we like to call our backyard, we crossed a national forest road and met an extremely lost motorist. Poor thing was trying to find Lost Lake and had become extremely lost. When we said we were PCT hikers, she became fascinated with our story. We shared our map with her and gave direction to help her find the route back to civilization. She was SO grateful, and in thanks she dug through the back of her vehicle hoping she would have some magic for us.

“I have beer… and pickles!”

My whole face lit up like a puppy at a toy shop. Pickles! The last time I had pickles was before I left for the trail, during our friend group paint ball tournament. It had been MONTHS. I could NOT believe it was real. All those songs, all the dreaming and singing and dancing and skipping to pickled themed images in my brain: It all came to fruition! Seth got a beer and I carried away a bag full of pickles! I didn’t even know pickles came in bags. It was my favorite trail magical moment.

The PCT Community

As we had to walk slowly from Timberline to Cascade Locks for a group of friends who planned to meet us, we took our miles slowly and planned an awesome campsite each night. One of my favorite stories was when I took another solo morning, leaving camp at sunrise before Seth had woken up. I filled up my water at a popular creek, where two other hikers were filtering water. We began to chat, and I enjoyed walking with a really cool person named Strider. We walked along the wild Bull Run Wilderness, with views of Mt Hood, Mt Adams and crystal blue lakes scattered all around.

Strider was so much fun to talk to. She was an animal lover and a traveling pet sitter. I didn’t even know that was a thing! She had also hiked the Appalachian Trail in the past and had goals for the Continental Divide Trail in the future. Dreaming about a triple crown kept us talking for some time, about the dog friendly stretches and logistics of it all. The idea kept taunting me, yet having a beautiful, short 12 mile day (all in a single morning too) was also magical in how easy it felt.

I left Strider at the Eagle Creek Alternate junction, choosing to add 2 miles to our trek in favor of a beautiful alpine lake campsite that lay ahead. It also connected to Eagle Creek in a more round-about (but well maintained) manner. I arrived before our designated siesta time and Chloe and I ran into the lake with our hearts full! Chloe had ongoing energy today (even after 12 miles!) We played fetch in the water, went swimming, washed up and Chloe did her favorite water activity of digging and splashing in the water. We played for over an hour before soaking up sunshine in our hammock.

I really find value in solo time, and this solo day of hiking with hours at the lake before Seth joined us felt so good. Having the reflection and fun doggy time with my Chloe girl was so special. Seth and I both find Mt Hood especially magical, and I had to smile at every glimpse of her shining through the trees.

The Eagle Creek Alternate

Our last section before town is one of my favorite alternates on the PCT: The Eagle Creek Alternate. This segment of trail had been closed for 5 years after the Eagle Creek fire destroyed thousands of acres in the area. When it reopened last year in 2022 Seth and I jumped on the opportunity to hike it. Then we found ourselves in its midst once more on our PCT journey.

Tunnel Falls is a classic highlight, but my favorite part is how the waterfalls just sneak into your sight, as you’re walking on a narrow cliff edge. We ran into a few people enjoying the Eagle Creek journey (even on a week day) but found ourselves plowing forward, knowing town food waited for us in just a few miles.

Riding a Pet Friendly Bus

Cascade Locks was honestly, just okay. We had sent 3 packages to the Ale House, only to find their doors closed on the Monday we arrived to town (and they’re regularly closed Tuesday and Wednesday). Good thing we had planned a rest day because we would have been pretty upset if we had to wait three days for our food! It was already quite the interruption because we had been relying on our bounce box for a few items and weren’t able to access it until the Thursday we were heading back to trail.

Despite multiple businesses being closed when their hours said they’d be open, it was fun to interact with the hiker bubble in town. We met a nice man from London who loved petting the dogs (also waiting on mail) and a whole family of women who have a youtube channel documenting their three generation hike. It is fun talking to hikers and meeting people from all over the world.

We had plans (thankfully) to enjoy a “zero” day in a nearby town called Hood River. Seth and I absolutely LOVE the town- especially since it was familiar to me after having worked a contract nearby this winter. We had booked a room at our favorite hotel that’s right downtown and super pet friendly. However, we had to find a way to get there!

When we looked up the county bus, we were excited to see that it was 1 dollar. We were even more shocked when we saw- you guessed it- it was pet friendly! Stoked, we hopped on the bus with our packs and our good girls. The girls did absolutely awesome on the 20 minute drive. They cooperated with us in putting our packs in the way back, then set up shop under the seats just like they’re supposed to. Chloe, on floor of the outside seat, peaked her little head into the aisle while we drove so she could help the bus driver if he needed it.

The bus had just a couple stops between Cascade Locks and Hood River. We didn’t have a super empty, nor a super full bus. It was all around a really easy, awesome experience.

After we disembarked from the bus, we plodded our paws along to enjoy Hood River’s amazing food! The girls especially loved Kickstarter Coffee that actually has the PCT as part of a mural on their wall!

Our rest day here was wonderful, topped off by a visit from Seth’s parents one more time for a ride back to the trail. They also agreed to cheer us across the Bridge of the Gods. This was extra exciting because I had been dreaming about this moment for SO long. It meant we had WALKED across the state of Oregon and were finally walking into Washington! It meant we were leaving our home, trekking toward unknown lands.

As we walked across the beautiful bridge, I tried to remember my favorite scenes in Oregon. I was distracted, because the bridge is made out of see-through metal grates. The holes on the ground were HUGE. I was trying to keep poor Chloe’s happy little paws from slipping through those metal grates toward the Columbia River. Instead of reminiscing about Oregon I was holding my dog up, to prevent her from slipping her little paws straight down, hundreds of feet into the Columbia River Gorge. Thank God she has four paws! I kept thinking about the secret trap stairs in Harry Potter that Neville always got stuck in, and when Harry got stuck in the 4th book and lost his map and golden egg. I was hoping that Chloe wouldn’t get trapped in the bridge like that!

Against many odds, we made it across. Seth’s parents took a photo of us, cheered for us, and kept us safe by following us all the way in their car. We crossed the road and then I reflected on Oregon.

Oregon had Crater Lake and our road walk above the Rim, Mt Lucifer and Devils Peak covered in snow, the Three Sisters and Obsidian area, Mt Jefferson so close we could almost touch it, the fish fry at Olallie lake where we enjoyed the company of incredible hikers, Mt Hood, Ashland, Bend with friends and all the people we met each step of the way. Walking with my best friend and my good girl every single day- bonding whenever I’m crying about snow, or sometimes Chloe finds that muscle that hurts and sets her head right on it, reminding me to rest. Oregon, my home, touched my soul once again in a way that allowed it to grow. We had a chance to heal from the hard times, and remember how strong I really am. We had a daily reminder to look up at the green trees with a huge thank you for all the work they do for our planet every day. It was sad to leave Oregon, sure. Yet when you know a place is your home, you know that this goodbye won’t be for long.

Have you ever been to Oregon? How about tried a ride on a pet friendly form of public transportation? Have you ever had pickles on a backpacking trip? Chloe hopes you all are well and wonderful! As always we wish you Happy Tails and Happy Trails.

Barking Embarkers