Hiking & Backpacking
Hiking & Exploring the Outdoors Around Us 10 Things I learned in my first 1000 miles on the PCTOur Love of Hiking
Hiking is our thing. It’s our couple thing, our family thing, our exercise and our connection to nature. Since the beginning, day-hikes have been part of our relationship. Then our first backpacking experience in the late 90’s hooked us.
We hiked around Washington’s Mt Rainier on The Wonderland Trail. Even though it was super difficult with elevation gains & losses at the equivalent of ascending/descending the mountain twice, we’d still do it again! We loved it (and also hated it a little). After that, we’ve done countless day and weekend hikes.
And we always have the Pacific Crest Trail in the back of our minds. So in 2019 we set out to thru-hike it! The trail stretches from the boarder of California and Mexico all the way up to the boarder of Washington and Canada. In preparation, we sold our house and moved into an apartment, which just happened to be right down the street from REI! Later, we quit our jobs and planned an adventure! What a crazy ride the PCT was, even when it didn’t go according to plan. So, basically the foundation of our marriage is rooted in dirt, stream crossings and long meandering paths. And it’s such a good life!
Hiking History Over the Years
We hike to be outdoors, to experience nature in all her beauty, and to connect with each other & with other hikers. Hiking fills us with peace and exhilaration for what our bodies can accomplish. Another awesome reason we hike is because lots of miles = lots of trail snacks! Of course, that’s a great bonus! We ran many miles together in our younger years. But now hiking fulfills that desire for sunshine, nature and good company.
Pairs of Trail Shoes
Nights in the Wilderness
Hamburgers enjoyed after hiking
Tents Owned
Walk the Pacific Crest Trail With Us
Check out each section of the trail with us below. Or click our blog posts page to just read it all in chronological order. If, you know, you like to read this kind of hiker-trash thing!
Recent Hiking Articles
From expenses & trip planning to weight loss reports. Learn about our favorite hikes and backpacking spots.
PCT Finishers medal
2652 miles is a very long distance to hike with a heavy load.
Northern Black Hills of South Dakota
Traveling the Northern Black Hills of South Dakota in October is full of colorful leaves, friendly locals & lots of wild animals! Come along!
Devils Tower (Bear Lodge) Wyoming
Devils Tower (Bear Lodge) stands tall out of Wyoming’s prairie. A sacred place; great for climbing & walking. It’s beauty lured us for miles.
Mushroom hunting In Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Mushroom hunting has been on our bucket list and we finally got to go. Gifford Pinchot National Forest is the perfect mushroom picking place.
Climbing Mt St Helens – Crater Summit
Climbing Mt St Helens is strenuous, but not technical. Forest trail, boulder climbs & a vertical beach! The crater summit is the hike payoff!
Day 258: The end of the trail
Day:258 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1954 Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2620 Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 623Miles hiked today: 24.9Elevation: 6051 High/low temp/humidity: 70/52/10 Spinning on the turntable: Yann Tiersen: EUSA So here we are, you...
Day 171 of the PCT
Closing in on the Washington and Canada border, and it’s a cold, rainy, wintery day. Hiking is a gift and a challenge, with so many sides to the same coin. Come along for the journey!
Backpacking Gallery
Come Hike with Us