 photos Special to the Town Crier Hon fords a river in Sequoia National Park in the Sierra Nevada. |
Los Altos resident Mike Hon hiked the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) through California, Oregon and Washington with his friend, Michael Lissner.
They started on April 22 in Southern California and finished Sept. 12. The hiking partners traversed the high desert, crossed snow-covered mountains, encountered rattlesnakes and poison oak and had an unusual adventure when they found a dead body just off trail.
Hon is a graduate of Woodside Priory School and Pitzer College. Having completed the through hike, he plans to find a job in the Bay Area and continue his outdoor pursuits.
The following are excerpts from e-mails he sent to friends and family. This is the second article, chronicling the last three months of the trek, in a two-part series.
July 6
We hit mile 1,000 yesterday, July 5, on our way to Kennedy Meadows/Bridgeport. We celebrated with a dip in an icy lake. Only 1,650 miles to go! Out of Bishop we hiked about 50 miles, came off our northbound trail and headed west, dropping into Kings Canyon National Park.
Aside from a 24-hour virus that Mike and I caught from a sick camper, our plans went smoothly. We had to climb several passes, including Muir Pass, at 12,000 feet.
As we approached the highest point of the pass, the weather turned sour and we could hear thunder in the distance. It began to snow. We hurried to the top and took shelter in the Muir Hut. We waited for the thunder and lightning to subside before pushing down to find camp at a lower elevation at Evolution Lake.
In midconversation, I noticed something red caught in the ice in the middle of the lake. Walking to the water’s edge, we realized it was a pack with two water bottles attached to it. Fearing the worst - that someone might be attached to it - we weighed our choices. The water was deep, slightly flowing, mostly covered in ice and snow. The pack was at least 40 feet out, and after trying to hook it with an ice axe and rope, it began to get dark and the temperature continued to drop.
We quickly hiked on and found camp. The next day, we booked down to the McClure Ranger Station and reported the pack. The ranger told us he would radio it in and that a diver would come within 24 hours. He gave us a phone number we could call to learn what the diver discovered.
Today we learned the trut The body of a 61-year-old man was attached to the pack. We’re pretty sure it wasn’t a PCT hiker but an early season hiker who may have fallen through the ice or slipped while crossing Evolution Creek.
In any case, it’s fair to say the section we just came through presented many dangers. We made it safely to Lake Edison and from there to Reds Meadow and on to Tuolumne Meadows.
July 28
We’ve made it to Dunsmuir, a small town near Mt. Shasta, mile 1,500, and came through the worst poison oak of the trail. In other news, all my gear is deteriorating fast.
My pack straps are fraying heavily and need to be re-sewn. My third pair of shoes died and I just got a fourth pair. My shirt is nearly worn through the back. I’m going through about one pair of socks every section and just ripped my rain pants coming through the last section.
We’ve been doing at least 25 miles a day. Our next stop is Etna and then on to Seiad Valley, home of the pancake challenge, five pounds of pancakes in one sitting.
August 8
We’ve hit Oregon and it feels as though we’re in the home stretch - 450 miles through Oregon, then 500 miles through Washington. It feels good to be out of California, 1,700 miles.
August 16
I have made it to Sisters, Ore., mile 1,989.5 to be exact. Southern Oregon was dry but not too hot. Our trail has been very flat and forested, making for cool, long days. We have been doing at least 30 miles everyday.
Our town stops have been pretty remote, so we haven’t been able to shower or do laundry since Ashland, more than 350 miles ago. We dip in almost every lake possible along the trail, though I’m sure this is an inadequate substitute. I’m finally getting sick of all my energy bars and my dehydrated meals. I think I’m going to send my stove and pot home and go no-cook for the rest of the trail. As soon as we got into town today, I chugged two large sodas, had three giant slices of pizza and a large mint-chip shake. Our pace continues to increase, and the thought of our own beds, showers and cotton clothes calls to us constantly. I hope I still have clothes that fit when I come back!
August 25
We’ve made it to Cascade Locks, Ore., mile 2,155. We can see across the Columbia River to Washington from our motel. It took us 19 days to pass through Oregon. We hope to keep up our pace, so we can finish before significant rainfall.
Between Timberline Lodge and Cascade Locks, we hiked the Eagle Creek trail that brings you down from the Mt. Hood foothills to the Columbia River, winding in and out of canyons. The trail, blasted out of the side of the mountain, led us to views of several huge waterfalls, behind one waterfall and over bridges from which you can jump into the streams.
We are within about 500 miles of our goal. The change in elevation will increase in Washington, but we still aim to keep our pace of 30-plus miles each day. We are sending our cook gear and other items home to lighten our loads even more. Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion of “Mike and the PCT.”
September 3
This will likely be my last entry from the trail. We made it to Snoqualmie, mile 2,401.
Tomorrow we will get back out to the trail and start hiking the remaining 262 miles to Canada.
It feels like yesterday we were in Tahoe celebrating our triumph over the Sierra. Now we are racing toward the finish line.
Washington has been more mountainous than Oregon with views of granite peaks and glaciers. Our trail took us through Goat Rocks Wilderness where we climbed along a ridge trail with steep drops on both sides.
At 8,000 feet we passed in and out of wispy clouds, which made for poor visibility. When we did get a view, we were impressed by the precarious route along the tops of the mountains.
Soon we will be finished walking, and I can come home and raid the fridge and sleep for a week. Hope everybody is ready for me. Here I come.
