Gross Pond (Noble Lake) to Ebbett’s Pass – 4.3 miles
PCT Mile 1045.3-1049.6
July 3, 2026
I woke up early to finish the miles to Ebbett’s Pass where Shawn was going to pick me up. I initially thought that Buffer would be with him and we would continue on to the next section, but it turns out she wasn’t feeling great from the push the day before and we decided to take a zero back in town and reassess.
Noble Lake with moon above the peak
Early morning sun making good shadows
The trail went down into the canyon to a nice water source where I could dump the nasty pond water and refill with nice, fresh water.
Dirty shoe and clean shoe
After a couple of hours, I approached the road crossing at the pass.
Shawn explained that Buffer was still at home, but he brought trail magic which we shared with other hikers that came through over the next half hour or so.
The morning started with a decent uphill ascent, but nothing crazy. Always fun to look back and see where you came from. That’s something I try to keep in mind: look back.
I met Buffer an hour or so later at the first water source. Her water filter seemed to be having the same issue mine did last year.
We would also see some more thru hikers. I think we were a little bit ahead of “the bubble” for the 2026 Class, but there really is no singular bubble anymore like there used to be. Thru hikers spread out all over the trail due to differing start dates, paces, injuries, and just sheer volume these days. Which is how it should be. We want everyone to experience the trail on their own time and as they want to.
We got to a nice water source and I laid down to rest.
Then we decided it was lunch time so we stayed around.
Lunch
I realized how Texan my HEB “Texas Tough” ziplocks were and we both had a good laugh at my state’s hubris.
We continued on after lunch and I was preparing mentally for a big climb. I would find out later that this is where Buffer and I’s hiking styles differ quite a bit. I’ll explain after the next few videos.
Cool trail
At camp, Buffer would take me aside and let me know that voicing my opinion about upcoming terrain (ups or downs) would interfere with her ability to enjoy the hike. I didn’t realize it, but for me, that’s one of the parts I actually really enjoy: the planning and looking at the map for the rest of the day and the coming days. There’s nothing wrong with either style, they are just different. I do wish we had had a discussion about that prior to beginning our hike, along with our actual mileage expectations, but I’m not sure either of us realized how much it would affect our experiences.
Buffer, if you’re reading this, I absolutely loved hiking with you and would do it again, just with different expectations and an understanding of how we best work together. When we got to the pond (Noble Lake), I set up my tent and Buffer decided to continue on the 4 miles to Ebbett’s Pass and have Shawn pick her up that night. I think she wasn’t ready to quit for the day. That’s ok. “Hike Your Own Hike” is a saying for a reason. We decided to meet back up the following day at the Pass.
“Hike your own hike, but also don’t be a dick.” – Buffer
Well it took me a while, but I’m finally writing my blog for my section hike this summer. I hiked Nobo (northbound on trail) with Buffer, my friend from South Lake Tahoe that I met a couple of years ago when I took a trail maintenance course near Truckee. She and her partner Shawn are amazing people and I am forever grateful for their kindness and commitment to the hiking community.
I flew in to Reno a couple of days before our planned start date so I could acclimate to the altitude a bit. Coming from 400 feet in Austin to over 6000 in Tahoe and then 9000+ at the trail head means I needed to chill for a bit and Tahoe is a great place to do just that.
Luckily, with my fully remote work schedule, I was able to work from their house and not burn two extra days of PTO. It also gave me plenty of time to finalize gear and food, though I never get food right. I think I will forever tinker with my food system. I’ve always been picky and backpacking food seems to really challenge me.
Anyway, let’s get to the hiking!
We started on trail around noon after a Chik-Fil-A breakfast (I also got a spicy chicken sammich that I packed in for lunch/dinner) and reached our high point of just over 10,000 feet at Sonora Peak only a couple of miles in. After that, we headed down into a canyon for most of the day. The scenery was beautiful and we barely saw any other hikers past the trail head until we reached camp for the night.
Buffer took selfies every mile or so. Thanks Buffer!
There was still a bit of snow in places, though nothing that would have required micro spikes or ice axes. It was a pretty low snow year in the Sierra. Thanks to Buffer for the videos and pics of me hiking, which I normally don’t have many of.
Snack break at a beautiful view
As we wound down into the canyon, it was nice to have someone to chat with about life and hiking. It is quite different than being alone with your own thoughts.
Of course, marmots were about.
Another selfie!
Water in the northern Sierra is plentiful. We really only needed a liter at a time, though I usually had 1.5 to 2 because I’m paranoid.
One of my favorite pics of the hike.
Buffer
We climbed out of the canyon for another mile or so to get to a campsite on higher ground, but still sheltered. We met a thru hiker at camp named Shake, who we would leapfrog and hang out with for the next couple of days. He was one of the more interesting hikers I’ve ever met (aren’t they all?). It was a lovely first day and we both slept well, despite Buffer forgetting her tent stakes and having to make due with big rocks to keep her tent upright. It worked! 🙂
Everything is locked in! I got my PCT long distance permit starting July 1st. I am flying into Reno/Tahoe a couple of days early to adjust to the altitude and staying with Buffer and Shawn. Buffer and I will start at Sonora Pass and head northbound. Shawn is going to be our resupply and transportation trail angel. Another hiking buddy of hers (and now mine as well), Sluggy, is going to meet us a couple of days in. He is from England and is going to be on trail for about 45 days, so he’s going to continue going nobo when we get off.
I am planning on getting off at Echo Summit, 75 miles in, or if I’m feeling good, maybe continuing all the way up to Donner Ski Ranch, redoing the section I did in 2024 sobo. I am in the middle of training and trying to find the balance between over-prepping and under-prepping. My left hip was acting up again on a training hike the other day, so I’m going to really focus these next 3 weeks on stretching and proper exercises to strengthen my hip flexors. I think it is more the hip flexor than the IT band.
Also, new gear! We are going to take bear cans the whole way, though I don’t think it’s actually required until the Desolation Wilderness past Echo Summit. Will just be easier logistically and safer for the bears if we have our canisters the whole time. I have my bear can that I used in 2024, but Bear Vault has come out with a new ADJUSTABLE canister that I’m going to try out. It shrinks down when you have extra space so it takes up less room in your pack, which is the hardest part of hiking with a bear can.
Very excited this is all coming together and happy I get to hike with friends, old and new. I will post a couple of more times leading up to the hike and then have a day by day recap when it is all done.
Also, quick reminder that today is D-Day. 82 years ago, our forefathers stormed the beaches and skies over Normandy to start the liberation of Europe and fight the fascist forces that had taken hold. We would do good to remember those brave men and the reason they were fighting when we look at our current world today.
One of the main things you have to learn when joining the hiking community is that you have to roll with the punches. Unfortunately, my hiking buddy Stix decided the AT wasn’t for him this year, so he got off early and I’m not going to meet him up in Virginia anymore.
That’s ok. Plans change, people change, and you have to adjust. So I am now pushing my hike back this year to July and planning to meet up with another buddy from my 2024 PCT section hike on the west side of Lake Tahoe. I met Buffer in my trail maintenance class prior to my hike and she then picked me up at the other end at Echo Summit and I stayed in her spare room that she outfits specifically for hikers. Her and her boyfriend (fiancee?) Shawn are great people and I would love to see them again.
As of now, they are planning on starting at Sonora Pass on the PCT (just north of Yosemite) and going Nobo for a week or so, which would put me in perfect position to do about 75 miles and link up with my 2024 section, near South Lake Tahoe.
Let the chips fall where they may and let’s do another round of the PCT!
For the past couple of years I have taken a week in the summer to do a section of the PCT out west. This year, I’m going to change it up a bit.
Some of you may remember my buddy Stix from my 2023 PCT hike. He started the Appalachian Trail on Friday and I’ve decided I’m going to meet him in Virginia and do a week long section with him in Shenandoah National Park.
Right now we are shooting to meet up around May 1st and do about 70 miles together. It will give him a chance to slow down and enjoy the scenery while I build up to around 15 miles a day.
I’ve started endurance training and am excited to get back on the AT, which is responsible for my love of long trails. Let’s go!
Sunrise on trail in Steiner RanchSwimming hole!Colorado River
10 miles – PCT mile 2117.3 to 2110 + 3.5 mile hike out
Well, sometimes shit happens. I woke up on day 3 and the IT band on my left hip was super sore. This is the other first I was talking about earlier. I’ve never had that pain whilst hiking before. Pain is of course inevitable, but this seemed different. Here’s the video I made when I got back to Portland. Afterwards will be photos from Day 3 of my hike.
The day began with a big climb and my first Mt Hood view!
Mt Hood Wilderness mapTrail – look at the edges of the trail and you can see the holes from all the hiking poles that most hikers walk with
I descended down another 1000 feet to Muddy Creek and crossed on a log. Right after this was when I started to realize my hip was getting worse.
The trail to Ramona Falls was slightly uphill, but my hip made it feel much steeper. It started to become apparent that I may need to bail out. Ramona Falls was beautiful though.
There were plenty of day hikers around. I scoped out who I thought might be a good mark to “yogi” a ride from (thru hiker term) and found Mike and his dog Rogue. He was with another couple as well and I could tell they were good people. The art of yogi-ing a ride is subtle. I started by asking how far it was back to the parking lot and if there was any cell signal there for me to call an Uber. I then explained my predicament and Mike volunteered to take me back to Portland, as his drive brought him near the airport anyway. Success!
Thanks Mike!and his pup Rogue!Sadly, parking lot would be my destination
I was about 11 miles short of my intended stopping point of Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood, but I’ll come back another year. I think I may have undertrained a bit for this trip, compared to my hikes in the previous years and perhaps I also went too fast out of the gate. Regardless, it was a great hike and I got to check some more miles off my ultimate goal of finishing the entire PCT over the coming decades.
I woke up in the fog and cold. I had expected lows in the 50s, but it was certainly in the 40s at least. I’ve got my sleep system down though, so I was nice and toasty in my tent and got a bit of a later start, around 9:30am.
I got to the spot where I was originally going to camp (before deciding to pivot to Wahtum Lake) and there were some beautiful views.
Most of today would be overcast and foggy. No mountain views, but pretty hiking and some amazing trail magic, both human and nature-made.
The trail provides is a phrase you often hear out there. It is amazingly true.
Spy and LP to the rescueFoggy trailMt Hood in clouds
One thing I learned was that Pikas actually live down at this altitude. I thought they were always over 10,000 feet, but I saw and heard several among the rocks down here around 6,000 feet.
Trail through scree – Pikas abound
High voltage power lines are always crazy to me on trail.
I again pushed a little further than I was planning on, but it was mostly downhill, so I ended at Lolo Pass about 16 miles in.
14 miles – PCT mile 2150 – 2133.4 (using Eagle Creek alternate)
Here’s an overview of my full journey, minus the last day. I brought the wrong cord to charge my Garmin InReach, which is my sattelite beacon that tracks my progress, so the last day wasn’t tracked. I actually ended at the Sandy River and Ramona Falls, for a total of just about 40 miles.
I woke up around 7am, packed up, said my goodbyes, and headed towards the Bridge of the Gods. Instead of heading up the actual PCT there, I continued west under the bridge on the historic Columbia River Highway State Trail. This would follow the highway to the Eagle Creek Trail Head, where I would start heading into the woods.
Mural under the Bridge of the Gods
At the trail head there is a salmon hatchery that I found to be pretty cool.
I started up the trail and soon came to the first of several waterfalls. This is Punchbowl Falls.
More falls – didn’t know the name of this one.
The big highlight of this trail is Tunnel Falls. This was spectacular and is the main reason hikers do this alternate instead of the actual PCT.
After Tunnel Falls, I continued on and found a place to eat lunch and soak my feet in the creek.
Cliffside trailBeautiful
It was still early in the day, so I decided to try and go a little further than planned to get a jump on the miles. This ended up being harder than anticipated.
I also remembered I had an app called Dual Gram that allows you to record from both sides of the phone, which is kinda cool.
As I continued up, I looked at the topo map and realized the trail I was originally going to take to meet up with the PCT basically went straight up the mountain with no switchbacks. There was also a question of water once I reached the top. There was another option, which I explain in this video.
This was a good decision in the end. The trail was much nicer and I got to end the day at a lake, which afforded me a brief (but cold) swim. I was also chafing really bad on my thighs, which was the first time in my hiking career that had happened. Luckily, I travel with Aquaphor, which would help me heal up quickly. There would be some other firsts on this trip as well, which I will expound upon later.
I got into camp with about an hour to spare before the sun went down and I was beat. I had my own spot on the edge of the lake and fell asleep quickly.
As I stepped off the train from the Portland airport, I immediately spied one of my people. You can spot the hiker trash a mile away. The grit and grime of their clothes, the backpacks, the PCT emblem clipped to their back if they are thru-hiking; the hiker uniform is unique.
The weather was typical PNW: chilly, foggy, and humid, with the smell of pines in the air. I joined my fellow hikers on the bus heading to the east on Hwy 84 along the Columbia River. I sat next to a hiker named Whiskey, who had gotten hurt in the Sierra and was just following his still-hiking buddies around at trail towns. When we got off in Cascade Locks 45 minutes later, he astutely asked, “well, now what?”. None of us really knew where to go, but we quickly found our way to the campground and park at Thunder Island.
I signed up to volunteer for the weekend, so I got to camp for free on Friday and Saturday nights. My volunteer role was to help out with running the sound, which basically consisted of turning the music down whenever someone needed to make an announcement on the microphone about the various events and gear demos throughout the day. The rest of the time I got to wander around and hang out with hikers and generally have a good time.
After setting up camp, I walked around the small town of Cascade Locks to get the lay of the land. The historic and iconic Bridge of the Gods spans the Columbia River here and is where the trail crosses from Oregon into Washington.
Cascade Locks is tiny and walkable and full of hikers.
Bridge of the Gods toll booth – hikers walk across here, along with traffic
Overnight on Friday it rained and we all woke up a bit soggy, but ready for another full day of gear, friends, and fun.
At the end of the day there was a raffle where thousands of dollars of gear were given away. I didn’t get any, but it worked out because I wouldn’t have had anywhere to keep it anyway, since I was hitting the trail the next morning.
RaffleSome of my internet hiking friends – The Codgers
The weather on Saturday night was much better and we all settled in for a nice sunset and the end of a great weekend. I hit the trail the next morning.
