And a couple more pics

Ishmel napping under the highway




Shamus playing a ukulele in the desert




Accommodations in Warner Springs with Robbie and Furniture.

A few photos from first 100

Me



Eagle Rock

Mexico to Warner Springs

Passed 100 miles today! Woot! So far things have been going well. I have been feeling like a dust mite trying to navigate a crumpled piece of paper, in lots of wind. This landscape is amazing. It is very rugged and open. I have been above 5000 feet mostly. Then descending to 2500 and back up again. In and out with the contours of the mountain side. It has not been too hot, but the sun has been out in force making a great equation for sun burns and dehydration. As much as I dislike my sun hat, I have been grateful to have it. The first few nights I was very cold, and got very little sleep, but I guess it has warmed up a bit becsuse I have been sleeping much better. There was a bit of moisture today, falling from the sky with the 40 mph wind gusts, making for a very challenging morning.

The afternoon was, I think, my favorite bit of the trail so far. I descended back to the valley floor to a spring, gravity fed to a trough, with full cans of beer and gatorade floating in the cold water. After enjoying my very last bit of food, I started out across a highway, when a man down the road waives Robbie and I over to his RV for more beverages, hotdogs and cookies! Woo!

Then the next eight miles were rolling grass meadows and beautiful rock formations. We saw some wildlife (cows) and we walked along an oak tree lined stream. I'm now in Warner Springs, and my belly is full of burgers, onion rings, and chocolate ccake.

To the post office in the morning for my package of food, then to Idyllwild within 5 days.


-- Post From My iPhone

ZERO days to departure

This one goes out to Helen.

Now that the hair cut is out of the way...
Were driving to the Portland airport right now, and it's 6:20 am. We left right after I stuffed all of my bits (my home for the summer) into a large red duffle, and now it's only two days till the walk actually starts.

I want to thank all of my friends, for coming to say goodbye, whether or not it was to actually see me or for the food and beer (Seth). And also Jessica and my parents, for being so supportive, and taking care of my little dog, and all of the things you will do for me from mission control. I could not have this privilege without you guys. It means very much to me.

I would love to get encouraging emails from everyone, I should be able to recive them at least once a week. Although I may not be able to reply always, it would be nice to hear from you. I also love cookies in gift packages.....I will let you know where to send them if you like. Samuel.tashi@gmail.com is my email.

Thanks again everyone! More from the trail soon.







Just one more for the puppies

Shipping and not making lists

Here I poke with my fat little thumbs at the tiny keyboard touch screen on my (Dad's) phone. I have spent a good part of the last two days trying to get a post from this phone to the Internet. No luck so far, but I think this one is it (I have said that in the last three attempts). I figure better to work it out now than on the trail.

In between all of this technological nonsense, I have been finishing up the first resupplies, and I'm hoping to get them in the mail to California tomorrow. There are so many little things that have to be done still, but when I go to do them, I can't remember what they all are. Lists. That would be smart.

I'm very excited because wen we get to San Diego next week, I have a free day before I start walking. I talked to my friends Sam and Tom and they are going to spend the day surfing with me! What could be better than that the day before you start walking 2600 miles.

Hope you all can read this online cuz it just took about an hour to write on this little thing. Here is what 48 snickers looks like.... Don't be jealous, I have to work for those.




-- Post From My iPhone

13days

Since my foot has been bothering me from my old shoes, I took a couple days off from walking. Then on Tuesday, Matt and I went up highway 58 to do the 12 miles to Eagles Rest hike. No pain at all during the 2000ish foot climb! We sat there for ten minuets having a snack, and watching the clouds blow by, and when my muscles got good and tight we were ready to start down. My foot started hurting again right away, and by compensating for that, I got my knee to ache too. So my plan from now till Campo, is to sit and read Nomad's new book, eat plates of pasta with butter, and finish up my resupply boxes. Maybe just a few short walks in there if my feet are feeling okay. I don't want to blow it now!

Lots of the hikers are talking about weather in southern Cali right now. Lots of snow and ice around. I really hope the early starters are safe and using good judgment. No need to push it through the snow dangerous trail conditions this early in the journey. Here is a trail journal of a hiker that is near mile 200 of his thru hike right now. I highly recommend reading the day of the link and the day before. Great story. http://trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=303568
Good luck Freebird

Also worth reading is an interview with one of the PCT speed record holders. Adam Bradley and Scott Williamson set the new record last summer unsupported. This year they will see what they can do on a supported attempt. http://www.thecleanestline.com/2009/09/patagonia-employee-sets-new-record-on-the-pacific-crest-trail.html

If all that isn't enough to bore a person, here is my most recent gear list. I will not carry all of this at one time, just most of it. There are also things that I will have that are not on this basic gear list. Things like ice axe and bearcanister will be only carried for sections that have snow and bears to add to the adventure. The total here is 9lbs 11.8oz
(Click FULL PAGE at the top of the gearlist so you can actually see it)
PCT Gear List

Good day to everybody!

sweet 16 days left

The sweetest part about having a birthday right before a PCT thru hike is getting to eat the best chocolate peanut-butter cake ever. Some say you should try to pack on the calories before a long distance hike and build up your fat reserves, so with birthday cake and Easter dinner all in the same week, I had a good go at that. It was great to spend my birthday with my wonderful friends and family enjoying the only sunny day in weeks, and playing pool at the pub. And with Easter two days later, I got to see all of my family at Grandma's, possibly the last time for that before I leave.

 April 1st was Tashi's birthday too. Here she models her new necklace

Jen and I at the neighborhood pub

A shot of Brain with my new camera, taken shortly before I whooped'em at pool.

Jessica got me the shelter I have been wanting for the hike, and every time I set it up, I like it more. This one has mosquito netting, which my tarp doesn't have, which should add huge comfort in the sierras. My parents gave me a new camera for the hike! Its waterproof! It will be great not worry about rain, and it wont break if I drop it on a rock because its shock proof too! so sweet.

 Wild Oasis from Six Moon Designs

 It only weighs 13oz and its quite well designed.

I have been having some technical difficulties, trying to decide which electronics I will carry with me. I for sure want my camera. I would like a phone, and I would like to have email, so I can keep this blog rolling along. I also have to keep every think charged some how. When trying to keep the weight as low as possible, it becomes a big headache. Who knows the best combo...... I guess I will figure it out as I go.

There has been quite a bit of talk about me cutting my hair before I leave. I don't really want to, but I know it will way more practical if I don't have to worry about my flowing golden locks.  It will have to be a quick decision when it happens, and I will post a photo. So Helen stay tuned!

Its only 1.5 days till Yonder plays... better get out my overalls. Here's one more to enjoy

nough ramblingfor now, have a sweet day

Swamp Stompin

21 days left  at Amazon Acre, Oh my.
It feels like it has been raining for about 13 days non stop. Amazon Acre (The .94 acre field I live on) has gone from a nice grassland to frolic in, to a shin deep swamp land. Tashi wont even play ball with me out there because its so wet. Since I do melt in the rain, my only training in that 13 days has been enjoying fermented barley and hops, and stair repeats at Otter Rock when I have to get from the beach to the car after surfing. I mean it is like 112 stairs!

After neglecting my training for the duration of rain, yesterday (it was still raining) I finally motivated to walk somewhere. I figured the trails would be to muddy and I might get my feet wet, so I walked on the road in my worn out shoes. A little more than two miles to my parents. I got bored waiting for the UPS guy to deliver my replacement shoes, so I walked back home. I was really enjoying myself,  and my legs weren't tired, but the dogs were being pretty irritating, so I asked Jessica to drop me off at the Ridgeline Trail with out the little monsters. I walked from the Blanton trail head to Foxhollow, then down to Martin street. The trees were looking so beautiful and green with all the wetness. As soon as I got out to the road, the rain started pouring again. Great. I pulled on the Gore-tex and started the rest of the way home, when my phone rang, and Jessica said she was on her way to pick me up! sweet!!! I think it made for about a 10 mile day over all.

 My shoes have been killing me, they are really making my arches hurt, and the lining is torn up so I have been getting heel blisters. I have been waiting for my replacements from Inov-8. luckily they showed up later in the afternoon, and my old ones went straight to the rubbish bin. Inov-8 has been greatly helpful with a bit of a sponsorship for my hike. I will be wearing the Roclite 295.  Inov8 is an excellent company out of England, making light, minimal footwear.  I highly recommend checking them out at Inov8.com. Big thanks to John for hooking me up with that.

Not really related, but I have been looking through my photo library lately, and heres a few I like.

Sahaile  Falls

My Favorite Pitty

Billy peeing on the north side of the equator from the south side

My lovely old van, I miss it every day

Evan and I bought this raft at a small gas station in the middle of nowhere in Uganda, then rode it without paddles down the White Nile.  I'm not sure why I'm celebrating, we haven't even hit the wave yet.

A moment of happiness, sliding in Crescent City

And its only six days till Yonder Mountain String Band plays in town!!!!  This is usually the music that goes through my head when walking all day. They play a great live show, and this is one of my favorites songs they do.


Here's one more with the guitar player and the bass player( on the mando). The audio isn't perfect, But its one of their coolest songs. amazing musicians.

Thanks for reading.... enjoy

Thoughts on walking north

In 28 days! I will begin a a journey that has been in my thoughts for years. "Years" sounds silly to say, but I guess its true. It must have been the summer between 7th and 8th grade, or sometime around there, that the romantic idea of a "thru hike" got superglued in my head. My good friend Matt, and his dad had a goal of hiking all sections of the  Oregon PCT before he was out of high school. Or something like that.  If  I recall right, my dad and I were able to join him for a few summers worth of hikes, and it was on one of those fifty milers  that lead me to the ordeal I'm in now.

That summer we were on the southern Oregon section of the PCT that goes through the Sky Lakes Wilderness. It might have been the third day of our fifty mile section hike, and it was hot out. And we were going up hill. And right there in the middle of the trail,was the dirtyist, smellyist, most happiest looking person I had seen. An older greyish hair guy in a dirty shirt and running shoes. Sleeping. Asleep, and directly in the middle of the trail, in our way. Like he lived there or something.

It must have been the heavy breathing, or the smell of laundry detergent still lingering on our cloths that startled him awake. After a quick apology for the road block, he introduced himself. I don't remember his name, but it is not important. He was a thru hiker. Coming from Mexico, headed to Canada. Three three and a half months earlier, he had started walking north, and here we ruined his afternoon nap.

We threw our overweight packs in the dirt, and before we could get out the fruit roll-ups to snack on, this guy had pulled his pack apart to show us all of his cool gear. He was very eager to talk, I think he may have been a bit lonely, but we, or maybe just I, was excited to see how some one walking this distance could be living out of such a tiny pack. His pack was less than half the size of mine. He wore running shoes. his stove was made out of a Pepsi can. The only pants he had were rain pants that looked like they were made of paper.  AMAZING! He told us where we could read about other thru hikers, and gear, and how to plan for our thru hikes.

Before that, I had never even considered a hiking trip longer than 10 days. This was great! We finished our snacks, and heard more stories of the trail. When we left, we continued south, in the direction of the car, only 13 miles away, which would take us a day and a half. The tennis-shoe wearing thru hiker went north, closer with each step to his goal, walking at least three times more miles than we did that August day.

A sweet spot on my Oregon sectin hike. Mt. Washington, Three Finger Jack, and Mt. Jefferson

to the north.

So lots of time passed and the dream has continued to linger. I had a hope of thru hiking in 2008. My lack of planning, and training, and funding, led me from a 5 month hike to a 3 week, 500 mile practice hike. Walking the Oregon section of the PCT was a long distance hiking sampler. Turns out walking is hard, and sometimes lonely, and there's lots of mosquitoes. and it was one of the best experiences I have had. Nearly every thought in my brain since then has been of this thru hike.
I have spent the last six months planning and training and dreaming and passing the time. So now I sit here with under a month until I actually get to do it.

I feel very excited. And very nervous. And I think feel sure and unsure at the same time. I guess I cant quite describe what I'm feeling with 28 days left at home.


couple links to enjoy:

Robert from Robert's Northwest Surf Boards and Pura Vida Surf Shop (my surfing sponsor) just got me some killer shirts to hike in. pvsurfshop.com

And since I just got back from five days of surfing in Newport, here is a clip of the smoothest surfer ever. Joel Tudor

American Long Distance Hiking Association

Spirit Eagle has some good thoughts on thru hiking. See the Thru hiking Papers

And the days roll by

3/11/10 this meas 41 days to launch pad.

I'm writing this today, because I'm not walking on a trail that more resembles a small river with snow covered banks, with a ridiculous amount of rain falling on my head. No, I'm not doing that, bacause I was doing that earlier today.  So after aborting an over night gear test on the McKenzie River Trail, I'm back home, being warm and dry, and reading trail journals (and possibly enjoying a soda pop).  The forecast called 100% chance of rain and I was very excited to spend the evening under my new tarp. The problem wasn't all the snow we were heading up in to, but the temperature. And I guess I wasn't really excited about sleeping on snow either.

 Eugene and I stopped for lunch  where the trail crosses Deer Creek Road. Like a couple of hobos, we sat under the bridge out of the rain, and there we passed the moon shine and contemplated life, and if we should continue walking. We had gone five miles and I was still cold with all of my clothes on. For fear of Hypothermia and being wet and uncomfortable, and I can't remember the other excuses, we decided to head back and end the journey early.

Don't worry though. My ventures aren't all falling through. I did just get back from skiing at Mt. Hood. Monday  was full of wonderful lift served skiing at Meadows. Aside from a steady 30 mile per hour wind with gusts up to 70, It was a sunny day with great friends. And the wind might not have been quite that much, but it felt like it when the chair almost swung into one of the towers. Very fun.

 Derrick and I gettin a lift.   Photo Seth Swallen

Shreadin' the groomers! Photo Seth Swallen

Tuesday was all about training, or something. We skinned into the backcountry on the north side of Hood. Stopped at the Tilley Jane shelter for a snack, then continued to treeline. The avalanche hazard was minimal because  there's only about two feet of snow at  6500 feet, where we took the skins off and headed down.  The skiing at the top was mostly good, and due to very inconsistent snow I had a lovely crash. And I sure made it count. The fall left me cold and confused with snow in all of my bits (this is good for a person every so often). The last mile of descent back to the car was miserable. The trail was frozen solid, offering only an icy path down. Unskiable. Walking down was the only option due poor snow coverage, and lots of death rocks to ski into. With helmets still on our heads, and the skis on our packs, we slipped, and stumbled, barely in control back to the car. Then day made for about 2800 foot ascent, 3.5 miles each way. Awesome day!

Thanks  for the great visit Seth!

Making preparations for descent. Photo Seth Swallen

The search for anything to jump off will never end. Photo Seth Swallen