A roadwalk into Seaid Valley completes my induction into the Independent Hikers Assembly, and I can’t think of a more perfect fit. Buying 1.5 pints of Umpqua Lemon Bar ice cream, getting four spoons, and sharing it with a dozen other hikers. A steep but not unpleasant road walk alternate out of town, having a randomly deep conversation with Skidoo until he catches a hitch and disappears.
The Fellowship of the Spring stops for our last lunch in California, drinking coffee and anticipating the border. After 113 days, I’ve walked the entire length of California. The entire damn state.
I celebrate with a shot of espresso liqueur that is 49.5% and I can’t tell if the two Sobos I chatted with are actually cute or if I’m just pleasantly tipsy.
The Ashland Hostel, being thruhiker-owned, becomes one of my favourite places I’ve stayed and I delight in riding a bicycle around town.
I’ve called in a random favour and the Ridge Merino crew picks me up in Ashland and I crash the second half of their road trip to Cascade Locks for PCT Days. We eat In’N’Out and drive beside a wildfire and film everything and break it to Paz that blink-182 isn’t exactly modern-day music anymore.
Trail Days is three fun but overwhelming days. On the first night, we close down the brewery, then close down the pub, then close down the arcade and I’m finally back in my tent by 2am. I spend the weekend finding as many friends as I can but not still spending nearly enough time with everyone. I meet Miranda and she proves that it is absolutely okay to meet your heroes, and I also end up with a new brand partner in South Forty Snacks.
I find my name on the PCT banner and reflect on how far I’ve come since I signed my name at CLEEF on Day Zero.
A road trip back to Ashland with Pellegrino and Clo, then running into Martin and Stella in town. I find an amazing nitro cold brew float at Remix Coffee Bar and suddenly, I’m back on trail. I hike out of Ashland alone, road walking a bit to save my knees (we all know how this ends), half a day ahead of the massive Ashland bubble, and camp with Cookbook for the night.