The PCT follows roads for the 6.4 miles from Grider Creek Campground to the town of Seiad Valley. We heard that the trail was originally meant to cross the Klamath River on a pedestrian bridge, but as costs skyrocketed, the planners abandoned that idea and simply routed the trail along Highway 96.
Seiad Valley is a tiny town with a general store and the Seiad Cafe which is famous for the Pancake Challenge. If you can eat 5 humongous pancakes in less than two hours, they’re free! The family next to us ordered one, just so they could see the size of the pancakes.
We chatted with them about hiking the PCT – the dad and daughter are section hiking and mom is their trail support. They finished only one or two of the pancakes, then shared the rest with a family of British thru-hikers. They left before us and paid for our breakfast on the way out – a really nice surprise!
We bought some snacks at the Seiad Valley store, signed the register, and spent a few minutes talking with the owner. He invented the Pancake Challenge. He mentioned that about 20 people have successfully completed it. Most of them were hikers.
After our stop in Seiad Valley, we began the long 4000+ foot climb back up to the “crest” in the Klamath National Forest.
We walked until sunset and camped somewhere up on the ridge with most of the climbing behind us.
On Day 103 we made it to Oregon! A writer named Ed had set up the “Pinnacle Bar and Grill” at the first road crossing after the state line. He’s writing a book about the PCT, and we initially met him at Kennedy Meadows. We got there at the same time as another hiker named Homestretch. Ed made chili dogs for the three of us and offered us lots of fresh fruit, chips and cold drinks. It was awesome!! We left with an extra orange and a can of PBR, and hiked another 10 miles to PCT Mile 1700 where we set up camp.
As we were going to bed, two hikers showed up at our campsite. It was Thor (who we had never met before) and Sweet Virginia! They had just hiked about 40 miles, which is insane and impressive.
The following morning (Day 104) we hiked with Sweet Virginia for a bit. Talking to somebody else made the miles fly by. Somewhere around Mile 1706, we came upon a couple of ice chests filled with sodas! It was only 7:30 in the morning, but we each had a breakfast soda. So far, Oregon has a lot of trail magic!
We knocked out the 16 miles to Callahan’s Lodge before noon! We ate lunch at the lodge before heading in to Ashland for resupplying.
You hit Oregon at its prime!
Yes! And so far we’ve had perfect weather and very few mosquitos. That may change, but it’s been great!
I was wondering if you would meet up with Homestretch at some point! Your blog and hers are the two I’ve been faithfully following since you all left Campo. She’s beyond intrepid (so are you two)!
…and “breakfast dessert”, haha. I see you have the “hiker hunger” I’ve read so much about.
Haha, yes. Hiker hunger has definitely kicked in. It’s a little scary how much food we eat!
Have been following your blog for the past two months. Great photos and posts. Glad to see that you have finally met my son Thor. He has been consistently between one to three days behind you since Walker Pass. Some of the information you have posted has been very helpful to him. Those must be your footprints in the snow in many of his photos back in the Sierras.
Thanks John! It’s kind of funny how we can be within a couple days of somebody, for weeks or even months, and never cross paths. People who flip flop get to meet a lot more hikers. I think Thor might be ahead of us now, but perhaps we’ll run into him again.
Yay blackberries! Have fun in Oregon!
Found your blog today and spent all morning catching up! We just arrived home from our own 6 week adventure in Montana,Idaho,Washington and Oregon and stopped at the PCT crossing of Interstate 5 at Soda Creek waiting around to trail angel some hikers but no one thru in hours…loved reading your blog and your photos are spectacular! Keep it going! Great info in your gear section too! Awesome! Tim
Hey thanks Tim!! That’s too bad that no hikers came through when you were at Soda Creek. I’m sure your trail angel-ing would have been much appreciated!
Christa. I just noticed something interesting. It looks like my son Thor set off from the the Southern Terminus at Campo just a little after 9am on the April 11th, and was probably only about hour behind you at that point. I don’t know if you will see him again, as he currently moving very fast, averaging about 38 miles per day. Enjoy Oregon!
Milkshake=smoothie absolutely!
I have enjoyed your adventure narrative so far. What has impressed me the most is how simply nice so many people have been on your journey; buying breakfast, sharing food, offering rides, sodas. It fills me with hope for humanity. Tell Robbie hello for me. I can’t wait to catch up with you guys soon!
Thanks Amanda! 🙂 This trail has definitely helped me realize that there are a lot of good people in this world!