Trip Report: Pacific Crest Trail Days
Every year smelly thru-hikers and weekend warriors alike gather in Cascade Locks, Oregon, to celebrate the Pacific Crest Trail at PCT days, a weekend festival full of gear, beer, and hiker shenanigans. This weekend was the best ever, with a huge turnout of hikers coming off the trail, hikers from the Portland area, and folks just looking to learn more about the PCT. I learned a ton and am excited to come back and check it out next year!
Cascade Locks, a small town in the middle of the Columbia River Gorge, is a beautiful spot to hold PCT days!
This year, Next Adventure partnered with Backpacker Magazine through their Get Out More tour, and we had a blast! They set up a sweet double booth right next to us and sold some great gear, then passed the proceeds along to Next Adventure as a way to support the local outdoor community. Thanks a ton backpacker, and everyone who came by!
At the Next Adventure booth, we had a blast talking with folks about the shop and the local trails. I got to chat with a man enjoying a three-week vacation from his job in the military, and we compared notes on trails in the Olympic peninsula where they were headed next. I also got to drink beers with the founder of Thunder Island Brewing, and play frisbee with a couple thru-hikers who'd been on the trail since May! It was great to meet so many different, interesting folks.
Next Adventure’s booth, right in between Backpacker Magazine and the PCTA!
Even if you save all the money in the world for a thru-hike on the Pacific Crest Trail, it still wouldn’t be possible without the efforts of some awesome organizations: The Pacific Crest Trail Association and American Long Distance Hiking Association were both at PCT days, and without their hard work these amazing trails couldn’t continue to exist. The US Forest Service and some of Oregon’s wildland firefighters also made an appearance - thanks for maintaining and protecting our public lands!
I left feeling like part of an amazing community. I met folks who were hiking the trail, volunteers who maintained it, and advocates who protected it. If you want to know more, check out the PCTA's website, or search thru-hiking on next adventure’s page. And if you want to be a part of this awesome community consider coming out of PCT days or donating to any of the wonderful organizations fighting to protect our public lands, or just go hit the damn trail!
The day after PCT days I was so stoked I had to hit the trail myself! Here’s me in the Mt. St. Helen’s National Volcanic Monument enjoying a new ultralight Granite Gear Verga 26 pack.
Cascade Locks, a small town in the middle of the Columbia River Gorge, is a beautiful spot to hold PCT days!
This year, Next Adventure partnered with Backpacker Magazine through their Get Out More tour, and we had a blast! They set up a sweet double booth right next to us and sold some great gear, then passed the proceeds along to Next Adventure as a way to support the local outdoor community. Thanks a ton backpacker, and everyone who came by!
At the Next Adventure booth, we had a blast talking with folks about the shop and the local trails. I got to chat with a man enjoying a three-week vacation from his job in the military, and we compared notes on trails in the Olympic peninsula where they were headed next. I also got to drink beers with the founder of Thunder Island Brewing, and play frisbee with a couple thru-hikers who'd been on the trail since May! It was great to meet so many different, interesting folks.
Next Adventure’s booth, right in between Backpacker Magazine and the PCTA!
Even if you save all the money in the world for a thru-hike on the Pacific Crest Trail, it still wouldn’t be possible without the efforts of some awesome organizations: The Pacific Crest Trail Association and American Long Distance Hiking Association were both at PCT days, and without their hard work these amazing trails couldn’t continue to exist. The US Forest Service and some of Oregon’s wildland firefighters also made an appearance - thanks for maintaining and protecting our public lands!
I left feeling like part of an amazing community. I met folks who were hiking the trail, volunteers who maintained it, and advocates who protected it. If you want to know more, check out the PCTA's website, or search thru-hiking on next adventure’s page. And if you want to be a part of this awesome community consider coming out of PCT days or donating to any of the wonderful organizations fighting to protect our public lands, or just go hit the damn trail!
The day after PCT days I was so stoked I had to hit the trail myself! Here’s me in the Mt. St. Helen’s National Volcanic Monument enjoying a new ultralight Granite Gear Verga 26 pack.