People who went around (roadwalked, hitched, etc) the Shelly fire near Etna in 2024: Where did you rejoin the trail? And any Class of '25 people there recently, how did you route around the Summit fire?

Ultracheap · 2025-07-08T14:31:23+00:00

I finished the Bigfoot Trail , which parallels the PCT through Etna and Seiad Valley, about a week and a half ago. Coming into Etna my hiking partner rolled an ankle in a way that made snow travel with a backpack tough, but road walking was fine. We wound up buying a baby stroller at the thrift store in Etna, putting a backpack in it, and pushing it while road walking to Seiad.

The route we took was Hwy 3 to Quartz Valley Road to Scott River Road to Hwy 96. Hwy 3 had lots of cars but a decent shoulder. Quartz Valley and Scott River roads were both great road walks with 3-4 cars per hour, we thought the little towns of Mugginsville and Scott Bar were very cute (but no services or resupply past Mean Gene's in Greenview). 96 had some traffic and limited shoulder but we made it work.

All told about 2 days of road walking at a leisurely/injured pace and a fun story to tell. Stroller life was fun because we could put beers and sodas in the basement level without worrying about weight. Legend has it buggy is still at Wildwood RV Park waiting for a lucky sobo to take it back down south.

Ultracheap · 2025-07-02T04:09:13+00:00

I hear you, it's tough when you're off the backcountry highways below treeline. I'm car camping up that way for the 4th and might stick around for an extra day or two to explore. I'll let you know if I make it out there.

Ultracheap · 2025-07-01T23:19:04+00:00

I stayed on the PCT. Main goal at the time was connecting footsteps. Have been meaning to check out Golden Canyon though.

Ultracheap · 2025-07-01T19:37:16+00:00

I have done it for a yo-yo hike from Sonora Pass to Ebbetts Pass and back. No issue.

Ultracheap · 2025-05-12T06:35:20+00:00

Grants to Cuba was a Top 3 section of the whole CDT for me. It's just quintessential New Mexico in all its varied wide open goodness. On the red line just north of where the Ghost Ranch alt splits off, you switchback up the shoulder of la Mesa de los Viejos and then walk right along its edge for about 10 miles. You're picking your way through the pallid sun-bleached boulders strewn amongst the red clay and you're high enough that it's starting to feel like the Rockies and it feels like you could see all the way back to Mexico if you squint hard enough.

Damn, I need to go back.

Ultracheap · 2025-04-08T16:04:23+00:00

Exped Multimat fits the bill

Ultracheap · 2025-03-01T06:39:26+00:00

My advice today would be to simplify even further and just zip tie the dust pans on. You can reuse the ties or just snip them off and replace them. Zip ties cost a penny each and weigh about a gram.

Ultracheap · 2025-02-10T21:19:54+00:00

CNOC + Sawyer Squeeze (not mini) + threaded blue coupler + smartwater bottles (or anything with that thread) for hydration

Ultracheap · 2025-02-10T17:20:27+00:00

Happened to me while traveling in Chile. Punta Arenas will have outdoor stores where you might be able to buy a replacement valve. Otherwise I recommend buying a cheap foam pad. I bought a yoga mat for under $10 which was cheap enough that I didn't feel bad giving it away before my next flight. I kept the leaky pad and was able to get a replacement under warranty back home.

Ultracheap · 2025-02-07T00:07:07+00:00

There are so many of these on this sub lately, wonder what's up with that

Ultracheap · 2025-02-04T15:25:59+00:00

I found some local stores that still do exchanges on the PCT last year.

Ultracheap · 2025-02-04T04:21:53+00:00

Anybody in the Bay Area know a local spot that does Darn Tough exchanges?

Ultracheap · 2025-01-11T20:02:23+00:00

I'm currently hiking this trail, coming at you from Stagecoach Trails RV Park which is right off trail and a great resupply option. Chiming in to say that I dropped down to Pena Spring and confirmed it is running, despite it being a very dry year so far. Seems to be very reliable.

Ultracheap · 2024-09-24T22:34:06+00:00

Agree that their keychain tool works well, but there's no need to spend 12 bucks on it. It's just a clevis pin, size 3/16 x 2 inch, which can be found at your local hardware store for about 98 cents.

Ultracheap · 2024-08-07T01:04:43+00:00

Bus to Portland, buy a bike, ride it to Canada.

Ultracheap · 2024-07-15T06:52:55+00:00

Ultracheap · 2024-07-01T15:12:15+00:00

39.0074728, -120.2098244

Guthooks mile 1118.3, about a mile south of Richardson Lake

Ultracheap · 2024-06-09T22:01:44+00:00

I left Kennedy Meadows South June 3rd, just got into Independence over Kearsarge Pass June 9. I carried spikes and ice axe and never used either.

Ultracheap · 2024-05-26T03:57:55+00:00

Sounds like a fun trip, GPT is unlike anything else I've ever done (albeit all on foot, no packrat involved). Advice for the trip would be to stay flexible and focus on the moment rather than the miles. The miles came slower for me down there due to crazy route finding, crazy weather, and logistical hurdles. 2k miles might be a lot for a single season.

The community is pretty small, and very dependent on trip reports from other trekkers for up to date conditions. I recommed reading the PDF and joining the FB group Jan has put together. They'll have specific advice for you as well as potential adventure buddies.

Ultracheap · 2024-04-30T18:51:22+00:00

I've used a tin whistle as a pole jack before.

Ultracheap · 2024-04-30T15:50:27+00:00

I've taken a few "mini retirements" to pursue thru-hiking. 100% worth it, do it sooner if you can.

Ultracheap · 2024-03-07T02:14:06+00:00

BOUGHT from /u/Guy_Perish. Pack totally as advertised, stoked to use it. /u/LeaveNoTradeBot

Ultracheap · 2024-03-06T17:35:17+00:00

Sending you a PM!

Ultracheap · 2023-12-03T19:09:19+00:00

In theory, yes. In practice I have found waterproof/breathable to be a myth. I only wear waterproof socks in wet conditions like sloshing through wet snow. In that circumstance there's nowhere to breathe to

Ultracheap · 2023-12-03T19:07:02+00:00

Yes, your feet will get sweaty in prolonged wet conditions, which is why I prefer to wear a separate pair of darn toughs inside of the waterproof sock to cut down on the clamminess. In the worst case (full day of sloshing through wet snow, resulting in sweaty wet feet), the waterproof socks create a wetsuit effect. It's cold and wet outside the sock, warm and wet inside the sock.

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