We are about 80 miles short of the halfway point now. Things are going well and we are healing up and taking a few days off for Christmas. We should be back out on the trail heading south the afternoon of the 28th if all goes as planned.
Now since it is Christmas and we are all in the holiday spirit, I will do a little 12 Days of Christmas style halfway recap on some of the biggest differences between winter and summer hiking that I am thankful for.….….
On the First Day of Christmas the PCT sent to me a beautiful coating of snow hanging on every tree.
On the Second Day of Christmas the PCT sent to me a mosquito-less Oregon and a beautiful coating of snow on every tree.
On the Third Day of Christmas the PCT sent to me bountiful, clear, cold water, a mosquito-less Oregon, and a beautiful coating of snow on every tree.
On the Fourth Day of Christmas the PCT sent to me a few miles of clear trail, bountiful, clear, cold water, a mosquito-less Oregon, and a beautiful coating of snow on every tree.
On the Fifth Day of Christmas the PCT sent to me a sunny day, a few miles of clear trail, bountiful, clear, cold water, a mosquito-less Oregon, and a beautiful coating of snow on every tree.
On the Sixth Day of Christmas the PCT sent to me no forest fires or fire reroutes, a sunny day, a few miles of clear trail, bountiful, clear, cold water, a mosquito-less Oregon, and a beautiful coating of snow on every tree.
On the Seventh Day of Christmas the PCT sent to me cheaper winter motel rates, no forest fires or fire reroutes, a sunny day, a few miles of clear trail, bountiful, clear, cold water, a mosquito-less Oregon, and a beautiful coating of snow on every tree.
On the Eighth Day of Christmas the PCT sent to me 50 degree rainy days at Castella and Seiad Valley (instead of the 100+ degrees in the summer), cheaper winter motel rates, no forest fires or fire reroutes, a sunny day, a few miles of clear trail, bountiful, clear, cold water, a mosquito-less Oregon, and a beautiful coating of snow on every tree.
On the Ninth Day of Christmas the PCT sent to me hardly anybody in the backcountry, 50 degree rainy days at Castella and Seiad Valley (instead of the 100+ degrees in the summer), cheaper winter motel rates, no forest fires or fire reroutes, a sunny day, a few miles of clear trail, bountiful, clear, cold water, a mosquito-less Oregon, and a beautiful coating of snow on every tree.
On the Tenth Day of Christmas the PCT sent to me animal tracks in the snow to know the wildlife that is nearby and using the trail corridor, hardly anybody in the backcountry, 50 degree rainy days at Castella and Seiad Valley (instead of the 100+ degrees in the summer), cheaper winter motel rates, no forest fires or fire reroutes, a sunny day, a few miles of clear trail, bountiful, clear, cold water, a mosquito-less Oregon, and a beautiful coating of snow on every tree.
On the Eleventh Day of Christmas the PCT sent to me cheese that isn’t sweaty from the warm temperatures, animal tracks in the snow to know the wildlife that is nearby and using the trail corridor, hardly anybody in the backcountry, 50 degree rainy days at Castella and Seiad Valley (instead of the 100+ degrees in the summer), cheaper winter motel rates, no forest fires or fire reroutes, a sunny day, a few miles of clear trail, bountiful, clear, cold water, a mosquito-less Oregon, and a beautiful coating of snow on every tree.
On the Twelfth Day of Christmas the PCT sent to me an amazing and supportive trail community and all the rest of the stuff!
Here’s the link to some pictures from the last stretch from Ashland, OR to Burney, CA:
https://www.facebook.com/justin.lichter.5/media_set?set=a.427590940725749&type=1&pnref=story
Also, I have been updating our location every 3–4 days in between towns so remember you can check that here: