Day 34 : Panther Creek

Start – Panther Creek (275 m)
Finish – Cascade Locks (50 m)
Daily Distance – unknown
Ascent – unknown
Descent – unknown

Today, I went off-script and undertook a shortcut. Instead of following the official PCT route, I walked a road, which headed directly for the Columbia river and my destination of Cascade Locks, rather than looping around to approach from the mountains of the NW. This shaved approximately 1 day of walking off the route for very little loss of views.

As every road walk should be, it was hot, boring, tough on the feet, and suffused with an undercurrent of fear that each passing driver could be my last. Most of the route actually had a good area at the edge of the road to walk, although I did have to resort to hitching a lift after hitting one busy, winding section without a verge. Fortunately, though, it was a quick and easy hitch, which lasted all of 5 minutes, and I could walk on safer roads again.

Speaking of road safety, the Pacific Crest Trail passes from Washington to Oregon by way of the Bridge of the Gods, which spans the Columbia river. Predating the Pacific Crest Trail by several decades, it never occurred to the builders that one day, several thousand hikers per year would cross the bridge by foot. It is busy, lacking a pavement, and narrower than is entirely comfortable given the inexorable expansion of American vehicles. There is an old joke that the Gods referenced in the bridges’ name are the ones that should be beseeched for safe passage across the bridge. In fairness to the drivers though, they were very considerate and gave as much room as possible, even to the point of stopping while I passed. They are clearly used to hikers, even if some looked a mite impatient.

Cascade Locks this weekend has been transformed into a PCT hiker jamboree for the annual Pacific Crest Trail, Trail Days 2025. Many people have quickened or slackened their pace to be here, or even hitch hiked for several hundred miles to attend the event. So it was that I walked into the first bar in town and ran into Bad Sherpa, who I hadn’t seen since Stehekin, many weeks prior. Such is the way of trails sometimes. It was nice to have a few beers and slice of normalcy with a welcoming community of dedicated hikers and idlers.

The PCT days officially start tomorrow, so this evening represents the pre-party. Given the number of people who have already arrived, I am slightly concerned by the potential crowding on Thunder Island, which is being used as the camping area. We will see though. For now it is nice to have a settled base for a few days, especially given an inbound storm is due to hit the area tomorrow.

For now though, minds are turned more towards enjoying the late evening sun sitting on the warm grass with a cool beer (or numerous) and anticipation of the events and partying to come.