Ten Northwest Long-Distance Trail Adventures A Publication of Washington Trails Association | wta.org Epic Trails PCT • PNT Kettle Crest Spider Loop Boundary Trail and More! SPECIAL FEATURE Hiking Lessons from You may have read the book. Perhaps you saw the movie. If neither, you likely know someone or when soaked by rain. Know how to use both to help you Epic Trails who read the book or saw the movie. Wild is the identify your location using the area’s topography. This can be Plan Your First Long-Distance Hike personal story of a young woman who suffers invaluable if you wake up and find the trail covered in snow. Advice from experienced long-distance hikers to help you a dramatic loss in her life and decides that the plan a successful trek on the Pacific Crest Trail, Wonderland key to her recovery is to hike the Pacific Crest Stay Hydrated Trail or other multi-week route. » p.4 Trail—a bold decision by someone who has never Dehydration can happen fast in high mountain elevations backpacked before. She buys everything she thinks if you don’t drink regularly and can result in problems ranging Are Your Ready for the Bigtime? she needs, leaves everything she knows behind from annoying to life-threatening. Before setting out, study Take this hiking quiz and see if you’re ready to take on one your map (and any other resources) to learn where your and travels across the country to begin hiking. And of Washington’s big trails. » p.8 water sources will be. If possible, try to camp near water. If then the problems begin. Had the author taken the hiking long stretches between water sources, carry extra in a Lessons from the Trail time to prepare herself for her journey, some of the collapsible bladder and keep an “emergency bottle” in reserve. Fellow hikers share their hard lessons learned on trail so challenges she faced could have been avoided. you don’t make the same mistakes. » p.10 Be prepared for weather Know Your Gear Always be prepared for changes in the weather. Carry a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen for the warm days and rain gear and 4 Before hitting the trail, make sure you’re familiar with your a pack cover for when the weather goes south. This includes Hike It! gear. This can save you from problems and frustrations on bringing along the appropriate apparel items for layering up 1. Boundary Trail the trail, where you don’t have instruction books or (perhaps) and down as temperatures change from morning to afternoon Journey through Washington’s Pasayten Wilderness. » p.12 anyone around to help you. Rehearse with your gear at home. to evening. Keep these items easily accessible if you need to Set up your tent and learn how the fly goes on. Practice react quickly to sudden weather changes. 2. Columbia Plateau Trail cooking (making sure you have the correct fuel for your stove), filtering water and packing (without overpacking) your bag. Stretch your legs on this 134-mile rail trail. » p.14 Ford a River 3. Loowit Trail Buy the Right Size Boots If you’re required to ford a bridgeless river, take the proper Explore the volcanic landscape around Mount St. Helens . » p.16 precautions. Before charging across, scout up and down the Your feet swell when you hike. Combine that with extra- river for the safest crossing, which is often where the river is 4. Kettle Crest Trail thick hiking socks over long miles, and your feet are going to widest and slowest. Keep your boots on (or change into water Enjoy wildflowers and wildlife in Eastern Washington. » p.18 protest, most often resulting in cramps, pain and blisters— shoes), and release your pack’s waist and sternum straps in bad news if you still have several days, or weeks, to go. When case you need to ditch it quickly if you fall in. It’s better to 5. Olympic Coast Trail selecting your hiking boots, try them on with the socks you chase down wet gear than have wet gear drag you down. Roam the rugged northern section of Washington’s coast. » p.20 plan to wear (including liners) and make sure you have a little 12 18 “swelling room” by sizing up at least half a size. 6. Pacific Crest Trail Leave No Trace Sample the PCT from the Columbia River to Indian Heaven. » p.22 Sample and Vary Your Menu Whenever possible, select established campsites. When not possible, choose a camp area that will have minimal impact on 7. Pacific Northwest Trail Nothing can ruin a long-distance trip quicker than poor the landscape, such as a durable surface like dirt, rock or snow. Take a 1,230-mile trek from the Rockies to the Pacific. » p.24 menu planning. Sample foods before getting on the trail and Abide by the rule of 200, keeping your camp, cooking and choose the ones you’re going to want to eat. Select a variety toilet areas at least 200 feet from trails and water. Always pack 8. Spider Loop Trail of foods so you’re not eating the same things every day or two out what you pack in, and never throw smoldering items— Go for big scenery in the Glacier Peak Wilderness. » p.26 and quickly tiring of some items. Be sure the foods you select matches, campfire coals, etc.—into the brush. are providing the daily calories you need to keep you fueled 9. William O. Douglas Trail up and avoiding the “bonk.” Hike from Yakima’s shrub-steppe to Mount Rainier. » p.28 ENJOY THE TRIP Remember that while long-distance hiking can be 10. Wonderland Trail Carry a Map and Compass punishing, it is not punishment. You’re hiking to enjoy the Washington’s signature loop around Mount Rainier. » p.30 There are lots of tech gadgets out there to help get you outdoors, breathe the fresh air, and view wild, untamed from point A to point B, but none should take the place of country. Despite the challenges, every day will have rewards, a good ol’ map and compass. A map will never run low on big and small. You may have to look harder for some, but batteries, and a compass will still function reliably in the cold they’re out there, waiting to be discovered. COVER: A PCT hiker stops to enjoy the wide panorama on Rock 26 Pass in the Paysayten Wilderness. Photo by Andy Porter 2 Washington Trails | Epic Trails | wta.org Washington Trails | Epic Trails | wta.org 3 PCT hiker at Rock Pass in the Pasayten Wilderness. Photo by Andy Porter MIND OVER MATTER You don’t need to be an Olympic triathlete to do a long-distance hike. Just about anyone in good health with moderate fitness can hike a few hundred miles. One of the keys to a successful long-distance hike is being open and flexible enough to deal with whatever nature, or your own body, throws at you. You will get hot; you will get cold; you will get tired; you will get wet; you will get dirty; you will get lonely; you will get bitten by bugs; you may get sunburned; you may get rained on; you may get blisters; you may get hurt; you may get scared; you may cry. While that sounds like a lot of detractions, it is nothing to be ashamed of when it happens—and it will happen. Even the most ardent hikers get discouraged or break down from time to time. Often, the hardest part of an extended journey is the first week or two. That’s when your legs are fresh (despite how many conditioning hikes you’ve taken), your pack is the heaviest and your end goal is a million miles away. But the only way you’re going to see that far-off wilderness is to put one foot in front of the other and do it. You will quickly find that the panoramic views suddenly make your aches go away, that refreshing drinks from icy streams reenergize you when you’re tired and that freeze-dried stroganoff tastes really good when noshing in a high lake basin with sunset alpenglow lighting up the peaks around you. plan for success Once you have identified the long-distance trail you want to hike, you need to start planning. This involves researching the trail, planning your itinerary, obtaining any necessary permits, identifying potential hiking companions and getting yourself into shape. Depending on the length of your selected trail, and the amount of time you plan on hiking, this can be quite an endeavor—albeit a fun one that will doubtless get you even more excited for your trek. DO YOUR RESEARCH: The best way to learn about the trail you’re interested in is to study guidebooks and websites and to purchase trail maps, making sure that they cover your entire route. Read blogs of other hikers who have hiked the trail and can offer insights and advice. If the trail has an interest group or forum, try connecting with other hikers for helpful information. If the trail you want to hike requires a permit, know the application dates and deadlines. Hiking group on Mount By Eli Boschetto Rainier’s Wonderland Trail. AN INTRODUCTION TO LONG-DISTANCE HIKING }}} Photo by Colleen Ponto o, you’re a frequent hiker, and you One of the biggest misconceptions about long-distance hikes is that they are just like a regular backpack, only longer. Yes and no.