Day 21: Bridge of the Gods

PCT Mile 2148 – 2159

Miles Hiked = 11

Since I finished hiking the Oregon PCT, Donna and I spent two nights with Tom and Karen in the Portland area. We went wine tasting, enjoyed a couple nice dinners at local restaurants, watched some Olympics and generally just had a great time together. Thanks Tom and Karen!

Megan, Tom, Karen & Glenn

Then Donna and I headed to Seattle and spent four days with Sydney. She was busy tying up some loose-ends for her Masters program but we managed to also visit REI a couple times in preparation for our upcoming BIG hike together! We also managed to go out for dinner every night!

Sydney, Donna & myself

We all had a great time in Seattle but it was time to get back on the trail. So Donna and I picked up Sydney early the next morning and drove back to Cascade Locks where I had left the trail last week. After a few photos and some good-bye hugs, Donna was headed back to the Portland airport and Sydney and I started walking.

Me & Sydney

Ever since Sydney expressed an interest in hiking the Washington PCT with me, I’ve been looking forward to hiking this section together. What a great way to finish the trail! It seems fitting that there are four feet back on the trail.

Our first steps together were to walk across the Bridge of the Gods.

The Oregon side

The Bridge of the Gods crosses over the Columbia River and connects the Oregon side with the Washington side.

The Washington side

The Bridge of Gods is only about eighty feet above sea level – the lowest point on the entire PCT! So we only had one way to go … up, up and up! Over the next eleven miles we hiked up to over 4000 feet in elevation.

Within a few minutes after crossing the Bridge of Gods we entered the forest and were hiking on dirt.

Only 500+ miles to go

Soon the excitement of crossing the Bridge and beginning our hike together wore off and the reality of putting one foot in front of the other and logging miles set in.

We passed a pretty pond.

As the afternoon passed by, clouds rolled in and we started to get some light rain.

We hiked primarily in the forest and collected water at a spring.

As we got higher into the hills, we had a view back at the Columbia River.

Late in the afternoon, after gaining those 4000 feet and hiking those first eleven miles into Washington, we made camp. The space was a little tight, but we manage to fit both tents into it.

Here we go!

Thanks for following!