After a backpacking test run over Spring Break, we have made some adjustments to our original plans for the "long walk down the aisle" (thanks Hana). We found that such a trek would be too much to ask of our dog, who loves to run and explore the woods, but needs more recoup time than this trip would allow or that we want to give ourselves. So he is going to doggy summer camp with Nathan's parents in Southern Oregon, probably his favorite place to be anyway. (Thanks David and Martha!!)
Over the break we went to the Mendocino National Forest to experience some of the area where we planned to go through on our way to Oregon. Just trying to find long distance continuous trails was hard enough, let alone a straight shot that would take us north. As we walked we discussed how much we would have to figure out just to get through this area, kind of inventing our own through-hike, which is not only too much work, but pretty much impossible. Luckily we spent some time chatting with a local shop owner. He didn't have to say much, just that "it's hotter'n hell up here in here summer". It occurred to us, after chugging two pints of Gatorade that for being barely spring, it was already really warm. He asked us if we have considered the coast. This would avoid the 115 degree days AND a the California coast has a (mostly) continuous trail to Oregon. So that was that, we'll get to the Marble Mountains another time. This walk is going to be along the Pacific.
It all is coming together, and we'll trek from Berkeley to Tillamook arriving a week before the wedding. We will take a train into Portland (to pull together last minute party needs and get ourselves a bit spruced after a month on the road). We also decided that in order for us to make it in time we'll just have to catch some rides or hop on a bus here and there. The whole trip is about 900 miles and we would have to hike over 20 miles a day to make it in the time we have. So we are going to walk as much as we can (having plenty of 20 mile days) and catch a ride when the opportunity looks good. It will be strange to have a car go 30 mins to take us as far as our legs could in a full day. But that's the point of all this: to experience the distance and the terrain on our own scale- as much as we can, in the time we have.
We are really looking forward to going through the Lost Coast on foot and heading out of our front door into the big wide world on just our legs and packs. A number of streteches of the California Coast Trail are along Highway 1, so we will probably use these to "go by wheel". We will post our route soon, so you can see where we'll be and when (approx.). Stay in touch and maybe join us for a bit!
Its a big challenge, but we've received so much support from our loved ones to do it that we know this is the right way for us to get to our wedding and start this marriage off. We hope to hear from you, and if you feel inclined to help with the hike specifically, you can do so by clicking that handy donation button.
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