May 22. We got a post card from Douglas today, was dated May 18. At that time they had covered 871 miles since April 9. This last section took them 10 days and they had hoped for 8. He reports "this last section was cold and we had a storm a few days ago that dropped about 8" . . . hoping for the new snow to melt before leaving - it slows you down more than the existing snowpack." They should be at Echo Lake in a couple of weeks. He is about 1/3 of the way to Canada from Mexico now. The snow is the reason that no one has ever been able to yo-yo the PCT in a single season. This year was a relatively low snow season and the reason that they are attempting it now. It is not the 5254 miles that is difficult (for them that is) but rather the conditions (snow) that they are under.
June 11. Just got through talking with Douglas. They are approaching the 1300 mile mark and are about 6 days behind schedule. A few days ago they got caught in heavy rains for a couple of days, found a guy who let them lay up in the lower level of his house to stay out of the weather. They expect to be able to make up the days without much trouble now that they are mostly out of the snow.
June 15. We talked to Douglas tonight. He is just north of Lassen Park. He has covered 1372 miles since the beginning of this venture. They passed the half-way point between Mexico and Canada yesterday. Tomorrow will be the hottest part of the trip so far. They will be covering 30 miles of an area with no water and no shade with expected temperature of 105 degrees, so he will be carrying a lot of water from the beginning early in the morning. His breakfast this morning was one-half gallon of ice cream. He has met a guy from Juneau, Alaska who has told him that he can come there and stay with him for a while. Douglas may never come back to Georgia. Can't say that I would blame him.
June 21. Judy talked with Douglas today. He has covered about 1500 miles at this time. Conditions are very hot and dry. He is only a few days now from the Oregon state line. Rumor on the trail says there is another guy behind them who is trying to yo-yo the PCT this year. If so and it is who they think it is he is very fast, hikes the Appalachian Trail a lot.
June 27. We talked with Doug tonight from 50 miles south of the Oregon state line. After much thought through last weekend he has decided to abandon the yo-yo attempt. Scott has moved on solo and Doug will be doing the same. The itinerary calls for the need to make 35 miles per day and Doug has decided that he wants more flexibility during his hike. He feels that Scott is capable of doing 40 miles per day and should reach Canada on schedule. Doug will continue his hike to Canada at an estimated pace of "high 20's to low 30's" miles per day, but he no longer wants to get up each morning at 6:00 and know that he has to make 35 miles that day no matter what. He spoke of such beautiful settings that he would like to hike over to and maybe spend a few hours or a day just savoring the environment. He has decided he would rather do this type of thing than just hike as fast as he can from point A to point B. His venture will still last until late summer/early fall. After he reaches Canada he will then return to some areas that he enjoys so much, one being Mt. Ranier which is his first love of the great northwest. He has climbed Mt. Ranier on more than one ocassion, will probably do that again and also wants to hike the Wonderland Trail around Mt. Ranier. He will try to contact the retired lawyer from Juneau, Alaska and maybe make it up there as well. Moving into the late summer he will join up with Scott again for some hiking back through the Sierras, which he says is some of the most beautiful part of the trip. To sum it up, Douglas says he is not necessarily happy with abandoning the yo-yo but is content in his decision. My personal opinion, from knowing him for 24 years, is one of not only contentment but of happiness as well. I know that he will enjoy the "journey" much better this way for the next 5 months.
July 7. Doug is at Crater Lake in Oregon. After his decision to abandon the yo-yo attempt he was held up in Seiad, California for nearly one week while waiting for new gear to arrive. Scott had gone ahead with the gear that they had been sharing while Doug hung around a RV park where he was staying in a 6' x 8' room that they rent out. He was bored out of his mind. After waiting for nearly one week he couldn't take it any longer and finally left without the gear with the Post Office agreeing to forward it on to Crater Lake for him. He reports recent weather as cold and rainy.
An e-mail from Judy to her family, July 11. Doug called a while ago and said he was at Shelter Cove, Cascade Summit, Oregon. Said he had thought to stay there a little bit but the prices were so outrageous he wasn't giving them anymore of his money. Just the food was very expensive - it's a fishing area and there are many rv's, etc. He did receive his tarp at Crater Lake so now he has shelter and had to put some sealant on it yesterday afternoon and let it dry for 12 hours I think. He said that it had snowed at Crater Lake on July 4 and there was still snow around the rim when he was there this past Saturday. His weather has been cold and rainy and a few patches of snow but it was in the 80s there today which sounds cool compared to the 100° here today. He'll probably be climbing Middle Sisters mountain next week and possibly North Sister. He climbed the 'other one' in '98 (there's three).
July 19. Douglas called today from Timberline Ski Area, Oregon (mile marker 2102). They are doing a little snow skiing there now but mostly snowboarding. The lift runs until 1:00 to a snow field on the side of one of the glaciers. During the last stretch he climbed Middle Sister, a 10,000 foot volcano. From there he could see all the way to Mt. Adams in Washington State. On Friday he will be to the Columbia River on the border between Oregon and Washington. This is one of his favorite areas from other hikes. He will be hanging out there for a few days. He is really enjoying his solo hike. He is now living his "dream" rather than that of Scott. There's nothing wrong with either one's dream. One just needs to live their own life and not the life of another. I knew this would suit Douglas better. He does not get in a hurry for anything. For those who do not know him I can best describe him as never having enjoyed a "hot meal". Reason is he has never eaten one fast enough for it to be hot.
July 21. Douglas called from the Columbia River. For the first time since his journey began he is at a lower elevation than we are. The Columbia River is only 200 feet above sea level at this point. He has now covered two states, California and Oregon, with Washington to go. The photo we posted showing the Oregon state line showed 498 miles to the border of Washington and was dated July 2. This suggests he has covered these 498 miles in 19 days, averaging 26 miles per day even with his side trip of climbing Middle Sister. He expects to hang out at the Columbia River until Tuesday. It is crystal clear from his voice that he is having the time of his life.
August 4. Talked to Doug today and he was at Snoqualmie, Washington. Actually talked to him several days before when he was at White Pass. He is doing fine and still having a good hike. Just a few more days til he'll be to Canada. He said Scott should be getting there today so hopefully their paths will cross soon as Scott starts heading south. Doug said he met a day hiker from Snellville which was pretty neat. Also met another hiker, 43 years old, I believe, that started about three weeks after he and Scott did and had caught up with Doug. There is a major difference, though. His wife is riding along to meet him at all the road crossings so he's not carrying more than a fanny pack all through Oregon. A lot of the snow had melted when he came through the Sierras in California also. Doug met his wife first and she started telling him all this stuff about himself and he was like "who are you"?, I don't know who you are. She knew all about his hike. There are registers for them to sign in the towns and they not only put their names, but any other information they want, I guess to help other hikers, etc, or leave messages. Said he was sitting in a restaurant and heard some people behind him talking about Scott, just going on and on, as he was a real hero, etc. They were hiking through Washington. Modest Doug never told them that he had been hiking with Scott for months. He got a motel room last night and it actually had a tub in it instead of just a shower which is what he usually gets on the trail. He scrubbed and scrubbed and said it felt soooooo gooooood to be really clean. Don't think he really likes being smelly and dirty but that's just part of being on the trail!! Don't think he wanted to let that clean wear off today! There is a B & B up the way about a mile and he was thinking to stay there tonight if there was room. Said it's cheaper than the motel room he's got now so he'll probably head out this afternoon. He should be in Stehekin in about five days. He has his ice ax again which he picked up today and thinks he'll see a little more snow. However, said the next few days will be some of the most beautiful along the trail so he's really looking forward to the journey ahead! Keep him in your prayers! Judy
August 16. Douglas arrived in Canada about noon today, completing his thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. He hiked on another 7 miles to a lodge, where he spent the night. Including his side trips he has probably walked more than 2650 miles since April 9. Tomorrow morning he will catch a bus to Vancouver and hook up with another bus to Portland, Oregon. There he will meet with a friend from that area who is also a hiker. He hopes to spend the weekend at Cascade Locks on the Columbia River with Scott. This is the border between Oregon and Washington and is one of his favorite areas for hanging out. After this he will travel to Mt. Ranier where he expects to spend a week or so. After that he has no idea what he is going to do and may return to the Southeast sooner than expected. The trip to Alaska is pretty much out, due to cost. When you don't work for 6 months you don't have a lot of cash. He is happy to have completed his journey without any serious problems. He is glad to be "clean" again but otherwise is not happy about returning to civilization. He prefers the woods, where lodging is free.