Greetings from Seattle followers! I made it to Snoqualmie Pass and Cricket's aunt picked us up and took us back to her place to eat, shower, and do laundry. So incredibly awesome, thanks Boo! We've had great weather all week, right up until we got into overcast and slightly rainy Seattle ha, classic! Spent all week hiking with Cricket and sometimes with Balls and Sunshine. Unfortunately in this last section, we spent quite a bit of time walking through clear cuts, which are visually displeasing and very hot due to the lack of shade. However, the trail magic has made it so much better! My dad at White Pass, sodas from Shrek at Chinook Pass, donuts and soda from Magic Man on a logging road, chili dogs from Not-Phil's Dad on a forest road, and a random soda cache cooler before Snoqualmie! Finally Cricket's aunt to top it all off, trail angels are so awesome! So just two more stops till
Canada, Skykomish and then Stehekin. Looking forward to the Dinsmores in Skykomish, just 4 days away!

No goats, but lots of rocks...

Hey followers, this time I'm coming to you from White Pass Ski Area in WA. My dad came out to meet me here for the weekend and ended doing some trail magic. Last night we sat around eating great food with Balls, Sunshine, HalfFast, RedBlaze, Scouts Honor, and Cricket. It's been a good time, but I can't stay long, gotta move on.

Two days ago we entered the the Goat Rocks Wilderness, WOW! It was almost like being in the rugged high Sierras again, however with a very lush-green Cascades feel. The scenery was absolutely amazing, with Mt Adams behind us and Mt Rainier in front of us. The trail followed the top of a ridgeline for just a few miles, across very loose rock, with steep drop-offs on either side. I kind of felt like a mountain goat walking along that path, perched up above jagged rock and steep snow slopes. It's a hard call to make, but I think I must say this was my favorite stretch of trail thus-far on the trip. So awesome!

When I left Cascade Locks, I spent the first night alone, and then ran into Scouts Honor and Cricket the second day out. I've had a great time spending the week with these guys, through the longest stretch in WA. The mosquitoes have begun to die out, however the black flies have been biting and annoying. We went through the Mt Adams wilderness and skirted the base of the huge volcano for a few days, which provided classic North Cascades scenery with beautiful green meadows and abundant wildflowers everywhere.

So next stop will be Snoqualmie Pass, a little less than 100 miles away. This trip is winding down as I get closer to the Canadian border, my goal since the beginning. Although this has really been the adventure of a lifetime, I'm tired of walking. I love this trail and it has taught me so much about nature, people, and myself, but I'm ready to come home. There's no doubt I will miss the social aspect of the trail, the amazing people I've met and spent time with. Something about the thru-hiker culture can really make you feel at home on the trail. The people on trail are genuinely good-people and I've made some awesome friends that will go back to various places all across the world, and I will miss them dearly. Thru-hikers are a special breed, I love you guys!
-Headbanger

Hey guys and hello Washington! Ha, yep I'm back in my home state. This has been a crazy week and I'm just so stoked to finally be so close to home. I left Sisters OR on Tuesday with a plan to do 140 miles to get to Cascade Locks OR by friday, before the Post Office closed for the weekend. JimBrick, Buttercup, and Wiz had the same plan, so we did 42 miles the 1st day, 45 miles the 2nd, and after 10 miles the next day I could go no more. My feet had given up, so I hitched from Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood, down to Cascade Locks to take some well needed zeros. Spent the weekend with my Mom at PCT Trail Days and had a blast. Unfortunately, that 44 mile section I missed is now closed due to a wildfire, so it will have to wait until another day. I'm excited to spend the weekend in White Pass with my dad and then push on for the finish line! I'm so worn out physically/mentally, but will be so
sad it see this trip end. This has been my life for 5 months and I love it! I am Hiker Trash. -Banger

Hey followers, I'm in Sisters, OR, about 160 miles from the WA border! This past week has been really spectacular as we came through the Diamond Peak, Three Sisters, and Mt. Jefferson wilderness areas. We've spent much of our time walking through really beautiful and rugged lava flows, with towering peaks overlooking us. The scenery here has blown me away and I just gotta say I really love the Cascades! Wildflowers and huckleberries line the trail, making the hiking so incredibly pleasent. The mosquitoes have been thick and so annoying, but hopefully they will start to die out as we get later into the season. Spent the week hiking with Boots, Bubbles, Happy Meal, JimBrick, Wiz, and Buttercup. They've all been great company and I really spending time with them all. So about 1 week and I'll be in WA, which is just so exciting! Ready to complete this adventure and come home. I miss all you
guys at home, much love! -Headbanger

Hey follower, I'm camped tonight on the rim of the beautiful Crater Lake! Watched the sun set and will wake up to an awesome sunrise. This is a priceless campsite and I am stoked to be here. Love this stuff!

Hey followers! That's right, I'm now in an entirely new state, Oregon! I have to say, it still looks quite a bit like northern California, but it feels different ha. California took 3 1/2 months to get through and I hope to be through Oregon in 2 weeks or less, what we call "The Oregon Challenge". Cali blew me away with its diversity and beauty, and took me for a ride I will never forget! But now I move on to the much gentler state of Oregon and soon after I'll be home in Washington. I've spent much of the week hiking with Happy Meal and Boots and will probably continue on out of Ashland with those dudes. Next stop will be the very awesome Crater Lake, which I am super stoked about. It hasn't been easy battling returning knee problems, sickness, and poison oak rash, but I'm lovin this trip anyway! Thanks so much for the comments and encouragement guys, even though I can't always reply,
I read them and they are such a boost. Keep following, I'm coming home!

Hello followers from the huge town of Castella, CA! Nah, just kidding it's actually nothing more than a Post Office and Gas station on Interstate 5, right outside Castle Crags State Park. This last week has included some really amazing volcanic scenery, proof we're now in the Cascades! We saw geysers and a boiling mud lake, as we skirted around Mt Lassen in Lassen Volcanic National Park. Then the view changed to Mt Shasta as we head west to skirt around it's base. WOW, what an impressive mountain Shasta is! It has been incredibly hot everyday here and the long climbs in and out of valleys seem to take all day. Also the poison oak is everywhere along trail and I dance to avoid it. I did however manage to catch up to Holden, but have once again lost him after a few days of hiking together. I've been keeping a fairly steady pace of about 30 miles a day and even had a 46 a few days ago when
we continued on to hike the waterless Hate Creek Rim at night! I'm tired but still pushin. -Banger