Just hit 1,000 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail section near my town and I'm kind of annoyed

I didn't even realize I was close until I logged all my weekend trips from the last three summers in Oregon. That's a lot of driving to trailheads and dealing with the same muddy stretch around Mount Hood every spring. Has anyone else passed a big number and felt more tired than proud?

2 comments

2 Comments

wadeyoung15h ago

That muddy stretch around Mount Hood in spring is exactly what wore me down too. I think I logged 300 of those 1,000 miles just slogging through that same section near Timberline Lodge. Every year I tell myself I'll skip it and hike somewhere drier, but then I end up back there because it's close. The tired feeling makes sense when you realize half your steps are just repeating the same puddles and downed trees. Makes the number feel less like an achievement and more like a sentence you served.

fiona3309h ago

Honestly I used to think mileage numbers were just fun milestones but reading this kinda flipped it for me. You're right, when most of those miles are the same muddy loop it really does feel more like a chore than an accomplishment.