PCT Hikers Pass 2,000-Mile Mark Near Big Lake Youth Camp
Pacific Crest Trail hikers, after shipping resupply boxes and receiving trail magic, passed the 2,000-mile marker and celebrated at a pond near the Big
A group of Pacific Crest Trail hikers have passed the 2,000-mile mark on their journey north. The hikers celebrated the milestone after a day that included shipping resupply boxes, visiting a lava rock observatory, and enjoying trail magic.
Town Chores and Trail Angels
The hikers' final town task was shipping their resupply boxes from a store in Sisters, Oregon. The process took over an hour. Afterwards, a local trail angel provided a ride back to the trailhead near the Dee Wright Observatory. The driver, described as kind and full of fun facts, made a detour to show the hikers the inside of the structure.
The observatory is a castle-like building made entirely of lava rock. Inside, windows are pointed at surrounding peaks with labels showing their distances. A circular brass plate on the second floor displays the same information.
Trail Magic and Camp Hospitality
At the trailhead, a group of friends hosted trail magic, offering burgers, a watermelon goat cheese salad, and homemade baked goods. The hikers were given chocolate zucchini muffins and chocolate chip cookies to take with them. The subsequent hike covered over five miles of rough lava rock terrain.
The day's goal was to reach the Big Lake Youth Camp for dinner. The camp, owned by Seventh Day Adventists, generously opens its doors to PCT hikers. It maintains a dedicated hiker building with a full kitchen, laundry, showers, WiFi, and charging stations. The camp offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner to anyone hiking the trail. The hiker arrived in time for a nacho dinner.
The 2,000-Mile Milestone
The group did not stay long at the camp, as they had one more mission. The day's hike included passing the 2,000-mile marker on the PCT. Only about 650 miles remained in their journey. Hikers named Drom, Posh, and the author took pictures at the marker and reflected on their last 1,000 miles together, mirroring a celebration they had at the 1,000-mile point.
The trio then joined other hikers-Pole Dancer, Buenas Noches, and Bear-at a pond further up the trail. The sunset, combined with the dark surrounding trees, created an electric light blue sky. The author noted that photos could not do the scene justice, calling it a beautiful way to end the day.
