I had assumed wrongly that some of my gear would not need replacing over the hike. If anything you should assume to replace just about everything.

I expected my shoes would need replacing. I’m on my fifth pair of Brooks Cascadia trail running shoes and tenth pair of Injinji toe socks. My shirt and pants have been replaced once and these newer ones now are ragged, but I’m going to make do with them as they are. Surprise, surprise, but I’m still using my original underpants – go figure. My hat is a filthy mess, but is still workable and wearable.

However my back pack us falling apart. Not only is it filthy, but there are holes in it and the hip belt padding is ripped in half. I’m worried every time I hoist it on my back that the shoulder straps or hip belt will rip and then I’d be in a very big mess.

My sleeping bag is OK, but could definitely need a cleaning. It’s now got a funky smell to it which is a combination of me and the moisture from dew that has occurred many days throughout the hike. If it was damp when I put it away, then when I get to camp I try to dry it out if possible.

My tent has been patched twice. Once after the snow storm on San Jacinto. Then recently the rain beak got a hole in it, but I’m clueless as to how that happened. In addition the netting has numerous repairs especially after the mouse chewed through it.

I never expected to replace my Sawyer Mini water filter, but the new larger one is a wonderful and fast. There were times in the past where I drank directly because of the time it would take to filter the water. Now with the new one I am filtering more often.

And the list goes on and on. If you want to hike with lightweight gear then expect to replace most items, because you use them everyday – day in and day out.

For literally miles the trail is bordered my wild huckleberry bushes. Many a hiker has stopped to pick some and munch them down.

[Ed. This deals with cleanliness and sanitation so you might want to skip it if stuff like that offends or upsets you.]

It’s hard to keep clean on the trail.

My hands and feet are always dirty. I think sometimes that I’ll never get them clean even after the trail. That is, the dirt is baked in. I’m a bit remiss on washing my hands and need to do it more often. I have probably washed my face and hair about once a month. I’ve gotten used to being dirty, and smelly. At times I’ve bought a shower at a resupply town. Other times I’ve washed in a lake, or stream. I’ve even walked through a dew laden forest and gotten so soaked it almost amounted to a shower.

There are a few things that I do each day faithfully. I take my medicine each night. I floss and brush my teeth each night too. Somehow having a clean mouth makes me feel good especially after all the food I’ve consumed throughout the day. However I only floss and brush once a day at night time.

I’m a regular guy and poop at least once a day in the morning. I’ve not found it hard to poop in the forest. This surprised me. I typically dig my cat hole the night before. I also set out my trowel, toilet paper and wet ones by my head. Then in the morning I can barely get out of my sleeping bag and get my shoes on before I have to go. I use a log or stump for back/butt support. I sparingly use toilet paper. When done I cover everything up with soil I had dug up. It seems to work for me.

After being on trail these past months I’ve become accustom to doing these things.

I asked a passerby to take my picture. The forest had been misty and the trees were dripping dew so I got on my rain gear. Now looking at the pictures I look so silly with my crooked umbrella, and dirty baggy pants. Oh well most of the other hikers are just as bedraggled with this fog and rain as I am.

It seems as though I only take scenic pictures of mountains so here is a lake instead. It is Dewey Lake near mile 2349.

I thought I had already seen all the obstacles such as blowdowns, river crossings and snowfields, but add this new one – washouts. It’s where the entire trail is washed away and all you have is a gully that you have to cross. One I encountered was over six feet across and just as deep. I had to climb up several yards until it was narrower and less deep. Then very carefully descend back to the trail. All of which was on the steep side of a mountain.

I don’t know which picture I prefer. What do you think?

Hiked around a corner and I’m stopped dead in my tracks by the majesty and closeness of Mt. Rainier. I think I actually said out loud, “Wow”.