Out for a walk on an Oregon portion of the 2,653-mile-long Pacific Crest Trail
By Tom Adkinson
August 13, 2021

Two hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail. Image by Tom Adkinson.

MT. HOOD, Oregon – From this point, these two southbound hikers are only 2,108 miles from Mexico as they walk along a very well marked portion of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). They are just above Timberline Lodge, one of Oregon’s most popular outdoor recreation destinations. Canada is about 550 miles behind them.

It’s unlikely they are hiking the entire PCT, since very few people attempt the 2,653-mile-long trek through 25 national forests, seven national parks and three states. The PCT, officially the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, goes up and down many times through the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountains ranges of Washington, Oregon and California.

Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood. Image by Tom Adkinson.

At Timberline Lodge, the hikers are at about 6,000 feet elevation on Mt. Hood. The trail goes from sea level to 13,153 feet at Forester Pass in California’s Sierra Nevada.

Timberline Lodge is a classic western structure built mainly by Works Progress Administration labor in 1937. Looming above the stone and timber lodge is the peak of Mt. Hood, elevation 11,245 feet. While hikers enjoy this part of the Mt. Hood National Forest in summer, the area is best known for an expansive skiing operation.