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The Wamblog

Bike touring, backpacking, burrito eating and photography.

  • Pre Trip Posts
    • Wrapping up my Central America Bike tour
    • Like Father like son: My Father’s Scandinavian Bike Tour
  • Daniel’s Bike Touring Blog
    • 1: Scotland, The Beginning of the trip Edinburgh to the Scottish Highlands
    • 2: Scotland, Cycling the Outer Hebrides, the wrong way
    • 3: Scotland, The not so fast rush from Obon to Newcastle
    • 4: Netherlands, Belgium and the beginning of France
    • 6: Spain, Meetings from all over the world on the Camino Frances
    • 5: France, from fromage to plage and everything in between
    • 7: Spain, Heading south towards the sun
    • 8: Spain, Cycling with my parents in Andalusia
    • 9: Spain to Morocco, Transitions
    • 10: Morocco, Hospitality and Police Escorts
    • 11: Morocco, A sad event and a change of plans
  • Pacific Crest Trail Blog
    • PCT 1: The Green Desert
    • PCT 4: Mountaineering Kindergarten
    • PCT 2: Of Aqueducts, Joshua Trees and Windmills
    • PCT 3: Desert Farewells
    • PCT 5: The Breaking of the Trail Family Fellowship
    • PCT 6: The Big Melt
    • PCT 7: Escape From the Snow
    • PCT 8: Northern California Trail Reunions
    • PCT 9: Northern California Blues
    • PCT 10: Trail Solitude and the Push to Oregon
  • Heidi’s Blog
    • Heidi’s Blog 1: Cycling the Camino
  • Daniel’s Photos

Month: June 2018

Like Father like son: My Father’s Scandinavian Bike Tour

On June 12, 2018 By Daniel WambaughIn Blog1 Comment

With years of planning and saving for this trip I have had some time to also convince others to get hooked on the idea of joining me!  My dad is one of those people.  Much of my wanderlust has come from him in many ways.  I was always reserved and cautiously contemplative about many choices …

Continue reading Like Father like son: My Father’s Scandinavian Bike Tour

Wrapping up my Central America Bike tour

On June 9, 2018June 12, 2018 By Daniel WambaughIn BlogLeave a comment

Photo Album: Costa Rica Photo Album: Nicaragua Over a year has gone by since I completed my Central America bike trip and the memories seem so fresh and yet faded at the same time.  With my next trip two months away I feel the need to get out my memories now before I go through …

Continue reading Wrapping up my Central America Bike tour

Current Location and Statistics

For my current location click on the globe! Globe Showing Europe-Africa on Microsoft Windows 10 April 2018 Update

Bicycle on Microsoft   Total Distance: 6740 km

 

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Recent posts

  • PCT 10: Trail Solitude and the Push to Oregon November 29, 2019
  • PCT 9: Northern California Blues November 26, 2019
  • PCT 8: Northern California Trail Reunions November 24, 2019
  • PCT 7: Escape From the Snow November 23, 2019
  • PCT 6: The Big Melt November 20, 2019
  • PCT 5: The Breaking of the Trail Family Fellowship November 16, 2019

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The first family Nordic ski to Tod Lake of the season. Now we just need a few more feet of snow to really open up the rest of the back country terrain!
A small dayhike back into the Three Sisters Wilderness is always welcome. After finishing the PCT I think it will always feel a little like coming home whenever I go back into the mountains.
Bonus day on the PCT!!! We didn't enter Canada. We had to do the last thirty miles a second time heading south bound. This would normally seem like a chore, but the last morning we woke up to a little fresh snow and some amazing light showing us the way south to where my parents were waiting at Harts Pass. The day was filled with thoughts, emotions and amazing reunions. We ran into several people we had not seen since the Sierra. After taking almost 7 months to do the PCT, starting in March and ending in October, it was amazing to see some other March starters finishing around the same time as us! We March starters are a strange bunch and our own micro culture on the trail. Being forced to go slow in the beginning because of Sierra snowpack, we all got a taste for a different and slower way to do the PCT and this is something many of us took with us to the end. Our last few miles were greeted with one of the most beautiful views of the whole PCT. The snow stopped, the cloulds parted and the whole valley below us glowed with intense gold and yellow! We were in a hurry but even then were stopped one last time to soak it in, extra miles, a bonus day and a beautiful goodbye from the mountains that we made our home for the last seven months. Around one of the final corners my dad came hiking up giving out hugs and congratulations and we hurried in the dropping temps to my mom, and dog Sage. We piled into their van and quickly drove down as the snow began again and the sun set for its last time on us on the PCT. As I sit looking up at the Cascade Mountains I can't think of a better way to finish such a trail other than with good friends and my family.
We made it to the Northern Terminus! The PCT is done for now. For me, the PCT was everything in between the beginning and the end. The people, the views, the long boring days and the ridiculously beautiful ones. The deep intense lows with no technology and social setting to combat it, just our own thoughts. The amazing highs from bearing witness to an amazing sunset or having a dry tent to pack up in the morning, or remembering you have one last snickers bar left! Thank you to all the great people i met along the way. Whether we shared months on trail rambling about every intimate thought or you anonymously treated me to a beer in a random town. Thank you.
For the final few days on the PCT we got hit by an early season snowstorm. It was an amazing way to have one more beautiful challenge thrown our way. But I would take below freezing temps and snow over cold rain any day.
The section from Stevens Pass to Rainy Pass was summarized by rainy days, big hills with a few gorgeous moments as the weather took a break. Lots of switch backs and the hill climbing I love made for allot of elevation gain and loss. Currently I am in Winthrop checking out the nordic skiing haven that is Methow valley with 120 miles of groomed Nordic track in the winter! So excited to finish up the PCT and get to other sports. Seeing Nordic skis going up in gear stores and smelling glide wax melting has gotten me nostalgic for winter. The fact we have a historic early snow storm smacking the North Cascades with much colder temps has gotten me in the mood too!
After being vortexed in Snoqualmie with board games we were joined by Ultra from Snoqualmie to Stevens Pass! The weather was mostly great and we had many an amazing camp spot. One on a little island, another on the shore of Glacier lake and the whole time the peaks around us kept peaking out. Ultra brought two dogs to join us, Katie and Loki and having them along was a great way to mix up the usual through hiking routine.
Had to say goodbye to one more of the trail family recently, and just after i got such good photos near Mt Rainier. Goodbye Town and best of luck on all the upcoming travels! May be seeing you in Central America! Who knows what shenanigans you would get up to without a translator.
We just arrived in Packwood in Washington in rain and lightning. Cruising through goat rocks was stunning but the knife edge was an ordeal of wind, rain and clouds. Need to return to fully appreciate that ridge walk. We did see goats! Many of them, and there were several moments the clouds withdrew to stun me with what was hiding so close! I cant wait to continue north but for now zero day and a Lord of the Rings marathon!
Washington is beautiful! We are in Trout Lake and enjoying the Cascadia life. Lots of mushrooms, volcanoes and lakes. We're slowing down with the end nearing, enjoying every moment and appreciating the friends we have made out here!
We are in Washington! Bridge of the gods was a wonderful way to leave the homestate. Our trail family has changed a bit we lost a penguin and got a Bird! I cant wait for the final chapter in Washington.
We made it to Cascade locks. We have spent the last few days in Portland which has been a wonderful break from the trail! Seeing old haunts that I used to frequent while living here has been great. Seeing old friends like @muttfluffs and @pdx.kelleya was wonderful and i cant wait to live close to these great people again! Powels books hasn't changed, Portland frisbee fun has been had and we even got a taste of Egyptian hospitality where they offered us a free meal for being on the PCT. We also went to OMSI after dark and got a little sciencing on but im already getting excited for trail. Back alone soon in the mountains and woods!
Cheers to my tent! For the PCT I have been continuing on solo so I knew I might need a new tent to stay lightweight... But screw that! I have continued with my bike touring castle. Why would I switch to a younger, slimmer and sexier new tent? ⚫It has survived various howler monkey and tropical bird poops. ⚫Phallic image sharpie marker attacks of drunk friends in Costa Rica. ⚫It has survived the claws of several cats in both Nicaragua and Morocco. ⚫Almost a month of rain and wind in Scotland and the pee from more than a few sheep. ⚫Months of wild camping on any surface suitable all over Europe. ⚫It even survived being blown off a cliff in the deserts of Southern Utah (while I was not in it) It may be covered in gear tape and have bent rods and weigh 3.5 pounds but I couldn't ask for a better shelter to get me to Canada! Thank you tent for never letting me down!
Going through known territory. These places I have been to in Oregon but mostly as a child or teenager and returning to see it as an adult by foot is the best way to remember years of backpacking with the family. Watching the sunset alpenglow reflect off obsidian in a place I haven't been since I was 13. The rain has come and gone a few times as well but having spent half my life in NW rain it is comfortably familiar in a wet clammy kind of way. It is good to be home for a time.

Wamblog Menu

  • Pre Trip Posts
    • Wrapping up my Central America Bike tour
    • Like Father like son: My Father’s Scandinavian Bike Tour
  • Daniel’s Bike Touring Blog
    • 1: Scotland, The Beginning of the trip Edinburgh to the Scottish Highlands
    • 2: Scotland, Cycling the Outer Hebrides, the wrong way
    • 3: Scotland, The not so fast rush from Obon to Newcastle
    • 4: Netherlands, Belgium and the beginning of France
    • 6: Spain, Meetings from all over the world on the Camino Frances
    • 5: France, from fromage to plage and everything in between
    • 7: Spain, Heading south towards the sun
    • 8: Spain, Cycling with my parents in Andalusia
    • 9: Spain to Morocco, Transitions
    • 10: Morocco, Hospitality and Police Escorts
    • 11: Morocco, A sad event and a change of plans
  • Pacific Crest Trail Blog
    • PCT 1: The Green Desert
    • PCT 4: Mountaineering Kindergarten
    • PCT 2: Of Aqueducts, Joshua Trees and Windmills
    • PCT 3: Desert Farewells
    • PCT 5: The Breaking of the Trail Family Fellowship
    • PCT 6: The Big Melt
    • PCT 7: Escape From the Snow
    • PCT 8: Northern California Trail Reunions
    • PCT 9: Northern California Blues
    • PCT 10: Trail Solitude and the Push to Oregon
  • Heidi’s Blog
    • Heidi’s Blog 1: Cycling the Camino
  • Daniel’s Photos

Wamblog Archives

  • November 2019 (10)
  • December 2018 (3)
  • November 2018 (3)
  • October 2018 (2)
  • September 2018 (2)
  • August 2018 (2)
  • June 2018 (2)
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