We all know the helpful but slightly frustrating sound of the GPS announcing that due to some fault of ours or hers she is now “rerouting,” adjusting the route, finding an alternative. Rerouting often comes out of nowhere, can be frustrating but is ultimately necessary.  

“Rerouting” has been a bit of a theme on our journey thus far. We have grown accustomed to and expect obstacles and interruptions, causing us to adjust and find an alternative.  
We’ve encountered trail closures due to fire which cut off a portion of the trail. Or a closure to protect the endangered “yellow legged frog” which added miles. 
We’ve recalculated when a 27 mile stretch of trail with no water seemed a bit much for our tired bodies. We’ve rerouted when the heat of the desert and the promise of snow packed mountains threatened to steal the joy of the journey. We’ve recalculated when one of us got sick and we had to turn around and hike out the way we came.  
And now we continue the theme of rerouting as we have been faced with a still snowy and treacherous Oregon section of the PCT. Rather than push through into bad trail conditions we have jumped over to the Oregon Coast Trail. The Oregon Coast Trail is a less popular trail that runs the length of Oregon from north to south along the coast. The OCT is more of a prescribed route rather than a trail made up of beach walking, dirt trails and a good bit of waking along the highway 101. So far on the OCT we’ve had to reroute, turn around, hitch hike, ride a bus and even hail a boat. It’s taking a lot to just roll with every obstacle and intervention but we’re finding that “rerouting” is just part of the adventure. 
Happy Trails, 
M&B 

PCT Mile 400! Smiling because it’s a cloudy day. Burney Falls in Northern California Mt Shasta, look at all that snow 

Oregon Coast Trail trailhead 

Indian Beach, Or view from Tillamook Head… where we slept in a mouse infested cabin… we will tell you about it later 😉 “experienced hikers only” 

Haystack rock in Pacific City, Or