Long-distance hiker nearing Oregon border

SEIAD, Calif. — The snow behind him, Vancouver hiker Jeff Garmire is averaging 35 to 40 miles a day on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail and is expected to make his way into Oregon this weekend.

Garmire, 25, a 2009 Mountain View High School graduate, is attempting to achieve the calendar year Triple Crown of long-distance hiking, which is to walk the Appalachian, Pacific Crest and Continental Divide trails in 2016.

He has already completed the Appalachian Trail.

Garmire reached the mid-way point on the PCT (mile 1,320) on June 15, 44 days after leaving the southern end of the trail near the Mexican border.

He got a much-needed new pair of shoes at Burney Falls State Park, east of Redding, Calif.

When he enters Oregon, he’ll be at mile 1,690 on the Crest trail. At this pace, he’ll reach the Canadian border in late July.

However, a rolled ankle may slow him down.

“I have duct tape and Advil to deal with such an injury so I may need to add a good dose of willpower to the mix,’’ he wrote in his blog.

Garmire’s daily blog is online at http://freeoutside.com.