Two local men progressing on Pacific Crest Trail

Editors note: Two Southwest Washington men are attempting to hike the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail from Mexico to Canada. The Columbian plans to publish periodic updates on their progress heading north.

This is the first installment:

o Anthony Mannello of Vancouver, 27, began his trek on March 27. He attended Skyview High School and the Clark County Skills Center. He has been a technician for Dick Hannah and Nissan of Portland.

Mannello left Lake Isabella, Calif., on Monday, hoping to cover the 50 miles to Kennedy Meadows by Wednesday.

Kennedy Meadows is a major gathering and resupply place for PCT hikers. Mannello plans to take about three days off at Kennedy Meadows.

He has covered about 600 miles.

o Morgen Glessing, 22, of Woodland left Idyllwild, Calif., Monday morning at mile 180. He has teamed up with a Rhode Island through-hiker and has not been given a “trail name” yet.

“We usually wake up around 5:30 and try to do 10 to 12 miles before lunch so we can wait out the heat,” Glessing said in a Monday email. “We often night hike as well. The moon and stars are so bright than we have hardly needed headlamps to do this.”