Hiking inside a 100k ultra race

Saturday, I headed up to Willamette Pass to hike PCT NOBO and back with objective of hitting Bobby Lake and Maiden Peak. I arrived around 5am and was hiking by 5:15 with headlamp – just as 2 trail runners were heading out as well.

The runners informed me that about 150 runners – The Waldo 100k https://waldo100k.org – would be on this section – climbing, Fuji Mt, The Twins, and Maiden Peak – around noon. This will be new and interesting, I thought.

Rosary Lakes were beautiful as always and there were about 6 tents scattered around the lakes and most if not all local peeps, not PTCers. Smoke held in the valleys early but completely disappeared by 8:00am

Pulpit Rock really took over the show with the moon and lake

PCT was fast and soft compared to Pisgah summer cement. From Rosary Lakes it was NOBO to Bobby Lake for the best water in town and then up Madian Peak. At the PCT junction, support teams were in place with water and treats for the runner. They told me the lead runner was 50 minutes behind me.

The lead runners caught up with me coming down Maiden Peak … by the time I got to my car maybe 10 had passed me.

This stretch of PCT can be boring with wrong mindset … mostly flat, mostly in the trees, and very little water. The largest pond between Maiden Peak and Rosary Lakes was a bit brown

That race filled up the woods with runners, support peeps, pacers etc … but truly, they bothered me 1 time with their cow bells rung for the first runner.

The best part of this hike is the solitude, the quiet, the lakes and that soft, soft OR pine needle covered PCT!

Carbon Karma was +1 hour after 3 hours total driving and 10 hours of hiking. Elevation gain was almost all Maiden Peak.

For 2026, 175 Carbon Karma hours banked and 870 miles hiked.