Thru-Hiking the Oregon Coast Trail
Welcome to the Trail
We recently hiked a portion of the Oregon Coast Trail, a nearly 400-mile span from the Columbia River to the California border, with three of our PNW-based friends. On our journey, we saw only a sliver of the beautiful beaches, moss-covered woods, and quaint coastal towns that coastal Oregon has to offer, but each mile was more breathtaking than the next.
Three Friends, One Journey
Our route spanned miles of sandy and rocky beaches, moss-laden state parks, and magnificent headlands. And while we hiked, we talked. We learned about one another, our passions, dreams. The things that make us tick. It was difficult not to be constantly reminded that all of this ... this is why we hike.
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MarmotAero Short-Sleeve Shirt - Women's
MarmotAero Short-Sleeve Shirt - Women's
PatagoniaStretch Rainshadow Jacket - Women's
PatagoniaStretch Rainshadow Jacket - Women's
Mountain HardwearDynama 4in Short - Women's
Mountain HardwearDynama 4in Short - Women's
RokaHalsey Sunglasses
RokaHalsey Sunglasses
SalomonOutpath GTX Hiking Shoe - Women's
SalomonOutpath GTX Hiking Shoe - Women's
Osprey PacksEja 48L Backpack - Women's
Osprey PacksEja 48L Backpack - Women's
“A stunning journey in the truest sense of that word.”
Kelsey Noonan
Kelsey is an alpinist. But when she’s not climbing, or discovering new, fun places in Seattle, she’s hard at work providing humanitarian aid to people and places in need.
Backpacking Packs
GregoryOctal 45L Backpack - Women's
GregoryOctal 45L Backpack - Women's
The North FaceTerra 40L Backpack - Women's
The North FaceTerra 40L Backpack - Women's
Osprey PacksAriel AG 65L Backpack - Women's
Osprey PacksAriel AG 65L Backpack - Women's
Osprey PacksLumina 45L Backpack - Women's
Osprey PacksLumina 45L Backpack - Women's
Granite GearCrown2 60L Backpack - Women's
Granite GearCrown2 60L Backpack - Women's
Osprey PacksEja 48L Backpack - Women's
Osprey PacksEja 48L Backpack - Women's
Rebecca Ross
Passionate about the outdoors and an avid mountaineer, Rebecca doesn’t spend quite all of her time in the mountains. She also has a Master’s in Public Health and Epidemiology. You can find her backpacking through remote locations, taking landscape photography, and bouldering at her local gym.
Sleeping Quarters
When taking on the OCT, the answer to the question of ‘where to sleep’ varies. There are designated areas for tent camping, and many people opt to stay in town or in an Airbnb. The option we chose: hiker’s camp … a bare-bones log cabin along the trail that offers simple shelter in the form of bunk beds and a roof.
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Hyperlite Mountain Gear2400 Windrider 40L Backpack
Hyperlite Mountain Gear2400 Windrider 40L Backpack
LEKIMicro Vario Carbon Lady DSS Trekking Poles - Women's
LEKIMicro Vario Carbon Lady DSS Trekking Poles - Women's
KatadynBeFree Water Filtration System
KatadynBeFree Water Filtration System
Sea To SummitUltra-Sil Nano 1-35L Dry Sack
Sea To SummitUltra-Sil Nano 1-35L Dry Sack
Therm-a-RestNeoAir XTherm Sleeping Pad
Therm-a-RestNeoAir XTherm Sleeping Pad
Mountain HardwearGhost Whisperer 20F Sleeping Bag: 20F Down
Mountain HardwearGhost Whisperer 20F Sleeping Bag: 20F Down
“The moody forest of Oregon is unlike any other place. It’s a little spooky, and both feels and looks entirely surreal.”
Tents & Shelters
MSRFlylite Tent: 2-Person 3-Season
MSRFlylite Tent: 2-Person 3-Season
NEMO Equipment Inc.Hornet 1P Tent: 1-Person 3-Season
NEMO Equipment Inc.Hornet 1P Tent: 1-Person 3-Season
Big AgnesFly Creek HV UL Tent: 1-Person 3-Season
Big AgnesFly Creek HV UL Tent: 1-Person 3-Season
Hyperlite Mountain GearFlat Tarp - 8x10
Hyperlite Mountain GearFlat Tarp - 8x10
MSRCarbon Reflex 2 Tent 2-Person 3-Season
MSRCarbon Reflex 2 Tent 2-Person 3-Season
Hyperlite Mountain GearEcho II Shelter System
Hyperlite Mountain GearEcho II Shelter System
NEMO Equipment Inc.Hornet Elite 1P Tent: 1-Person 3-Season
NEMO Equipment Inc.Hornet Elite 1P Tent: 1-Person 3-Season
From Forest to Sea
From our hiker's camp deep in the woods, we hiked down to the cliffside towards the ocean. Watching the waves crash in, experiencing just how different the OCT can be in only the span of a few miles, is amazing.
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NorronaSvalbard Flex 1 Softshell Pant - Women's
NorronaSvalbard Flex 1 Softshell Pant - Women's
Hyperlite Mountain Gear2400 Windrider 40L Backpack
Hyperlite Mountain Gear2400 Windrider 40L Backpack
La SportivaWildcat 2.0 GTX Trail Running Shoe - Women's
La SportivaWildcat 2.0 GTX Trail Running Shoe - Women's
Backcountryx Nalgene Goat Wide Mouth Tritan Bottle - 32 oz
Backcountryx Nalgene Goat Wide Mouth Tritan Bottle - 32 oz
Snow PeakTitanium Single Wall Cup 600
Snow PeakTitanium Single Wall Cup 600
“It’d been raining. We were cold and tired. Then we walked up over a sand dune and saw a massively beautiful sunset reflecting in the ocean. It was epic. An experience.”
Jenny MacDougall
Jenny is a self-described adventure seeker with a vibrant, honest attitude. She’s all about gratitude and spending time in the great outdoors. “Keep it cheesy, be breezy, climb freely.”
Hiking Footwear
AhnuMontara III eVent Hiking Boot - Women's
AhnuMontara III eVent Hiking Boot - Women's
ObozBridger Mid B-Dry Hiking Boot - Women's
ObozBridger Mid B-Dry Hiking Boot - Women's
SalomonXA Pro 3D GTX Trail Running Shoe - Women's
SalomonXA Pro 3D GTX Trail Running Shoe - Women's
La SportivaWildcat 2.0 GTX Trail Running Shoe - Women's
La SportivaWildcat 2.0 GTX Trail Running Shoe - Women's
SalomonOutpath GTX Hiking Shoe - Women's
SalomonOutpath GTX Hiking Shoe - Women's
AltraLone Peak 3.5 Trail Running Shoe - Women's
AltraLone Peak 3.5 Trail Running Shoe - Women's
BrooksCascadia 12 Trail Running Shoe - Women's
BrooksCascadia 12 Trail Running Shoe - Women's
“The camaraderie of a thru-hike is unlike anything else. Just your pack, some fantastic views, and your hiking partners.”
The OCT in History
Part of the appeal of the OCT is what it offers historically (it’s known famously as the expedition trail of Lewis and Clark). And approximately 1.2 miles from shore is the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, which has an age-old story all its own. From Ecola State Park, you can see “Terrible Tilly” and the world-renowned Cannon Beach.
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Outdoor ResearchHelium II Jacket - Women's
Outdoor ResearchHelium II Jacket - Women's
PatagoniaQuandary Pant - Women's
PatagoniaQuandary Pant - Women's
AhnuMontara III eVent Hiking Boot - Women's
AhnuMontara III eVent Hiking Boot - Women's
GregoryMaven 45L Backpack - Women's
GregoryMaven 45L Backpack - Women's
SuuntoSpartan Trainer Wrist Heart Rate
SuuntoSpartan Trainer Wrist Heart Rate
LEKICristallo Trekking Poles
LEKICristallo Trekking Poles
“The camaraderie of a thru-hike is unlike anything else. Just your pack, some fantastic views, and your hiking partners.”
Hiking Clothing
IcebreakerSphere Short-Sleeve Low Crewe - Women's
IcebreakerSphere Short-Sleeve Low Crewe - Women's
PatagoniaQuandary Pant - Women's
PatagoniaQuandary Pant - Women's
The North FaceWorkout Long-Sleeve Top - Women's
The North FaceWorkout Long-Sleeve Top - Women's
NorronaSvalbard Flex 1 Softshell Pant - Women's
NorronaSvalbard Flex 1 Softshell Pant - Women's
HaglofsLizard II Short - Women's
HaglofsLizard II Short - Women's
Outdoor ResearchCirque Softshell Pants - Women's
Outdoor ResearchCirque Softshell Pants - Women's
PatagoniaMicro Puff Insulated Jacket - Women's
PatagoniaMicro Puff Insulated Jacket - Women's
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