Summer is backpacking time for one member of the Going Mobile team. Johnny’s latest trip took him along a scenic section of the famed Pacific Crest Trail near the Canadian border. Here’s his report.

The march of time was on my mind as we marched along in the North Cascades in early July. I had just turned 68, and I had to ask myself, “How many years can I continue doing this?”

By “this,” I mean haul a massive backpack over dozens of miles for multi-day adventures in the wilderness. Ever since I began backpacking with friends in the late 90s, I have embraced the physical test of these annual trips. I usually performed well, often leading the charge on the trail.

This time, I found myself bringing up the rear a lot of the time. That can happen when you have Zane, a 20-year-old college student from Vermont, as part of your hiking crew. And Ted and Matt, my other friends on this adventure, are both younger than I am.

On our first day, we met up in Mazama, drove to the trailhead at Hart’s Pass and hiked about six miles. Day two took us 11 miles farther along the PCT, swooping along high ridges and over passes in the scenic Pasayten Wilderness.

As we hiked along, we saw the attraction of the PCT firsthand. Besides being a major backpacking goal for hikers around the United States, the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail draws outdoor enthusiasts from around the world.

We met Germans, Dutch, French, British, Japanese -- all intending to hike the entire trail over the next several months.

Most of these hikers were just starting out, going from north to south, hoping to reach the Mexican border by sometime in November. We were only doing a small section of the trail, but we had to be impressed with their ambition.

We also found ourselves making judgments about who would make it the whole way and who wouldn’t. As many as 70 percent of through-hikers drop out.

“I’d give that guy two weeks,” Ted said about one out-of-shape hiker from Alabama we met.

Our third day took us another 13 miles nearly to the Canadian border, and we climbed high on the shoulder of 7,920-foot Three Fools Peak, our turn-around point on the trail.

Day four was an endurance test. We hiked hard, our packs now mostly empty of the food we’d brought. With Zane leading the way, we trudged 17 miles back to our car and barely arrived before closing time at Mazama Public House for a cold beer and an excellent meal before saying goodbye.

So how many more years can I do this? As long as I can.

Methow camping, plus music

The Methow Valley is an excellent RV getaway. Several Forest Service campgrounds are  near Mazama: Ballard, Lone Fir, Early Winters and Klipchuck to name a few. Near Winthrop, Pearrygin Lake State Park offers full hookups and a lovely lake for swimming and fishing.

And if you’re in the mood for music, the Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival is this weekend with a big lineup that includes Galactic, Eric Gales and Colin James. First-come camping is available on the festival grounds.

And looking ahead and farther afield, you can also camp at the Red Ants Pants Music Festival is July 25-28 in White Sulphur Springs, Mont., with Lukas Nelson and Los Lobos as headliners.

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