Three friends, ten days, one Coast Range traverse

We'd been talking about the Coast Range traverse for two years. 110 miles, mostly off-trail, from the Salmon River estuary to the headwaters of the Siletz. The route is loosely defined — there are cairns, sometimes, but mostly you walk by compass and creek.

Day 1 — Estuary to saddle camp

We started at first light, packs heavier than they needed to be. The Ridgeline jackets went on at mile three and stayed on for nine days. It rained every afternoon.

Day 4 — The saddle

Came over the ridge into a clearing at noon. The forest opened, and we could see the Pacific, glinting through fog. We stopped for an hour and ate cheese and watched it. The leather on my pack was getting darker with the rain. The wax on my jacket was holding.

What I wore

Ridgeline waxed jacket, Sawtooth flannel, Cascadia work pant, Hartsop boot, Bridger belt. Six pieces. Ten days. None of them quit.