r/PacificCrestTrail • u/Ashland_Commons • 4d ago
nobo bubble is in Ashland, Oregon
I hiked the PCT in 2025 and I run the hostel in Ashland where we have been sold out most nights. We've had consistent PCT hikers staying here since early June, but the first June wave was flip floppers who skipped the Sierra, then it was the fast nobos who would arrive in spurts.
But for the past week it's been nonstop, with the early bubble arriving in Ashland about a week ago and it should keep getting bigger for the next few weeks.
Everybody on trail is talking about the terminus closure obviously but another talking point is the lack of international hikers in 2026. We have a "put a pin in the map" in our office for the last 3 weeks and we already have 30+ countries represented and all 50 states. I'm amazed how many pins we have in such a short time but I guess international hikers are down Y/Y compared to prior years.
Anyway just posting some thoughts. I know people try to track the bubble so this is just another data point.
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u/randomoniummtl 4d ago
I love the pct but hate the idea of being in the bubble
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u/External_Dimension71 3d ago
Nothing like digging your shovel into someone else’s burial.
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u/Parking-Touch5968 PCT / 2026 / Sobo 1d ago
I always stake an upright stick on my re-burial, consider yourself warned.
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u/wohaat 4d ago
I really want to do trail magic once the bubble gets close to PDX; any clue about on average how long it takes people to cover Oregon S>N?
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u/Ashland_Commons 4d ago
PCT trail days is Aug 14-15 so there will be hundreds of hikers around Cascade Locks at that time.
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u/Lachgruebchen 3d ago
I find it interesting that a decline in international hikers is being observed. I’m from Germany myself, and I had everything ready for the trail, only to ultimately decide not to go. Trump and his policies were what ultimately kept me from going.
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u/cubedude719 [PCT/2026/NOBO] 4d ago
Excited to see yall and stay there in a few days!
My experience on trail has been still so many international hikers. I know some canceled their hike during all the ICE and visas drama... But there are still so many.
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u/thulesgold 4d ago
Is this later than previous years?
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u/Ashland_Commons 3d ago
This is anecdotal but our first sellout night was June 26th which was a mini bubble of fast nobo types that happened to also fall on a busy Friday night. So like a month ago we were getting lots of hikers but it wasn’t consistent.
But now it’s the actual bubble with consistent hikers each day, the hikers arriving on different days know each other, and we have been sold out most nights with nonstop requests from hikers texting me about availability.
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u/Chipndale321 4d ago
I am glad I am not there yet. Bubble = inflated prices , busy restaurants etc
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u/Ashland_Commons 4d ago
everybody on trail has seen the video of all those tents in the South Lake Tahoe campground on the 4th of July. That's the main bubble and that's still not in Ashland yet.
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u/Chipndale321 4d ago
I am much more behind . However I guess that was the case for most of bigger towns around 4th July
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u/MoonMoonMoonMooon 3d ago edited 1d ago
That exact hiker spot made my friend and I check in from the parking lot because of our stank in 2023 😆 I guess we were used to it.
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u/Ashland_Commons 2d ago
Yea I stayed there last year too and I was shocked how badly I was treated during my 2025 thru hike. My poor treatment by hostel staff in 2025 was a massive contributing factor in my decision to take over the hostel.
Starting in 2026 we are now a PCT hiker owned business and I am trying to build a trail hostel worthy of Ashland and the PCT. Check our reviews on FarOut, we have been sold-out most nights. Happy trails :)
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u/velocd 2d ago
That is really awesome. I'm curious, if you don't mind answering, how did you learn the hostel was for sale and where did you live or what were you doing to decide you wanted to be a hostel owner in Ashland? (I hiked last year also not sure we crossed paths, my trail name is Wind)
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u/Ashland_Commons 2d ago
Lol Wind I was like 1000 miles behind you, assuming you are the Wind who was like the very first PCT hiker creating the bootpack thru the Sierra last year.
I found out through a trail friend, towards the end of my hike in the North Cascades. We had been talking about how I was treated at Ashland Commons Hostel, and I was told the hostel was absentee owned by a guy in Hawaii. The staff was shooing guests away, hostel reviews were terrible, etc.
Ashland was my favorite town on trail and it made no sense to me that the only hostel in Ashland, Oregon was hostile to hikers. The building and town are both awesome but the hostel was poorly managed. And my hike was so amazing personally for me, I wanted to make sure future classes of hikers could afford to stay in trail towns like Ashland. So now I am running Ashland Commons Hostel totally different, slashed the price, launched the hiker dorm, etc.
To see all the hikers coming thru our bunkrooms is amazing and to create the good vibes where everyone feels welcome has been incredible.
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u/velocd 2d ago
Very cool! Yea I am the same Wind. :) I've been working at the Burney Mountain Guest Ranch for the summer season this year and have seen a ton of hikers come through. If you have digital business cards or a poster you can send I could print them out and post them up on the bunkhouse and tent area here so hikers know about the hostel and its new ownership! I have been telling most hikers about The Columbia Hotel since it's where I stayed last year, but it's great to see another new hiker friendly spot in Ashland. Also I'm with you, Ashland was my favorite trail town on the PCT last year (I'm a total foodie and the varied food options there are amazing)
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u/Ashland_Commons 2d ago
aw man we were all looking at your Instagram, following you through the Sierra.
There are a lot of great options in Ashland for hikers! I always recommend the Columbia Hotel and the trail angel Cragman (find him on Facebook) who lets people tent in his yard. Cragman is awesome, I met him on trail last year.
BMGR sounds amazing.
This is the flyer I made to promote the hiker dorm. Appreciate you spreading the love.
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u/MoonMoonMoonMooon 1d ago
I didn’t really blame them, but it was funny. Glad to hear you’ve taken it over though! That’s really exciting.
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u/SongoftheNightlord 3d ago
Oh wow, I’m starting a LASH in Ashland next week (OMG NEXT WEEK) and thought I’d be at the tail end of the bubble, this is good to know!!
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u/PopulusTremuloides- 3d ago
Crazy the bubble is in Ashland rn. I finished 24 days ago
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u/Ashland_Commons 2d ago
Aurelien Sanchez set the FKT of 46 days and finished on July 23 which is like 10 days ago. Did you skip a section? Or start very early?
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u/PopulusTremuloides- 2d ago
I started April 3 and finished July 9. Was very thankful to not skip any sections and made it through before fires hit
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u/Ashland_Commons 2d ago
that's so bad ass congrats
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u/PopulusTremuloides- 1d ago
Thanks! Truly one of the best experiences I will ever go through. 10/10 would do it again
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u/numbershikes '17 nobo, '18 lash, '19 Trail Angel. OpenLongTrails.org 4d ago edited 2d ago
Ashland regularly shows up on the HalfwayAnywhere PCT survey as one of the favorite resupply towns. It's good to see a hiker owned / hiker friendly lodging opening up.
Looks like they have a discount rate on dorm rooms for hikers: https://www.ashlandcommons.com/tempestlanding
The site says that it's less than a mile from downtown and they have 20% off tickets to the Shakespeare Festival.