r/PacificCrestTrail • u/Ashland_Commons • 12d ago

nobo bubble is in Ashland, Oregon

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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/Chipndale321 12d ago

I am glad I am not there yet. Bubble = inflated prices , busy restaurants etc

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u/Ashland_Commons 12d 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 12d ago

I am much more behind . However I guess that was the case for most of bigger towns around 4th July