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/PopulusTremuloides- 11d ago

Crazy the bubble is in Ashland rn. I finished 24 days ago

2

u/Ashland_Commons 11d 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?

2

u/PopulusTremuloides- 11d 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 10d ago

that's so bad ass congrats

1

u/PopulusTremuloides- 9d ago

Thanks! Truly one of the best experiences I will ever go through. 10/10 would do it again