The Pancake Challenge: A Hilarious Adventure on the PCT
Today's adventure was a hilarious and unexpected turn of events as we stumbled upon a unique challenge at the Seiad Valley Cafe. The challenge? Eating 5 'challenge size' pancakes within 2 hours, or being free of charge. It was a spectacle, and Posh Spice, our fearless friend, decided to take on the challenge.
The pancake stack that came out was bigger than his head, and the sheer amount of pancake on one plate was mind-boggling. Posh got through the first pancake within 20 minutes, but the second one proved to be a tougher task. After 35 minutes, he had finished the second pancake, and unfortunately, the challenge ended there. The pancakes were dense, and it's no wonder Posh couldn't finish them.
But the real adventure began after the challenge. We resupplied at the general store next door and sat outside the cafe to digest our food. I got a Gatorade and an It's It ice cream sandwich to cool down in the heat. The climb out of Seiad Valley is supposed to be brutal, with blowdowns, no water, and a lot of elevation gain and loss. However, we decided to take the road walk, which followed a creek, had tons of blackberries, and even had a waterfall and swimming hole.
It was an obvious choice. We walked with Posh and a hiker I had met today named Yoshi for the entire road walk. We enjoyed all the road had to offer, eating blackberries, swimming in the swimming hole, and filling up our water at the waterfall. It was glorious.
We met Drom and Flash at the end of the road for a quick dinner before continuing on a few miles. The rest of the climb up at sunset wasn't so bad. It had significantly cooled down, and the sunset was beautiful. I might even go so far as to say I'm starting to enjoy golden hour hiking. Emphasis on might.
I'm glad we easily tackled that climb and have a fairly easy-looking next couple of days into Ashland. It can't come soon enough. The Pancake Challenge was a hilarious and unexpected adventure, and I'm glad we took the time to enjoy the road walk and the beautiful sunset.
Darcey Hernandez, a California-based hiker attempting the PCT NOBO in 2026, is a true adventurer at heart. Off-trail, you'll find her running with her dog Mica, rock climbing, or watching an exorbitant amount of Survivor. Follow along as she documents the ups, downs, and questionable snack decisions along the way!
