Day 100... had a similar feel to my birthday. It was a milestone that I could only move forward from. And I had reached triple digits. Along with that, today I also crossed the point of less than 100 miles to the California-Oregon boarder... another major milestone!
Throughout the day, I saw many people on the trail, most were part of a group of trail workers that were packing out after 5 days of work. While eating lunch I had the chance to talk with one of the older workers who had a heavy external frame pack that he said was from the 1970's, when he had hike the PCT.
Now I've meet quite a few people while on trail that had hiked the PCT before 1980, all of whom I have a great respect for. In today's condition, with trail angels, much easier hitch-hikes and a growing popularity of the trail, the Pacific Crest Trail will kick anyone's ass. But in 1976, hiking the PCT meant you had to walk many more road miles, meet unfriendly town's people repulsed by the smell of having hiked 7 days without a shower and hike a lesser maintained trail. Let's not forget that there was no "ultralight" gear back in those days, there was just gear that worked and lasted (which often had to be DIY) and gear that fell apart after a couple of uses.
Needless to say, the trail would not be what it is today if it were not for hiking enthusiasts draw to this Long Trail when it wasn't the popular thing to do.
