Pacific Crest Trail
Mile 534.88 to 552 We woke up to the sound of wind turbines and a rising sun burning on the horizon. The Joshua Trees stood silently as we packed up our camp and climbed out of the ravine back to the trail. We followed the trail over service roads and between the...
Pacific Crest Trail
Mile 508 to 534.88 We woke up in a cloud again, but this time we also had howling wind to welcome us back to the land of the living. On top of that, I set up my tent near a dead tree and heard it creeking all night. I was worried it would fall on me. Luckily, it...
Pacific Crest Trail
Mile 488 to 508 I awoke to the sensation of water hitting my face and my eyes snapped open. We were in a cloud and it was starting to rain. I sat up and reached into my pack, pulled out my tent, and started to pitch it. I laid it out, staked in the front and back,...
Pacific Crest Trail
Mile 478 to 488 I woke up well rested in the Manzanita forest of Casa de Luna. For all the talk of it being a party place, the owner Terry set clear rules that the forest is for sleeping and in front of the house is for those looking to party. I walked down to the...
Pacific Crest Trail
Mile 454 to 478 (plus 1 mile road walk). Today marks my 1 month trailversary, and it was also my longest day of hiking at 25 miles! I am so grateful for this experience where everyday is full of surprises, challenges, and happiness. In typical hiker fashion, we...
Pacific Crest Trail
Mile 436 to 454 (Hiker Heaven) At Bedazzled’s suggestion, we started hiking even earlier today waking up at 4:30 and hitting the trail by 5:00. As we have dropped in elevation over the past few days, the temperature has risen, and we are already hitting the high...
Pacific Crest Trail
Mile 415 to 436 I woke up at 5:00 in our stealth campsite at the top of the mountain and saw the sky coming alive with color. There was burnt orange on the horizon transitioning to a beautiful blue in the sky above. I sprang to my feet and packed up my camp in a...
Pacific Crest Trail
Mile 394 to 415 We left our campsite a mile before Cooper Canyon Trail Camp and began walking uphill to start our day. Soon we were in a mixed forest with stately trees towering overhead. The PCT out of the Buckhorn Flat Campground is beautiful, especially in early...
Pacific Crest Trail
Mile 372 to 394 (plus 1 mile for the endangered species alternative). Today, we got to summit Mount Baden Powell, named after the founder of Boy Scouting . It was the second named mountain I have summited, though both it and Mt. San Jacinto were technically on spur...
Pacific Crest Trail
Mile 369 to 372.8 I woke up well rested after spending a night at Canyon Creek Inn with Burnout, Valdy, and Bedazzled. The joy of a mattress and running water should never be underestimated. Today was a lazy nero (near zero miles) and we took our time getting up. Our...
Pacific Crest Trail
Mile 352 to 369.4 Wrightwood While the views from the top of the mountain campsite yesterday were excellent, the winds that came after the sun went down weren’t and my tent was flapping around all night hitting me in the head when a strong gust came. On top of...
Pacific Crest Trail
Mile 329.34 to 352 There was universal focus and drive among the group today. No debate on how far to go or where to break. The goal was McDonald’s. We woke at 5:00 and with military precision broke down camp and were on the trail putting rubber to dirt as if we...
