Day 0: Denver to San Diego

Woke up at 6am with a bunch of to-do items going through my mind...  My flight leaves Denver at 2:45, so I have plenty of time find MORE gear to put in my pack.  This is not always the best idea, as some things are just luxury items that add weight.

   Finally out of the house, my mom and I pick up my dad from work.  It was really nice having them along for the send off. 

My flight from Denver to San Diego has a layover in Salt Lake City. I used my time at the airport to organize the trail maps and current water report (Campo to Idyllwild) on my phone.  That really ate up my phone battery. Fortunately I deemed a battery pack was necessary for 6 months on the trail. It ended up charging my phone pretty quick.  Arriving in San Diego was a relief. When I grabbed my checked lugguage I noticed one corner had been smashed in. Lucky for me it was $13 from the second hand store.  It's only purpose was to get my gear to California undamaged, success.  

    In San Diego, I am staying with Scout and Frodo. They are a couple of awesome trail Angels (Def. people who help hikers with a variety of needs). 

While waiting to be picked up at the airport I met Tim, a fellow hiker from Amsterdam. He is starting over the weekend as he needs to put together his food for the trail. International hikers are not allowed to ship food into the states. 

Arrived at Scout and Frodo's home and it was packed with lots of hikers. There are 5 or 6 of us here that will start tomorrow. 

Dinner was provided and after I was finished, I went and started to unpack/pack. Unpack my suit case and pack up the backpack. It took some time to get things organized, but after a while everything found its place. 

                Tomorrow is an early start, breakfast at 5:30am. Out the door at 6:00.  

Off to bed. 

Welcome!

A little over 5 years ago my older brother, Christopher, suggested I read the book, "A walk in the woods" by Bill Bryson.  Having sparked a deep desire in me to thru-hike (to hike a trail end to end) a long distance trail, I looked toward the west coast.  Having grown up in Seattle and loving the Washington Cascade Mountains (though year after year of rain becomes old), I looked toward the west coast for an adventure of my own.  Starting just south of Campo, CA, the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) extends through the entire length of California, Oregon, Washington and ends in Manning Park, British Colombia, Canada. In the last 5 years, I have finished school, worked various jobs and spent many months, in the Colorado Rockies hiking and backpacking.  Each day wondering... How crazy, awesome, difficult, relaxing, educational, emotional and down right fun it would be to spend a little under 6 months out on a trail that crosses the Mojave Desert, traverses the Sierra-Nevada mountain range and revisit the mesmerizing green hills of the Cascade Mountains.  All the while, meeting and walking with people who have the same incredible goal of trekking 2658 Miles (2016).

Over the next 6 months, I will share stories of moments on the trail that might be exciting, scary, breathtaking, painful, funny... etc.  Alongside these stories I will provide what photos I am able to post while out on the trail or in the small towns.  Due to the nature of being on the trail, I will be out of cell range most of the time.  That said I will post as often as I can, and cover as many of the previous days as I am able to.

Now I am headed for the trail...