Day 2: 36.1 (16.1 for the day)

Woke up to a layer of thick fog and the sound of hikers packing up 6:25am. There was a lot of dew on my rain fly, I figured it would add some weight, but I could stop as some point while I made breakfast on the trail and dry it out. Little did I realize, it felt like I was carrying the 6 liters from yesterday when really it was only 3. 

Was on the trail by 8:00am.  Around mile 1.5 I stopped to make breakfast and dry out my rain fly. Honestly I think it reduced my pack weight by 3 pounds. 

The trail here was very easy and I enjoyed the cool morning temperature. Refilled my water just before going up the long incline which lasted the rest of the day. 

Around noon it was getting really warm and a lot of hikers were sitting in the shade saying, "I'm going to relax for a few hours till it cools off a bit." I wanted to reach a larger creek called Yellow Rose Spring. I didn't see any yellow roses.  Ate lunch in a camp site next to the creek around 1:45. It was really hot if your weren't in some shade. For lunch I made my Spegetti with dehydrated chicken. It was pretty good. I used my Mountain House package from this mornings breakfast to let it cook. 20 minutes later it was ready to eat. 

Relaxed at the campsite and loaded up on water until around 4:00. From there it was up hill until the stopping point for the day at mile 36.1. There was a large oak tree which was the identifier for campsite which held 4 tents fairly comfortably. 

  Met and chatted with Carly, Jen and Will. All four of us are solo hikers which was cool. Carly and Jen had spent most of the day together. Will is legally blind, meaning in order to read anything on his phone he has to have the phone butted up against a magnifine glass which is then like half an inch from his eye.  Got cleaned up with some wet wipes and crashed around 8:30.  

Day 1: Campo to Lake Morena; 20.0 (20.0)

Didn't have the greatest nights rest. There were easily 25 people staying at Scout and Frodo's. To accommodate all the hikers, they setup 3 large tents which could hold 6-8 hikers each.         

In my tent, there were at least 3 snorers which made it hard to fall asleep. I eventually and hesitantly put in earplugs. Hesitant because I did not want to miss my 5am alarm.  The morning schedule was nice. Wake up at 5, pack up. Breakfast at 5:30. Loading in the vehicles 5:55. Depart at 6. 

 We arrived at the trailhead shortly after 7:00 which then everyone waited their turn for a photo at the southern terminus. We also took a group photo, which I think will be emailed to me at some point. 

   

  

   

After the photos and the goodbyes (to the trail angels) where complete, I walked down around a barbed wire fence to touch the Mexico boarder. From there the walk north began. 7:34am

   I hiked with various people throughout the day, learning who is who and whatnot. I spent the majority of the afternoon by myself as everyone's pace is slightly different and as the day goes along, some hikers slow down.   It was a gorgeous day and I enjoyed all of it. But man was my pack heavy. 6 liters of water which had to last me through mile 20, lake Morena. 

         I stopped for lunch around 2:30, mile 15.4. I relaxed and let my feet rest while my food digested a bit.  

   The trail in this part of California is much more lush than anticipated. The desert is ahead! The area I am hiking through received quite a bit of rain in the past week, which may be why it is so green. 

          I reached Lake Moreno around 5:45. I was going to stop short, but I felt good enough to make it to the campground, so onward I went. Nothing too exciting happened in camp except the shower... It was $1 for the shower (towel not included / not available). I was a little chilled from the sweat and the luke warm shower didn't really help. But after drying off (as much as I could with a little hand towel) I felt better. 

       There are 10 people in camp right now and they are all heading to bed. I don't plan on getting up super early tomorrow. Looking to go 10-15 miles. 

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...