Trail Guides, Gear Reviews, and Backpacking Tips
In late April each year the Pacific Crest Trail has a gathering of aspiring thru hikers, trail angels, lightweight backpacking gear vendors and former hikers. It is held at Lake Morena Country Park in southern California and is known by Read More …
Whilst walking through the Bob Marshall wilderness last year, I had the good fortune to run into Lint and Dirtmonger (pictured below – DM on the right). Strong hikers both, they were on the last leg of a northbound CDT Read More …
The paragraph below is copy/pasted from my Facebook page, which I just reactivated after a longish period of dormancy: “Within the past hour, I’ve received a few emails from friends and family expressing their surprise at seeing me on facebook. Read More …
The CDT represented the penultimate hike of the 12 Long Walks series. I began my journey at Waterton Lake on the US/Canadian border on August 3. I reached Mexico 74 days later on October 15. In regard to conditions, I Read More …
I’m a firm believer that time spent in the wilderness will ultimately be your best backcountry teacher. That being said, we all occasionally need a nudge in the right direction. The following hiking-related websites are excellent resources for planning, gear, Read More …
On January 28 I did an interview with Network 10’s (Australia) Los Angeles bureau. It was the first time I had ever been on television. Whilst it was a little surreal hiking in the shadows of the Hollywood sign, I was made Read More …
During the course of the 12 Long Walks, I ran into approximately 35 to 40 youth groups whilst out on the trail. Some of these were wilderness therapy groups, others were church affiliated, but the majority were Boy Scouts. Three things stood out Read More …
I recently came across some short videos from the Oregon section of my PCT 2012 thru hike. I had almost forgotten how much snow there was on the stretch between Crater and Ollalie Lakes! Thanks to fellow thru hiker, Erin Read More …
Distance: 225 miles (362 km) Time: 8.5 days (8/8/11 – 8/16/11) Avg. Miles per day: 26.5 miles (42.6 km) Total Miles: 1184 miles (1905.1 km) Highlights: Polebridge Mercantile: My second favourite trail bakery in the USA after the undisputed champion, Stehekin, WA. Read More …
Distance: 149 miles (239.7 km) Time: 6 days (8/2/11 – 8/7/11)……..includes rest day in Northport. Avg. Miles per day: 24.8 miles (40 km) Total Miles: 959 miles (1543 km) Highlights: Metaline Falls, WA: Population 238. Possibly my favourite town on the PNT. Stayed Read More …
Distance: 147 miles ( km) Time: 5 days (7/28/11 – 8/1/11) Avg. Miles per day: 29.4 miles (47.3 km) Total Miles: 810 miles (1303.3 km) Highlights: Matteson’s at Northport: Upon reaching the end of this section, I took my second zero day at Read More …
Distance: 205 miles (329.8 km) Time: 7 days (7/21/11 – 7/27/11) Avg. Miles per day: 29.3 miles (47.1 km) Total Miles: 663 miles (1066.8 km) Highlights: The Cascades Revisited: The final stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail from Harts Pass to Manning Park Read More …
Distance: 226 miles approx. (363.6 km) Time: 8.5 days (7/12/11 – 7/20/11) Daily Average: 26.6 miles (42.8 km) Total Distance: 458 miles (736.9 km) Highlights: Edison Culinary crawl: Tiny place. I’ve seen bigger towns made of leggo. Nonetheless, in the space Read More …
It’s often the people as much as the places which mark a journey as memorable. My AT experience was no exception. I would like to extend a big thanks to my friends that helped out on the logistical front, as Read More …
One of the questions I was most commonly asked during the course of my journey was, ” how do you afford to do what you are doing?” 1. Age: I’m 43, not 23. I worked and saved for a lot Read More …
I smiled the smile of a relieved man. I would soon arrive in Neels Gap. A few beers, a big feed, a hot shower and a semi-comfortable mattress awaited me. Perhaps I would linger there for a day or two; Read More …
Life is like a book. It’s filled with multiple chapters of varying content, length and substance. Its pages invariably contain a wide cast of characters, but only ever the one author. Sometimes the difficult part of penning such a work Read More …
DATE: December 28, 2012 START: Neels Gap, GA FINISH: Springer Mountain, GA / Southern Terminus AT + 2.8 miles DISTANCE: 30.6 miles (49.2 km) + 2.8 miles TOTAL DISTANCE: 2181 miles (3509.2 km) There it is…….Springer Read More …
DATE: December 27 START: Deep Gap Shelter, GA FINISH: Neels Gap, GA DISTANCE: 33.4 miles (53.7 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 2150.4 miles (3460 km) Lumpy & the Pirate: Latish start due to cold and slothfulness, after which I hiked strongly Read More …
DATE: December 24 to 26 START: Locust Cove Gap, NC FINISH: Deep Gap Shelter, GA DISTANCE: 81.6 miles (131.3 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 27.2 miles (43.8 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 2117 miles (3406.3 km) It’s a Wonderful Life…….except on Read More …