PCT – Day 32 to 36 – Donahue Pass to Echo Lake
DATE: June 6 to 10 START: Just over Donahue Pass FINISH: Stealth camp above lower Echo Lake DISTANCE: 167 miles (268.7 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 33.4 miles (53.7 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1097 miles (1765.1 km)
PCT – Day 31 – From Duck to Donahue
DATE: June 5 START: Just past junction to Duck Lake FINISH: Just over Donahue Pass DISTANCE: 34 miles TOTAL DISTANCE: 930 miles
PCT – Day 29 – Long Day
DATE: June 3 START: Muir Pass Hut FINISH: Junction to VVR DISTANCE: 40.1 miles (64.5 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 878.7 miles (1365.6 km) “Backpacking: An extended form of hiking in which people carry double the amount of gear they need for Read More …
PCT – Day 30 – Riders On The Storm
DATE: June 4 START: Junction to VVR FINISH: Just past junction to Duck Lake DISTANCE: 17.5 miles (plus 7.5 off-trail to and from VVR) / 25 miles total TOTAL DISTANCE: 896 miles (km) Cruisey day, during which I resupplied, did Read More …
PCT – Day 28 – Three Generations
DATE: June 2 START: Just before Lake Marjorie FINISH: Muir Pass Hut DISTANCE: 30 miles TOTAL DISTANCE: 838.6 miles (km) Soon after breaking camp, I ran into Carrot and Dream Laugher. I had hiked with Carrot BPB (before Poodle Bush), Read More …
PCT – Day 27 – Three Passes
DATE: June 1 START: Tyndal Creek FINISH: Just before Lake Marjorie DISTANCE: 33.8 miles TOTAL DISTANCE: 808.6 miles (km) One walks up a hill with their heart and down a hill with their legs. Big day on the climbing front, Read More …
PCT – Day 26 – The Bone Lady
DATE: May 31 START: One mile past turnoff to Diaz Creek (742.8 miles) FINISH: Tyndal Creek DISTANCE: 32 miles (51.5 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 774.8 miles (1246.7 km) Mellow sort of day. Nice weather, early finish, lots of breaks. Still not Read More …
PCT – Day 25 – Home Again
DATE: May 30 START: Kennedy Meadows FINISH: One mile past turnoff to Diaz Creek (742.8 miles) DISTANCE: 40.5 miles TOTAL DISTANCE: 742.8 miles (1130.8 km) With the heavens as my ceiling and the morning songbird as my alarm clock, how Read More …
PCT – Day 24 – Itching to Return
May 29 Made another visit to the hospital yesterday. The swelling had subsided by about 80%; the rash a little less so. I was prescribed some extra medication and on the proviso that things continued to improve, given a tentative Read More …
PCT – Day 20 to 23 – An Ode to Bob Dylan: ‘Stuck inside of Ridgecrest with the Poodle Blues again’
I make a shitty patient. I rate an extended period of convalescence right up there with a roaring case of hemorrhoids on the old ‘fun-ometer scale’. Nonetheless, my enforced layoff here in Ridgecrest hasn’t been such a bad thing. I Read More …
PCT – Day 19 – And the Winner by Unanimous Points Decision is………
DATE: May 24 START: Half mile past Long Valley Loop Road (690.1 miles) FINISH: Kennedy Meadows General Store DISTANCE: 12.7 miles (20.4 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 702.8 miles (1130.8 km) Shuffled into Kennedy Meadows, the final twelve miles taking a painfully Read More …
PCT – Day 18 – On the Ropes
DATE: May 23 START: Saddle at 660.9 mile mark FINISH: Half mile past Long Valley Loop Road (690.1 miles) DISTANCE: 29.2 miles (47 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 690.1 miles (1110.4 km) My optimism in regards to having seen the worst of Read More …
PCT – Day 17 – Choices
DATE: May 22 START: Half mile past Willow Spring Road FINISH: Saddle at 660.9 mile mark DISTANCE: 38.1 miles (61.3 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 660.9 miles (1063.4 km) Highlights included gorgeous ridge top views and my first bear sighting since the Read More …
PCT – Day 16 – Return of the Poodle
DATE: May 21 START: Golden Oaks Spring FINISH: Half mile past Willow Spring Road DISTANCE: 39.5 miles (63.6 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 622.8 miles (1002.1 km) Four days after my bout with poodle bush, it seemed as if I had dodged Read More …
PCT – Day 14 – Hikertown and the “Train”
DATE: May 19 START: Red Rock Water Tank FINISH: Tyler Horse Canyon DISTANCE: 39 miles (62.8 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 541.8 miles (871.8 km) In regards to the photo below: 1. No I haven’t switched teams mid-game and; 2. No, I Read More …
PCT – Day 13 – Casa de la Luna
DATE: May 18 START: Junction with Sierra Pelona Ridge Road FINISH: Red Rock Water Tank DISTANCE: 40.5 miles (65.2 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 502.8 miles (809 km) A mere 24 trail miles after Hiker Heaven is Casa de la Luna, the Read More …
PCT – Day 15 – A Long Time Between Drinks
DATE: May 20 START: Tyler Horse Canyon FINISH: Golden Oaks Spring DISTANCE: 41.5 miles (66.8 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 583.3 miles (938.5 km) With only one water source, little shade, lots of climbing and soaring temps, today was a tough one. Read More …
PCT – Day 12 – The Saufleys
DATE: May 17 START: Ridge, a few miles short of Messenger Flats FINISH: Junction with Sierra Pelona Ridge Road DISTANCE: 35.3 miles (56.8 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 462.3 miles (743.8 km) The small desert community of Agua Dulce is known in Read More …
PCT – Day 11 – Man Versus Poodle
DATE: May 16 START: Little Jimmy Campground FINISH: On ridge, a few miles short of Messenger Flats DISTANCE: 43 miles (69.2 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 427 miles (687 km) Inadvertently walked through a bunch of Turicula or Poodle dog bush, a Read More …
PCT – Day 10 – The Only Way is Up
DATE: May 15 START: Cajon Pass FINISH: Little Jimmy Campground DISTANCE: 42 miles (67.6 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 384 miles (618 km) Long day. Ascended over 8,000 feet total. Nonetheless, still felt good at days end. Yesterday’s yoga and jacuzzi sessions Read More …