California reminds me of an old rabbi or sage, providing numerous trials and tribulations to make sure we were actually committed to hiking the PCT. We had to survive 700 bone-dry miles through the desert before being thrust into the…
Musings
While hiking 130 days and over 2600 miles, we’ve come up with some interesting questions that we pondered on the trail. Since getting back into civilization, we’ve had some time to compile the data and look up answers on the…
Raving Fourth of July
We’re sitting on the steps of the general store in Sierra City waiting for a UPS package after hiking our first 30 mile day, so we’ve got plenty of time to describe our most recent adventures and stories. We arrived…
Range of Light
“And from the eastern boundary of this vast golden flower-bed rose the mighty Sierra, miles in height, and so gloriously colored and so radiant, it seemed not clothed with light but wholly composed of it, like the wall of some…
Trail Soles
The number of thru hikers on the PCT is difficult to ascertain since so many either drop out or don’t apply for permits, but the Pacific Crest Trail Association estimates that between 300 and 500 people applied for long distance permits…
Hiker Heaven
I started writing this post on a computer from the Wrightwood Public Library, and am finishing it up from Hiker Heaven in Agua Dulce, at mile 454 of the PCT. The Saufley’s, retired trail angels dedicating their lives to help out…
Deep Creek Hot Springs
Here are a few pics from Deep Creek Hot Springs this last week, after climbing out of the I10 valley and passing through the town of Big Bear Lake to resupply. Morale is still high and we’re loving the hike.…
Descending the Seven Levels
Warning: I’m writing this message in a tiny two person tent, with enough foot odor to intoxicate an entire army, so my apologies in advance if this entry is a bit loopy. Also, I have no idea what the seven…
Desert Beauty
What’s the difference between the desert and the surface of Mars? One has almost-hospitable temperatures and maybe even water, and the other is full of cactus. I’ve always considered the desert to be a hot, dry, desolate wasteland consisting of…
Leaving Arcata for the Road
The day has finally come that we’ve packed our bags and boxes, finished the last minute detains by crossing the i’s and dotting the t’s… We spent the morning printing topo maps on waterproof Rite in the Rain paper, labeling…
Planning for the PCT
After purchasing $1500 of food from WinCo, Costco, Walmart.com, and Cash & Carry, we spent the past three days placing all our bulk food into small plastic bags to be sent to us on the trail. We’ve put together 20…