Category: Thru-hiking
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Day 15 | Mile 190.7 – 206.8
(+5.3 miles up Black Mtn Trail) The day I passed the 200 mile marker was a long, varied day. It began up Black Mountain Trail, which was snow-free and full of seasonal streams… until mile 4.5, at which point I put my microspikes on and hiked in continuous snow until PCT mile 192.6. The snow…
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Day 14 | Mile 162.7 – 168.6
(+2.5 miles up Cedar Spring Trail + 4.7 miles down Spitler Peak Trail) I decided to bypass miles 168.7-190.6 due to my lack of mountaineering experience. I did hike through that section during my second thru-hike attempt in 2021, and with all the side trails I’m hiking, I’ve almost made up the miles already! I…
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Day 13 | Mile 151.8 – 162.7
(+2.5 miles down Cedar Spring Trail) Finally hit the snow today! I made a new lady friend, and tried to track down a trash panda. I hiked through another beautiful boulder-filled area. The boulders seem to erupt from and melt into the earth at the same time, I absolutely adore these areas! I skipped down…
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Day 12 | Mile 139.7 – 151.8
The desert is coming alive with more and more blooms every day! The trail wound around ridges, down into small waterless valleys and around private off-grid homes. Weather in the San Jacinto Mountains is not very favorable for hikers this weekend! Tom and I came down out of the mountains to Palm Springs, CA to…
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Day 11 | Mile 127.3 – 139.7
I spent the day watching Mount San Jacinto loom ever closer… When I climb into the San Jacinto Mountains, it will be the highest I have been on trail this year, at around 8500′. You can see that they are still holding a good amount of snow, and are supposed to get at least another…
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Day 10 | Mile 111.4 – 127.3
It was hot and buggy as I crossed back and forth over Agua Caliente Creek half a dozen times in the morning. As I climbed ~3500′, I was graced with a breeze making the hike that much more enjoyable. I wound through massive boulders, all of which I am convinced are Rock Biters. Met Doc…
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Day 9 | Mile 101.2 – 111.4
Easy, breezy, and peaceful day on the PCT! I hiked through several expansive meadows filled with tiny yellow, purple, and white wildflowers. I climbed up Eagle Rock, and passed through the small town of Warner Springs, CA. ⇠Previous Day Next Day ⇢
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Day 5 | Mile 42.6 – 53.3
Out of the woods and through some rather aggressive shrubbery today! I am glad to be wearing long sleeves and pants, because these hardy desert plants are scratching me right through them! Absolutely worth it to be able to enjoy these views. ⇠Previous Day Next Day ⇢
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Day 7 | Mile 68.4 – 77.3
Dropped over 2000′ to the valley floor and into the town of Julian. At lower elevations, I saw many different cacti and carpets of minute wildflowers. I also saw a hare and several quail! Mom’s Pie House in Julian, CA offers a free slice of pie to hikers with a PCT permit, so I went…
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Day 6 | Mile 53.3 – 68.4
I saw two horned lizards! I meandered through a beautiful section with white boulders disrupting the otherwise green landscape. I camped near a manmade water source, because this section did not have as many opportunities for water collection. There were about 6 other tents in that area, but it was a quite night (other than…