Greetings! My name is Christopher Smiley. I am a twenty-year, retired veteran of the United States Air Force, MBA graduate from the University of Arizona, and survivor of stage IV head and neck cancer. I currently reside in beautiful Bend, Oregon, although I could be considered a nomad - having lived in a dozen states and multiple countries as both a military brat and service member. I spend my time cooking for family and friends, while daydreaming of my next big outdoor adventure. I will be living out my dream of hiking the PCT on the 8th of March, 2024. I have dreamt of hiking this trail since falling in love with backpacking as a young teen in Southern California. Some 30 plus years later... my time has come. I hope to see you on trail, or hear from you soon. One step at a time! - Smiley
Posts
Days 54 – 57: Miles 603.3 – 652.5 (Walker Pass)
Welcome back! Thanks again for all the support. We are really appreciating all the positive feedback back and support we have received from our
Days 50 – 53: Miles 558.5 – 603.3
Welcome back! If you haven’t had the chance to read my last blog titled, “Stay Gold in Tehachapi,” I would suggest you read that article as well. If
Stay Gold in Tehachapi
If trail angel (TA) homes were graded on the same scale as hotels, the home of Jason aka Stay Gold would easily be a 5-Star
Days 46 & 47: Miles 529.3 – 558.3 (Tehachapi)
It amazes me how quickly information travels on the PCT. Technology certainly helps, but it’s the desire hikers have to watch after one-another
Days 42 – 45: Miles 485.8 – 529.3 (L.A. Aqueduct)
You really need to be proactive in replacing your shoes well before they lose their cushion… a lesson I am learning the hard way. I noticed
Days 38 – 41: Miles 444.3 – 485.8 (Lake Hughes)
I can’t tell you how happy we are to be going Northbound (NOBO) again. The San Gabriel Mountains were beautiful, but there was so much unnecessary
Days 34 – 37: Miles 424.3 – 341.9 (Wrightwood)
It is amazing to me how hikers will find a million different routes to take for the same stretch of trail. Between highways, forest service access
Days 31 – 33: Miles 444.3 – 424.3 (San Gabriel Mountains)
The term “Thru-Hiker” is a loose term surrounded by controversy among the hiker community. You might hear a different definition depending on the
Days 29 & 30: Miles 317.9 – 341.9 (Cajon Pass)
Backpacking in the rain takes a lot of careful planning and forethought. One must always be thinking about plans to either stay dry or get dry, and
Days 27 & 28: Miles 298.5 – 317.9 (San Bernardino National Forest)
Our favorite trail angel, Melody, picked us up from our hotel in Redlands. Our plan was to re-enter the PCT at mile marker 250.3 before Big Bear.