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
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.
Days 24 – 26: Miles 225.5 – 298.5 (To Be Continued…)
I’ve been watching PCT hikers on YouTube and other social media outlets for years. There seems to be a recurring theme every year and every year is
Days 22 & 23: Miles 209.6 – 225.5 (Mission Creek aka Mission Abort)
MISSION ABORT!! MISSION ABORT!! If you are a hiker and you are contemplating entering Section “C” going NOBO towards Mission Creek, please