Mitch Baertlein

Hey there! I'm Mitch, and come May 2019 I'll be heading NOBO on the PCT. This will be my first thru-hike attempt, but I've been doing short sections of the trail in Oregon with my mom for a couple of years. I've been in the solar industry since I graduated with a BS in Electrical Engineering, so I figured it's time to soak up a little sun myself in the great outdoors.

Posts

Tehachapi to Lake Isabella

Tehachapi to Lake Isabella

Mile 566.5 to 580.6 Day 33 Woke up at trail angel Brenda's house only to realize the power was still out from the storm the afternoon before. We had

Jun 8, 2019 : Mitch Baertlein
Distractions and Trail Names

Distractions and Trail Names

Mile 454.5-566.5 A thru hike won't necessarily change your life. This goes against a lot of people's beliefs, but I've found it so far to be

Jun 1, 2019 : Mitch Baertlein
Summits, Toilets, and Pizza

Summits, Toilets, and Pizza

Days 17-24 Miles 266.1 to 454.5 The easiest way to think of a thru-hike is as a bunch of section hikes tied together by town stops. With about

May 25, 2019 : Mitch Baertlein
Paradise and Beyond

Paradise and Beyond

Days 8-15 Mile 151.9 to 266.1 Paradise Valley Cafe to Big Bear It's easy to fall into routine out here. Wake up, clear up camp and make some coffee.

May 15, 2019 : Mitch Baertlein
A Desert Full of Life

A Desert Full of Life

I've learned a very simple parkour in my first eight days on trail. The first five miles out of Campo, I was feeling on top of the world. Canada was

May 9, 2019 : Mitch Baertlein
Why My List of Reasons Isn’t a List

Why My List of Reasons Isn’t a List

I've sat down at a computer about 100 times now with the intention of making a list of reasons for why I'm hiking the PCT this year. And each time

Mar 4, 2019 : Mitch Baertlein