Penina Crocker

I'm Penina, known on trail as Pastor. After COVID-19 hit in the middle of college, I decided I needed the polar opposite of Zoom school, so I spent the summer outside. In the summer of 2021, I did a PCT LASH through the desert and Sierra sections, followed by a bike tour across the western United States and down the Pacific coast.

Posts

Sierra Designs Gigawatt 60L Backpack Review

Sierra Designs Gigawatt 60L Backpack Review

Looking for a backpack for your first trip? Ready to own your own pack, but not ready to shell out for a very nice one that you're not sure if you'll

Jun 29, 2022 : Penina Crocker
Meet Raquel Vélez, the CEO Working to Make Outdoor Apparel More Inclusive

Meet Raquel Vélez, the CEO Working to Make Outdoor Apparel More Inclusive

Meet Raquel Vélez, founder and CEO of Alpine Parrot, an outdoor apparel company that caters to women sizes 14-24. They currently sell the Ponderosa

Jun 28, 2022 : Penina Crocker
5 of the Best Deals from the REI Fourth of July Sale

5 of the Best Deals from the REI Fourth of July Sale

Need just a few more items before hitting the trails this summer? Check out the REI 4th of July Sale, which begins this Friday, June 24th and ends on

Jun 24, 2022 : Penina Crocker
Meet the Thru-Hiking Couple Who Got Engaged on the PCT

Meet the Thru-Hiking Couple Who Got Engaged on the PCT

Meet Lara and Marta, a European couple taking a year off of work to thru-hike, travel, and adventure. On May 25th, Lara asked Marta to marry her on

Jun 23, 2022 : Penina Crocker
Meet the Family of 6 Finishing Their Triple Crown

Meet the Family of 6 Finishing Their Triple Crown

Meet the Bennetts, a family of six that has hiked the PCT, CDT, and PNT.  I caught up with 5/6 of them (and a Bennett cousin) almost a quarter of the

Jun 15, 2022 : Penina Crocker
Yellowstone National Park Closes All Entrances Due to Hazardous Conditions

Yellowstone National Park Closes All Entrances Due to Hazardous Conditions

Yellowstone National Park has closed all park entrances to inbound traffic due to hazardous conditions caused by record rainfall and flooding,

Jun 14, 2022 : Penina Crocker
8 of the Best Gear Deals from REI’s June Clearance

8 of the Best Gear Deals from REI’s June Clearance

Out with the old and in with the new! REI is having a MASSIVE clearance sale now (June 7th) through June 23rd to make way for the latest models. We

Jun 7, 2022 : Penina Crocker
Are Thru-Hikers Too Entitled?

Are Thru-Hikers Too Entitled?

The sun is setting over an AT shelter crowded with hikers. Some are thru-hikers, while others are out for only a night or two. Everyone begins to

May 26, 2022 : Penina Crocker
[Book Review] Trailed: One Woman’s Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders

[Book Review] Trailed: One Woman’s Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders

In Trailed: One Woman's Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders, journalist Kathryn Miles spends four years investigating one of the most notorious and

May 17, 2022 : Penina Crocker
Experienced Hiker Found Dead in San Bernardino National Forest

Experienced Hiker Found Dead in San Bernardino National Forest

Robert Carey Jr., 33 was found dead at the base of Big Falls Waterfall in Forest Falls near Southern California's San Gorgonio Peak on May 1st.

May 5, 2022 : Penina Crocker