Posts
Kennedy Meadows: The End of Act One
For 703 miles, the experience becomes more familiar and feels like home. There are about twenty people in my bubble, and on any given day I am hiking, camping, or towning with a few of them. In most years, this might continue ad infinitum to the opposite border. In 2023 with the chaos of the snowpack, the journeys are split at Kennedy Meadows as though a brush were dipping into our collective paint and splattering it across the canvas.
The Retirement of the Zookeeper
The Moment Climbing out of Agua Dulce, around mile 460, I stop to look out on the valley below. Bluejay, Turtlewolf, and H are fifteen minutes ahead
A Challenging Week and Decision Time
Bluejay, H. and myself arrive at Vincent Gap around three in the afternoon on a Monday, and intend to go halfway up the mountain today to split the climb into two sections.
Mountains Favored in Decisive Game Three
San Jacinto took the upper hand in the Mountains' opening game versus the Hikers, pushing them off trail in the early days of April. The Hikers salvaged some ground by walking 13 miles on a detour to save face for the 20 miles missed from Spitler Trail to Black Mountain Road, but still the Mountains claimed the opening victory.
Today the Sky is Blue
Morning wind whistles through the slats of the border wall. It’s 4:30 on a Monday morning and I’ve been up since the wind started rocking my tent at CLEEF around three. I had decided to walk the half mile up to the monument at the southern terminus to watch the sunrise, but I’m just now discovering that daybreak isn't happening until 6:30 or so.
The Count Down (Part Two)
Trepidation - Three Weeks Out Someone asked me a couple of weeks ago if I was excited about the upcoming adventure. I couldn’t think of a word at
The Count Down (Part One)
When I first started writing this four weeks ago, I had the idea that it would be interesting to track the week-by-week preparations and emotions as
The Other Big Three
The more you prepare for a trek, the more you always hear about the “big three.” Sleep system, shelter, and pack. As cognizant as I am of those in my planning, I’d like to spend a minute talking about what might be considered the other big three: Mental, Physical and Logistics.
The PCT Permit Application Day
Coffee, check. Laptop, check. Trail bracelet my mom made for me for my birthday, check. My good luck charm for the day.
A Long Time Coming, a Long Way to Go
At fourteen years old, I first heard about the Pacific Crest Trail. I had aspirations to hike it with my dad before high school was over, even though my dad and I had never gone backpacking before nor would it be feasible to squeeze it into a summer break. This year isn’t the year.