PCT Update #3

Days: 21-37

Miles: 266.1-566.5

Current Location: Tehachapi, CA

Hi all!
For this post, I’m really not feeling doing a blow-by-blow of the days since I last wrote, so just a few update-y highlights below:

• We’ve hiked another 300 miles since Big Bear and are now in Tehachapi, CA
• Pretty consistently doing 20-mile+ days now
• Was very excited to pick up a new pair of shoes here in town for the next stretch! I put 566 miles on my first pair and that was about 150 miles too many for them (and me)
• Oh, crossed the 500-mile marker
• Almost through the first section of the trail (The Desert – the first 700/750 miles) and I can’t say I’m sad about it. I miss trees! Next up: The Sierra (or at least the small amount of it I’m willing to tackle at this time with the snow conditions this year (more on that later).
• Passed through Wrightwood and Hikertown, the best and most eclectic “town” stops so far, respectively
• Still hiking with my friends from days 1/2!

What has been on my mind is reflecting on my first month+ on-trail and how it compares to my experience on the AT. I thought I’d share what’s in and what’s out (or what’s hot and what’s not) on my PCT hike:

Food:

In (on the PCT):

• bread and cheese
• peanut butter in ramen
• Liquid I.V.
• Noka fruit smoothies for breakfast
• snack mix made of original Chex Mix, Dot’s honey mustard pretzels and honey-roasted peanuts (or cashews)
• packing out avocado, spinach
• salty snacks
• staying veggie/pescatarian on trail
• cooking lunch (sometimes)
• paying attention to eating enough

Out (from the AT):

• tortillas
• instant potatoes in ramen
• MiO
• Bevita or bars for breakfast
• Uncrustables (reserving the right to put these back IN at any time because they’re delicious!)
• trail mix (to be fair I hated trail mix very early into the AT too)
• packing out Cuties, bananas
• bars, bars, bars
• eating meat on trail for the convenience
• not really counting calorie intake

Always:

• carrying a mac’n’cheese for hard days
• gummy candy > chocolate
• Little Debbies
• Welch’s fruit snacks
• prepping tomorrow’s snacks the night before

Clothes / Gear / Misc.

In:

• wool everything
• ultralight tent
• staying at AirBnbs
• no extra clothing
• sunscreen and floss
• yoga, stretching, rolling out my feet
• Rab
• using a Kula Kloth
• InReach

Out:

• synthetics
• ultralight quilt
• staying at hostels
• all the layers
• thinking I don’t need sunscreen and floss
• hiker hobble
• Patagonia (reserving the right to put my Nano Puff back IN at any time)
• using a non-antimicrobial bandana, and then nothing
• no PLB

Always:

• homemade pot koozie
• using Guthook/FarOut
• full-body wet wipe showers every night
• 4x pairs of underwear
• Darn Tough / Brooks combo
• Ursack and Katadyn

Me:

In:

• (slightly) more chill
• big tramily
• less desperation for town, shower, clean clothes, etc.
• more confidence to do my own thing
• pigtail braids
• limited phone/FarOut time; airplane mode all day
• listening to nothing (this is weird to me but I’m going with my lack of desire for now)
• hot girl sh*t w/ Cassie
• solo town mornings to myself
• putting my gear down in poison oak
• visiting Urgent Care for Rx steroids after above

Out:

• (slightly) less chill
• smaller tramily, hiking solo
• more concerned with town, shower, etc.
• less HYOH
• side braid
• being on my phone
• seeking distraction
• FOMO for home things
• putting my gear down in poison ivy
• visiting Urgent Care for Rx prophylactic doxycycline after a tick bite

Always:

• having a planning spreadsheet and being overly organized
• peeing 10,000x/day
• up and hiking early
• ridiculous tan lines
• blogging and pics

-snap (oh they call me Martha Stewart now too)