Start: tentsite at mile 717 End: tentsite at mile 740 Miles covered: 23 PCT mile marker: 740/2652 Highlight: Patterns in tree trunks and the lovely pine smell. Biggest challenge: Sore shoulders from the heavy pack.

Start: Kennedy Meadows End: tentsite at mile 717 Miles covered: 15 (+3 from town back to the trail) PCT mile marker: 717/2652 Highlight: Unlimited pancakes at breakfast. How did I not know the day before that they were all-you-can-eat?! Biggest challenge: Carrying such a heavy pack. With a bear can, 10 days of food, and … Continue reading Day 35 – 18 mi – PCT mile 717 →

Start: Manter Creek End: Kennedy Meadows Miles covered: 9 (+1 into Kennedy Meadows) PCT mile marker: 702/2652 Highlight: Reaching the major milestone of Kennedy Meadows, and preparing to enter the Sierra section of the PCT. (Honorable mention: Two breakfasts!) Biggest challenge: So much to do. Laundry, shower, resupply, pack bear can, eat, blog. Some people … Continue reading Day 34 – 10 mi – PCT mile 702 →

Start: Spanish Needle Creek End: Manter Creek Miles covered: 25 PCT mile marker: 693/2652 Highlight: My pack is getting lighter as I devour the contents of my food bag. Now when I leave a town with what I think is too much food, I still somehow manage to eat it all. Biggest challenge: My shirt … Continue reading Day 33 – 25 mi – PCT mile 693 →

Start: McIvers Spring End: Spanish Needle Creek Miles covered: 25 PCT mile marker: 668/2652 Highlight: More trail magic from Ranger Ron! This is the same guy with the ice cream and hot dogs at the Ranger station a couple weeks ago. This time he had turkey sandwiches, apples, soda, chips, and beer. Biggest challenge: I … Continue reading Day 32 – 25 mi – PCT mile 668 →

Start: tentsite at 617 End: McIvers Spring Miles covered: 26 PCT mile marker: 643/2652 Highlight: I’ve seen many Joshua Trees on this trip, but today was particularly filled with them. Biggest challenge: Climbing on sand. It takes so much more energy to complete mileage over trail covered in thick sand. Today’s route included about five … Continue reading Day 31 – 26 mi – PCT mile 643 →

Start: tentsite at 593 End: tentsite at 617 Miles covered: 24 PCT mile marker: 617/2652 Highlight: More trail magic, this time from Siri at Landers Meadow. (Honorable mention: Payday bars. My new favorite. They don’t melt in the desert.) Biggest challenge: Sore shoulders from the extra pack weight of a six-day food carry. (I’m not … Continue reading Day 30 – 24 mi – PCT mile 617 →

Start: tentsite at 569 End: tentsite at 593 Miles covered: 24 PCT mile marker: 593/2652 Highlight: Tea, lunch, and a blissful nap at Golden Oaks Spring. Biggest challenge: The wind overnight was brutal, and all of my gear was covered in dust in the morning. The first climb of the day was equally windy, hence … Continue reading Day 29 – 24 mi – PCT mile 593 →

Start: Tehachapi End: tentsite at mile 569 Miles covered: 11 PCT mile marker: 569/2652 Highlight: Getting back on the trail with new shorts that fit. Through-hiking has a way of using any extra energy stores, so my clothes don’t fit the same as they did a month ago. Biggest challenge: Lugging a heavier pack with … Continue reading Day 28 – 11 mi – PCT mile 569 →

Start: tentsite just before the road into Tehachapi End: Tehachapi Miles covered: 15, all miles into and around Tehachapi PCT mile marker: 558/2652 Highlight: Kohnen’s, a German bakery in the center of Tehachapi. I think I ate there three times. (Honorable mention: Draft beer selection at TK’s Pizza.) Biggest challenge: Waiting for packages that should … Continue reading Day 27 – 15 mi – PCT mile 558 →