Start: Silverwood Lake End: Swarthout Canyon Road Miles covered: 19 (+1 in town) PCT mile marker: 347/2652 Highlight: Seeing family at Cajon Pass. I’m incredibly lucky to have so much support from friends and family on this trek. In this case, they drove all the way from Los Angeles (with a puppy!) to bring me … Continue reading Day 17 – 20 mi – PCT mile 347 →

Start: Mojave River Forks Dam End: Silverwood Lake Miles covered: 15 PCT mile marker: 328/2652 Highlight: Beach, pizza, and beer at Silverwood Lake. (Yes, that’s one large pizza per person.) Biggest challenge: Trash at Silverwood Lake. The spot we chose for a break turned out to have quite a bit of trash. (Or “rubbish” to … Continue reading Day 16 – 15 mi – PCT mile 328 →

Start: Tentsite at 290 End: Tentsite at 313, by the Mojave River Forks Dam Miles covered: 23 PCT mile marker: 313/2652 Highlight: It was another delightful day, but the highlight was definitely a swim at the Deep Creek Hot Springs. There were refreshingly cold sections, and pools so hot I had to ease my way … Continue reading Day 15 – 23 mi – PCT mile 313 →

Start: Big Bear End: tentsite on a ridge, mile 290 Miles covered: 24 (+1 in town) PCT mile marker: 290/2652 Highlight: Broad views over Big Bear lake. (Honorable mentions: first trail avocado, and sunset at camp.) Biggest challenge: Can’t really think of one. It was a beautiful, easy day.

Start: Arrastre Trail Camp End: Big Bear Miles covered: 10 PCT mile marker: 266/2652 Highlight: So many friendly people in Big Bear. And passing the 10% PCT completion mark. Biggest challenge: None, really. It was a gorgeous morning over beautiful terrain and into a lovely town.

Start: tentsite at mile 231 End: Arrastre Trail Camp Miles covered: 25 PCT mile marker: 256/2652 Highlight: Yummy spring water at a mid-day picnic spot during an otherwise dry section. (Honorable mention: a dumpster full of soda and a couch to rest on.)   Biggest challenge: Aches and pains from a few long days. I’m … Continue reading Day 12 – 25 mi – PCT mile 256 →

Start: tentsite at mile 205 End: tentsite at mile 231, along Mission Creek Miles covered: 26 PCT mile marker: 231/2652 Highlight: 360 views in the San Gorgonio Wilderness Honorable mention: Trail magic at the “Oasis” under I-10 and at the Mesa Wind Farm maintenance building. (Would you walk 200 miles in the desert for a … Continue reading Day 11 – 26 mi – PCT mile 231 →

Start: San Jacinto Peak End: tentsite near water faucet at mile 205 Miles covered: 23 PCT mile marker: 205/2652 Highlight: A very comfortable campsite—with bats!—for a restorative night’s sleep. Biggest challenge: Staying awake. The exhaustion from the previous day, paired with a distracted night of sleep (so many stars!) made for a sleep-deprived state heading … Continue reading Day 10 – 23 mi – PCT mile 205 →

Start: Idyllwild End: San Jacinto Peak Miles covered: 15 (Including the rest of the fire closure reroute, the available miles north of the closure, the Tahquitz trail,  and Tahquitz Peak.) PCT mile marker: 183*/2652 *PCT equivalent, because San Jacinto Peak is on a slightly longer alternate route. Biggest challenge: Leaving the comforts of Idyllwild. Highlights: … Continue reading Day 9 – 15 mi – PCT mile 183 →

Start: mile 166 End: Idyllwild Miles covered: 17  (Most of this was a route around a fire closure, which is much longer than the PCT section currently closed.) PCT mile marker: 168/2652  (This is to the south end of the closure. I will give myself credit for the 9 closure miles when I tag the … Continue reading Day 8 – 17 mi – PCT mile 168 →