Start: tentsite at 1320 End: Warner Valley Camp, in Lassen National Park Miles covered: 30 PCT mile marker: 1350/2652 Highlight: Passing the halfway mark! (Honorable mention: When we crossed the road that goes into Chester, we met a woman named Andrea who was waiting for her family. She gave us nectarines and an enormous apple … Continue reading Day 66 – 30 mi – PCT mile 1350 →

Start: tentsite at mile 1295 End: tentsite at mile 1320 Miles covered: 25 PCT mile marker: 1320/2652 Highlight: Despite being more than two months into the hike, this is the first time I remember seeing any significant cloud cover. It did make the scenery (and photographs) more interesting. Biggest challenge: Finishing the climb out of … Continue reading Day 65 – 25 mi – PCT mile 1320 →

Start: Clear Creek End: tentsite at mile 1295 Miles covered: 18 PCT mile marker: 1295/2652 Highlight: A hot breakfast (omelet AND french toast) and coffee in Belden. Biggest challenge: Climbing out of Belden in the afternoon heat (high 90s). It was a long climb that didn’t end until the next morning.

Start: tentsite at 1254 End: Clear Creek Miles covered: 23 PCT mile marker: 1277/2652 Highlight: Reaching the top of the morning climb, with fantastic views over the town of Quincy. Biggest challenge: The rattlesnakes are back! Some of these Northern California segments have been hotter than most of the desert section in May. When I … Continue reading Day 63 – 23 mi – PCT mile 1277 →

Start: tentsite at mile 1232 End: tentsite at mile 1254 Miles covered: 22 PCT mile marker: 1254/2652 Highlight: A long break at the middle fork of the Feather River to wait out the hottest part of the day. Biggest challenge: Mosquitoes at camp. It’s hard to know when they will attack, but they love sunset, … Continue reading Day 62 – 22 mi – PCT mile 1254 →

Start: Pack Saddle Campground End: tentsite at mile 1232 Miles covered: 25 PCT mile marker: 1232/2652 Highlight: Beautiful ridge walks Biggest challenge: Maintaining my energy level at this point on the trail. It is finally sinking in that two months of walking 20+ miles per day is not normal. But Nutella helps.

Start: tentsite at mile 1185 End: Pack Saddle Campground Miles covered: 22 (+1 in town) PCT mile marker: 1207/2652 Highlight: Meeting back up with Windy for breakfast at the Red Moose Cafe in Sierra City. (Honorable mention: Good To-Go’s Vegetable Korma for dinner. Yummy!) Biggest challenge: The 3,000-foot climb out of Sierra City in the … Continue reading Day 60 – 23 mi – PCT mile 1207 →

Start: tentsite at mile 1163 End: tentsite at mile 1185 Miles covered: 22 PCT mile marker: 1185/2652 Highlight: Another afternoon nap. Pure bliss. Biggest challenge: Although my previous ankle issue went away, I was nursing another sore ankle since just before Reno. Perhaps the repeated 30-mile days on rocky terrain were a bit too much.

Start: Reno End: tentsite at mile 1163 Miles covered: 10 (+1 in town) PCT mile marker: 1163/2652 Highlight: Lunch at IHOP. (Honorable mention: Sleeping in.) Biggest challenge: Saying goodbye to my husband for another month. (Dishonorable mention: Constantly changing Amtrak delay. I bought a ticket for the train back to Truckee, supposedly leaving at 8:30am. … Continue reading Day 58 – 11 mi – PCT mile 1163 →

Start: Reno End: Reno Miles covered: 0 - My first zero day on the PCT. I probably accumulated five miles around town, but none with a full pack. PCT mile marker: 1153/2652 Highlight: Food! I indulged in two all-you-can-eat buffets. Perhaps the first time I ate  enough to make it worth the money. Biggest challenge: … Continue reading Day 57 – 0 mi – PCT mile 1153 →