Start: tentsite at mile 504 End: Cottonwood Creek Miles covered: 30 PCT mile marker: 534/2652 Highlight: Trail angel Paint Your Wagon, from Hikertown. I asked him if it was a musical theater reference, assuming the answer was no. Much to my delight, he proceeded to sing to me. That just my day. Hikertown is the … Continue reading Day 25 – 30 mi – PCT mile 534 →

Start: Green Valley End: tentsite near Liebre Mountain Road Miles covered: 26 (+2 in town) PCT mile marker: 504/2652 Highlight: A very relaxing spot for a dinner break overlooking the city of Mojave. (Honorable mention: passing the 500-mile mark.) Biggest challenge: Climbing in the warm-to-hot weather. It was 80 degrees at 8am. Again, not terrible … Continue reading Day 24 – 28 mi – PCT mile 504 →

Start: Agua Dulce End: Casa de Luna, Green Valley Miles covered: 24 (+3 im town) PCT mile marker: 478/2652 Highlight: A monster hug from Terrie at Casa de Luna. (Honorable mention: Club sandwich and smoothie at the Heart and Soul Cafe. Are you sensing a food-related trend yet?) Biggest challenge: Hot climb out of Agua … Continue reading Day 23 – 27 mi – PCT mile 478 →

Start: Acton KOA End: Hiker Heaven, Agua Dulce Miles covered: 10 (+3 in town) PCT mile marker: 454/2652 Highlight: Vasquez Rocks was stunning. It was also fun to see the filming location for so many movies and TV shows. (Honorable mention: The Saufleys are wonderful people for running Hiker Heaven, where I was able to … Continue reading Day 22 – 13 mi – PCT mile 454 →

Start: tentsite at mile 425 End: Acton KOA Miles covered: 19 PCT mile marker: 444/2652 Highlight: The North Fork Ranger Station was another oasis during a hot, dry stretch. Ranger Ron was serving up ice cream, hot dogs, and sodas along with a large dose of wry humor. It was an outstanding hour of rest. … Continue reading Day 21 – 19 mi – PCT mile 444 →

Start: Cooper Canyon Trail Camp End: tentsite at 425 Miles covered: 30 PCT mile marker: 425/2652 Highlight: Sunset views along the trail. We were looking for a campsite starting at mile 420, but all of them seemed to be taken. A three-mile walk just below the ridgeline proved to be a spectacular vantage point to … Continue reading Day 20 – 30 mi – PCT mile 425 →

Start: Jackson Flat Campground End: Cooper Canyon Trail Camp Miles covered: 24 (+1 for frog detour) PCT mile marker: 395/2652 Highlight: Summiting Mount Baden-Powell in beautiful weather. (Honorable mention: Jalapeño tuna packet and Idahoan loaded baked potato. Whoa Nelly!) Biggest challenge: 2-mile road walk on the Angeles Crest Highway, to avoid a detour around endangered … Continue reading Day 19 – 25 mi – PCT mile 395 →

Start: tentsite at 347 End: Jackson Flat Campground Miles covered: 24 (+1 in town) PCT mile marker: 371/2652 Highlight: A PBR from trail angels Mark and Michelle, serving up goodies from Guffy Campground. (Honorable mention: A food bag loaded with so many yummy snacks that it’s like an all-you-can-eat buffet every time I open it.) … Continue reading Day 18 – 25 mi – PCT mile 371 →

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 →