Recent Posts
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Sierras part 2: high passes, heavy packs, and hiker hunger
Independence to Mammoth. Miles 790 – 904. Days 38 – 44. After Kearsarge Pass hikers find themselves in the thick of the Sierras. Each day brings climbs over high passes and river crossings. This is some of the most beautiful… Continue reading
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Into the Sierras: snow travel on Mt. Whitney and Forester Pass
Kennedy Meadows to Independence. Miles 705 – 790. Days 33 – 37. After Kennedy Meadows, the PCT begins gradually climbing into the High Sierra. Hikers are rewarded for their endurance with mountain views and pine forests. The PCT passes near… Continue reading
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Hitchhiking 50 miles for a sandwich and the end of the desert!
Tehatchapi to ~Kennedy Meadows. Mile 566 – 705. Days 27 – 32. Past Tehachapi, the trail feels like the desert, with rolling hills covered in Joshua trees and long dry sections where hikers must carry lots of heavy water. As… Continue reading
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A 40-miler on the aqua duct and zeroing through a heat wave
Agua Dulce – Tehatchapi. Mile 465 – 566. Day 23 – 26. From Agua Dulce the trail returns to moderate elevations in rolling hills with shrubs and small groves of trees. This is a part of the trail where hikers… Continue reading
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Tons of Trail Magic and Trekking from Toilet to Toilet
Wrightwood – ~Agua Dulce. Mile 374 -465. Days 19 – 22. After Wrightwood, the trail climbs steeply up to the 9,000+ foot summit of Mt. Baden Powell. From there, the trail works through pine forested ridges in the San Gabriel… Continue reading
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Hiking for hot springs and hamburgers
Big Bear – Wrightwood. Mile 266 – 363. Days 15 – 18. After Big Bear, the trail gradually descends from the San Gorgonio Range. As the trail makes its way out of the mountains, it follows Deep Creek, home of… Continue reading
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All the Extremes on the PCT: high to low, cold to hot, cruising to rockhopping
Idyllwild – Big Bear. Mile 179 – 266. Days 10 – 14. After Saddle Junction, the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) continues cresting the dramatic spine of the San Jacinto range, then descends ~7,000 feet to Interstate Highway 10 near Cabazon.… Continue reading
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6-hour lunch breaks and going up into the mountains
Warner Springs – Idyllwild. Miles 109 – 179. Days 6 – 9. The trail between Warner Springs and Idyllwild gradually gains elevation. It climbs out of the chaparral to larger mountains with pine forests, gaining 5,000 feet of elevation over… Continue reading
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Lessons learned on my first hot days and reaching mile 100!
Mount Laguna – ~Warner Springs. Mile 41 – 109. Days 3 – 5. The section of the PCT between Mount Laguna and Warner Springs features long walks across treeless chaparral ridges. It is breathtakingly beautiful on a cool day but… Continue reading
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Day 2: Easy walking and my first resupply stop on the PCT
~Lake Morena – Mount Laguna. Mile 22 – 41. Day 2. I camped with a few other Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hikers last night. It was a bit chilly overnight but I kept warm enough. This morning, I stayed in… Continue reading
Adventures with Val 