ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE

Yesterday was wild and ended with night hiking most of the LA Aqueduct section of the PCT. This section is notoriously hot and is often walked at night. As we left Hikertown what started as an energy filled dance party after a beautiful sun set turned into a long monotonous zombie walk as we all began feeling the effects of being awake for almost 24 hours. The heat continues today and I’m waiting it out under a bridge like the hiker trash I am. #pct2026 #thruhike #anotherdayinparadise #nighthike #itshotashellouthere ...

500 miles.

It’s a strange feeling hitting a number that once sounded enormous and realizing it’s still only the beginning. Somewhere over the last few weeks the trail stopped feeling like a trip and started feeling like a way of life. Wake up. Walk. Eat. Climb. Repeat.

There have been brutal climbs, cold mornings, aching feet, wind, heat, and moments where the next water source felt impossibly far away. But there’s also been incredible sunsets, quiet desert mornings, unexpected kindness from strangers, and the simple satisfaction of putting one foot in front of the other day after day.

And yes… when i walked past the 500 miles marker, you better believe I threw on I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers and danced my way down the trail like an absolute idiot.

500 miles ago Canada felt very far away.
Honestly… it still does.

Onward to the Sierra. 🏔️

#PCT2026 #ThruHike #HikerTrash #AnotherDayInParadise ...

Yesterday was one of those trail moments that reminds you just how generous people can be.

A huge thank you to Juan and @jessie_200085 for the completely unexpected treat — amazing food, cold drinks, great conversation, and incredible generosity. After long days on trail, kindness like that means more than you probably realize.

You turned an ordinary day into one I won’t forget. Thank you for welcoming a hungry stranger into your camp and treating me so well.

#PCT2026 #HikerTrash #ThruHike #AnotherDayInParadise ...