ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE
Adventures in wandering...
PCT Day 79 – Smedberg Lake (969.7) to Wilma Lake (988.1)
PCT Day 79 - Smedberg Lake (969.7) to Wilma Lake (988.1) June 22, 2026 Total PCT miles: 18.4 Non PCT miles: 0 Total: 18.4 miles / 29.6 km Total elevation gain: 4441 ft Total elevation loss: 5737 ft Steps: 46089 I knew today was going to be a long one just by looking...
LATEST PCT BLOG POST
After 80 days I finally made it to the 1000 mile marker of the Pacific Crest Trail!
Five hundred miles ago, I stood alone at the 500-mile marker just after sunrise, listening to I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers. I danced my way into that milestone.
Today, I smiled as I played the same song again.
After all… if I can walk 500 miles, then I can walk 500 more.
It’s hard to put into words what 1000 really means. One thousand miles isn’t just a statistic, it’s 2.4 million footsteps, countless climbs, dusty mornings, freezing nights, sore muscles, spectacular sunrises, and memories that will stay with me long after this journey is over.
Looking back, it’s incredible to think about everything that’s happened since leaving Campo. I crossed the desert, battled relentless heat, rolled my ankle early in the hike, questioned whether I’d even make it to the Sierra, and then found myself standing on top of some of the highest and most breathtaking passes on the entire trail.
The Sierra challenged me in every way imaginable. It demanded patience, respect, and perseverance. There were days when every mile felt earned, but walking out of those mountains gave me a confidence I didn’t have when I walked in.
This trail has also taught me that progress isn’t always measured by how many miles you hike in a day. Sometimes progress is simply getting up, packing your backpack, and taking the next step, even when you’re tired, uncomfortable, or wondering why you signed up for this in the first place.
Reaching 1,000 miles feels like more than just a milestone. It feels like a reminder that impossible goals are rarely accomplished in giant leaps. They’re achieved one step, one day, and one mile at a time.
There are still many miles between here and Canada, and I know there will be more challenges ahead. But today I’m taking a moment to appreciate how far I’ve come. The person who crossed the Mexican border on April 5 isn’t quite the same person standing here today.
Here’s to the next thousand miles, the friends still to meet, the mountains still to climb, and the adventure that continues just beyond the next bend in the trail. #pct2026 #an
Back into the Mountains today entering the Ansel Adam’s Wilderness! #pct2026 #thruhike #embracethesuck #anotherdayinparadise
Here is just a small sample of the last 9 days in the magical Sierra Nevada mountains. #pct2026 #anotherdayinparadise #embracethesuck #thruhike
The Sierra is everything people say it is.
The climbs are relentless. The passes seem endless. The altitude steals your breath, the cold bites in the morning, and every mile demands something from you.
But then you reach places like this.
Granite peaks stretching to the horizon. Snow clinging to distant ridgelines. Valleys carved by time and ice. A kind of wild beauty that’s impossible to capture in a photo and even harder to describe.
The Sierra doesn’t give you easy miles. It makes you work for every view.
And somehow, that makes them even more beautiful.
PCT 2026 — tired legs, full heart, and a growing appreciation for just how incredible this trail really is. 🏔️
#PCT2026 #PacificCrestTrail #TheSierra #ThruHike #AnotherDayInParadise
Back into the mountains I go! Starting off with a 2600 ft elevation gain and a 7 day food carry! #pct2026 #thruhike #embracethesuck #anotherdayinparadise
Here is a small selection of the photos I took between Kennedy Meadows and Kearsarge Pass in my first section of the Sierra on the PCT. It’s so incredibly beautiful up here but it comes at the cost of hard days with big climbs at elevation. I spend 5 days at Kennedy Meadows waiting out the worst of the snow only to have 6 inches the first night. It melted the next day and the weather was great after. A few long days with 18 plus miles and then some shorter. Leave tomorrow back into the mountains. For more you can always check out my blog at anotherdayinparadise.ca where most days has a new update. #pct2026 #thruhike #embracethesuck #anotherdayinparadise #sierranevada
Here I am 700 miles and the desert section of the PCT completed. It’s been too hot, too cold, too sunny, too dry, too windy but also, in its own way beautiful. I’ve over come injury and embraced the suck more times than I can count. With the exception of some of my experiences at work this is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Spending so much time with nothing other than the contents of my pack has given me appreciation for the little things I take for granted everyday. Along the way I’ve met so many interesting people and been the recipient of so much genuine kindness. Next up the Sierra and the beauty and adventure it holds. #pct2026 #thruhike #embracethesuck #anotherdayinparadise
I’ve passed a few miles / kilometer stones over the past few days out on the PCT. I passed 600 miles then the next day the 1000 km mark. I also hiked 27.6 miles in a single day in the strongest winds I’ve ever willingly walked in. Gusts were over 76 MPH (122 KPH). That’s category 1 hurricane level wind. So basically I can now say I walked a marathon in a hurricane. I’m pretty proud of that. #PCT2026 #embracethesuck #anotherdayinparadise #thruhike #itswindyoutside
