PCT Day 2 – Hauser to Boulder Oaks Camp Ground (mile 26)
The desert is dirty
April 6. 2026
Start mileage: 15.4
End mileage: 26.0
Non PCT miles: 0.2
Total: 10.9 miles / 17.5 kms
I slept well and woke up at 05:00 am feeling a lot less sore than I anticipated. I forgot how dirty the desert section of the PCT is. I’ve been out here one day and everything is either covered in dirt or dried sweat. I wonder how much dirt the average PCT hiker eats on a thru hike?
The first 700 miles of the PCT is called the desert section. Although very little of it is true desert. Rather it is technically chaparral:
The chaparral is a Mediterranean shrubland biome primarily located in California, Baja California, and parts of Southern Oregon, characterized by mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. It is dominated by dense, woody shrubs like manzanita and chamise, and it is highly adapted to fire, with significant threats arising from climate change and increased, human-caused fire frequencies.
View coming into Lake Morena
It was a cool morning that allowed me to make quick work of the notorious clime out of Hauser canyon. Some say this climb is the worst a thru-hiker needs to complete before San Jacinto and is why most hikers camp at Hauser. The cool morning along with my desire to destroy a breakfast burrito in Lake Morena kept me going at a fairly good pace.
Mmm burrito
The Lake Morena Malt Shop is a must stop on the PCT and provides an excellent opportunity to eat some real food and have a cold drink. The burrito certainly hit the spot.
I left town and happens upon two trail angels handing out cold drinks. I could not resist. They hiked the PCT in 2021 and shared some stories of their experience during the first post COVID year.
Along the path I came across a San Diego county employee who was doing tick surveilance. He said the ticks in the area are not too bad and has only found one today. Very few of the ticks they test have Lyme but I’m sure they carry other diseases.
The morning clouds eventually gave way to big bright hot sunny skies as I came into Boulder Oaks campground. My plan had been to hike about another 7 miles all up hill to Cibbets Camp ground. I was feeling sore and tired and the beginnings of a blister on my right foot. So I decided to do something I rarely do and stop here for the night and enjoy an afternoon of relaxing. What a strange concept.
I’m camped here with 5 other hikers and have only seen 4 or 5 others go by. Certainly does not feel crowded out here. As luck would have it another trail angel drove by and handed out more cold drinks. A DOUBLE TRAIL angel day!This trail angel is spending his first year of retirement doing trail magic. He plans on following the heard up the trail helping hikers where they need it the most. Currently he is shuttling hikers from San Diego to the Southern Terminus then pops by some of the more popular camp sites on his way back.
Definitely some interesting people out here including A 71 year old who used to fish king crab in the bearing sea and knows most of the people that were in Deadliest Catch. Quote of the day came from this 18 year old hiking the trail in jeans, no cell phone, beat up backpack, home hardware tarp and cowboy hat. “Going to a concert and filming the whole thing on your phone is basically the same as going to a Shakespeare play and writing it all down.” Smart kid.
Tomorrow will be an even earlier day with a 1000 plus meter climb to get to Mount Laguna!
Today at 08:20 hrs I started my 2026 PCT thru-hike.
As expected I did not sleep well last night but remarkably managed to get about 5 ish hours before my alarm went off. Has my last shower for an unknown number of days and did my best to ensure every thing I intended to pack was indeed packed. I had a list, it was checked many more times than twice.
It took about 1 hour from our hotel to arrive at the PCT souther terminus. Here we were greated by two woman who work for the Pacific Crest Trail Association. They checked my permit (Mel had to get it out of my wallet as I was too stressed), provide some last minute trail information and provided a gentle leave no trace reminder. Maybe not surprisingly they said only 12 people had started today (50 permits a day are issued) and overall numbers on the trail have been down this year. I suppose the additional challenges of traveling to the US and the current state of the global economy likely have something to do with it.
Mexico US border wall
I took the customary photos with the terminus monument and the Mexican border wall (much larger and omnibus than last time I was hear) and said see you in 5 months to my fiancée. There were absolutely no tears involved. Then began my first steps on the PCT as my fiancée returned to the car to also start her journey back to Canada. Albeit the more conventional car-plane method. The parting was brief as the trail intersects the road ahead and I was there waiting for her when she drove past for a second good bye.
The first steps turned into the first mile and slowly I could feel the stress start to fade away. Or maybe it was being burned away by the sun as it baptized me most of the day in punishing fashion. As I was consuming my limited water at an alarming rate I decided to take my first break during the peak of the heat. I found a spot with one of the only two hikers I saw until arriving at Hauser and chatted for a while. Fortunately during the afternoon a light breeze picked up making it much more pleasant.
I was optimistic that I would be able to replenish my water at mile 14 at a new water cache that a trail angel has been maintaining. You should never rely on water caches and I thought my 5 liters would be enough for the day plus dry camping and into town tomorrow but I was likely wrong. I was very appreciative when I arrived and found many tens of gallons of water.
From here it was a short downhill hike to camp. Here only the sounds of insects are present and I hope this leads to a better sleep than last night.
Tomorrow brings a 4 mile walk with significant elevation gain into Lake Moreno where a breakfast burrito has my name on it.
One mile down only a couple few to go. Class of 2026 poster at CLEFF camp ground where many hikes spend the night before starting the trail Two miles in.Train tracks at mile 4Nice place for a rest This sun umbrella was a last minute purchase. Current me is thanking past me for this decision. Water cache at mile 14First campsite – this is where everything really gets dirty.
Day 0 – Pacific Crest Trail 2026 – Redemption Hike
Redemption (ri- dem(p)-shen): The act, process or an instance of redeeming: serving to offset or compensate for a defect.
I suppose its all a matter of perspective. The story you tell yourself and those around you. On April 8, 2018 I set myself on what I thought would be the journey of a life time. The 2650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail stood before me. I had built a classic man vs nature saga in my mind and set forward on an adventure I hoped would heal and help me find direction. 18 days and 210 miles later the trail had won and I returned home.
I have always viewed this moment as a failure. I have often found myself wondering could I have just taken a week or two to heal and carried on. Was I too quick to throw the towel? Did I in fact loose both the physical and the mental challenge the trail had put before me. Although I have always viewed this as a failure, those I have told the story to have not shared the same belief. Perspective is an interesting thing.
Since returning home I have been planning my return, my second chance, my redemption hike. Due to many once in a lifetime world and personal events it has taken me 8 years to be here in San Diego. Once again at the precipice of thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.
There is so much that has changed in the last 8 years. It certainly isn’t lost on me, that unprecedented times we keep finding ourselves in bring a lot of unknown into our world and to the trail. But as much as things have changed I find myself feeling many of the same emotions I felt the last time I was in San Diego – self doubt, fear, excitement.
I am certainly in no better physical shape than the last time I walked on the PCT but somehow I do feel more prepared. My last PCT hike was my second backpacking trip and many things caught me completely of guard. Over the past 8 years I have hiked multiple times a year including the Patagonia “O” circuit, the 12 day Huayhuash trek, the Salkantay and Inca Trail, along wth countless more local hiking trips. Mentally I feel like I am more prepared for the “suck” the trail will spit at me along the way.
I’ve learned to pack lighter but not too light. For some hikers there is no such thing as too light but I have learned a few extra reasonable ounces makes for a better nights sleep and improved comfort amongst the cold. My current base weight (the total weight of all backpacking gear carried in a pack, excluding consumables, like food, water and fuel) for this trip is 17.5 pounds. In 2018 it was closer to 30. Add 4-5 days of food and desert stretches that require carrying up to 5 or 6 litres of water ones pack weight quickly adds up. “Ounces equal pounds, and pounds equal pain” or so they say. All told, I expect my pack to weigh approximately 37 pounds as I set off from the Souther Terminus.
For the past 6 years I have been paying into a self funded (sabbatical) leave verses in 2018 when I was on an unpaid leave of absence. This, and because of my incredible partner, means I should not have any financial stress along the journey. Nor less rush to change gears should unexpected incidents occur.
One thing I haven’t done is try to plan the entire hike. I am trying to concentrate more on the day and section before me and the challenges they will bring rather than the feeling of victory I may feel in 2650 miles.
With all that said – I have found myself recently wondering is this actually something I want to do? Or is this something I have just been telling myself I want to do for the last 8 years and can’t back down from. Is this self doubt creeping in or a truth I have never let myself know. I guess I will soon find out.
Over the past few days my fiancee and I have been in San Diego. This has given me time to sort through a few last minute trail logistics and spend some time with her exploring the world famous Zoo and Joshua Tree National Park (because I’m not about to hike enough figured I should do some more!).
I’m stressed. I’m excited and fearful but of what I’m not sure. The only thing I know right now is that I will not sleep well tonight. All very reminiscent of how I felt trying to sleep in Scout and Frodo’s back yard back in 2018 (Scout and Frodo are trail angles that used to host and drive PCT hikers to the terminus – over the years they hosted approximately 8000 hikers – they officially retired from PCT hosting in 2024).
I start my 2026 PCT NOBO (Northbound) thru hike on Sunday April 5 when my fiancee drops me off at the Southern Terminus.
Thank you to everyone who is or has supported me in this crazy adventure.
May the odds be ever in my favour!
Arriving in San Diego with all my stuff and thingsLook a Lion!Fortunately none of these out on the trail!Joshua Tree National Park is beautiful!Words to live life by!Awwwwww so cute it makes me want to…. Oh look a heart shape rock!
PCT day 11 – Mile 151.8 – Idyllwild
Start – PCT mile 151.8
End – PCT mile 166.6
Non PCT miles: 3.5
Total miles: 18.3
Last night just before going to bed I saw a mouse scurry away from my tent. Paranoid of a repeat of my West Coast Trail adventure where a mouse ate a hole in my tent I packed everything that smelled like food into my Ursack and placed just outside my tent. I had strange dreams that I awoke from several times and I checked the bag every time but it appears it either was left alone or did it’s job in preventing rodents from getting into my food.
I tried to sleep in a little hoping it would be a bit warmer but I was unsuccessful and it didn’t get any warmer anyways. The plan today was to hike about 15ish miles along the PCT to just before the Mountain Fire Closure. This closure has been in effect since the fire in 2013. The PCT is open till mile 168 then a 13 mile detour that brings you into Idyllwild.
Today is also the first time the trail goes over 7000ft. The weather forecast was calling for a 10% chance of snow and a high of 7 degrees. A few miles into my hike I ran into someone traveling south bound who told me it was not pretty along the ridges. Oh how right he was. 5 miles into my hike it started to snow and shortly there after the winds whipped up into a frenzy. One minute I would be walking in relative calm and turn a corner and it was like old man winter slapped me in the face… repeatedly… with a baseball bat.
The landscape along the ridges was errie. The way the ice and snow was smattered onto the trees made me wonder if “winter had come” and had me checking the area for white walkers. The wind howling, the clouds racing over the mountain passes causing a deafining silence when you turned a corner. Many of the areas I passed were burned in the 2013 Mountain Fire and the way the ice had been frozen to the burnt out trees made me think this is what hell would look like if it froze over.
As I walked head down covered trying to shield myself from the world of pain Mother Nature was sending my way missed my turn for the water source I was planning fill up. Now short on water I quicken my pace so that I could make it to the next source. Traveling along a ridge the wind knocked me off my feet and not to far from being tossed down a cliff. I did a quick check… no major injury, camera is fine, I still have a backpack. All seemed well until I went to stand and felt some pain in my left ankle. So now there I was at about 7000ft of elevation short on water and somewhat injured. I scoured my maps and found the quickest most downhill route that would bring me to the road where I could then hitch to Idyllwild.
Just as I reached Forbes Ranch Trail I ran into two older lady’s hiking southbound. They have been doing section hikes and I had ran into them once before at Mikes place. They asked about the conditions up the mountain and I advised them they would be best to stay here. They told me they had left some water just outside of there car should i be in need.
About a mile down Forbes ranch trail and just over 2 miles left to go Nature decided to start dumping hail onto me. There I was limping down the mountain being hailed on. I made my way to the road defeated and got ready to hitch into town. Either I was really lucky or looked extra pathetic because the first car that passed by stoped to give me a ride. The amazing woman who I will ever be in debt to Dawn picked me up and drove my tired, broken and bruised self into town.
I’m staying at a new hostel that has opened up in Idyllwild. The hotels are expensive but I’ll likely get one for the next day or two so I can give my body a chance to recover. The owner Chris and partner “Detour” seems like a very good guys. I’ve got a warm mattress on a floor to sleep on and a hot shower so that’s all that matters to me.
I met Scott here who is a Navy Vet who has been struggling with PTSD for many years. He is hiking to raise money for Mission 22 and has been dedicating sections of his hike to different soldiers who have committed suicide. He carries photos of them with him at all times. Check out his website and his story at https://scottsmission22-pct-journey.com.
PCT Day 11 – Mile 131.5 to Paradise valley cafe
Start: Mile 131.5
End: 151.8
Distance: 20.3
Non PCT miles: 1.4
Steps: 52970
Was up and packed in record time for me. Somehow it normally takes me an hour from the time I decide I’m getting up until I’m ready to hit the trail. Today I managed to make that 45 mins. Small victories I guess. The goal for today was to hike just over 20 miles to the Paradise Valley Cafe locates 0.7 Miles off the PCT. Why do a 20 mile day in what promises to be a good amount of elevation gain and loss… because at the is the promise of the best burger on the PCT. Thats pretty good motivation when your a thru-hiker. Pretty much all you think of is Food, water, walking and sleeping.
I was making good time this morning with the cool air and managed to get 9 miles in before 9 am even with the elevation gain. I leaped frogged several hikers all whom had the same goal in mind. There was some fantastic views as we started the day where you could see past the desert mountains into the true sandy desert. The ecosystem here is not really the desert it’s called chaparral because of the annual amount of precipitation that falls on average.
There were two reliable water caches on path today. These trail angles are truely something. They really save lives of countless hikers by ensuring the availability of water. The second cash is run by Mary the Trail angle. She has shaded tables, a pit toilet, a library, wa shower and even the ability to laundry in her Muir Woods. I had the opportunity to meet her when she stopped by to drop of some iced cold lemon aid and ice cold distilled water. She sat down and chatted about the Trail, mountain lions, the dear population and is truely a weath of knowledge on the area. Her desert oasis is really an amazing place to take a break.
From there the trial climbs significantly and the views of upcoming mountains have started to revile themselves and have been much needed distraction rocks and sand.
I made it to Paradise Valley Cafe at 17:30 and the majority of the crew were there. The burger was as good as I believed it would be and I’ve honestly never had better service at any other restaurant in my life. They fill up water bottle and even allow hikers to camp out back which several people elected to do so they can have breakfast there tomorrow. I On the other hand walked the 0.7 miles back to the trail where I am set up alone. I knew if I stayed the night there I wouldn’t leave until 10 or 11 at the earliest.
The goal now is Idyllwild by Friday. Hopefully early enough for me to edit photos and get my blog updated. Then bounce my computer ahead. If I don’t manage that all on Friday I’ll be stuck i town until the post office opens again on Monday. Which wouldn’t be the end of the world and I’m sure my body would greatly appreciate it.
