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.
I was unexpectedly woken up by the sounds of a lady screaming in the middle of the night. I opened my tent and didn’t see anything unusual just the sounds of screaming. It sounded like it was someone having bad nightmare or night terror. For a moment I thought Becky was sleeping beside me as it’s semi common that this happens to her. It seems like there are a lot of people out here walking the PCT to forget the traumas they have endured. It certainly provides more than enough time to dive deep into ones mind and get lost there for a while you try to arrange a few things in a manner more suited to oneself.
Today’s hike was a lot of up and down which funny enough is one of the hallmarks of the Trail. The other is that I’m fairly confident it’s just a large mosh of semi circles. That way your truely not actually getting anywhere.
For most of my journey so far I’m travelled with the same group of people. They are all faster than I am but I keep catching up. It’s an international crew with some Europeans, a few Americans, 2 British, 2 Canadians and a Scottish. It’s been nice to get to know these people but it looks like over the next few days we will drift apart. But you never do know who you will meet around the next corner.
Our lunch break today was at Trail Angels Mike House. He wasn’t home but we managed to get water. Often it’s possible to get pizza and a cold beer if you happen to time your visit right. I was just thankful for the water. I will say he has a very interesting eclectic place that you should definitely drop by if your hiking the PCT. Later I was told I did in fact miss a good party that night.
I got my first view of Mount San Jacinto today. At just over 10000 feet of elevation that is going to be an exciting and exhausting day. For now I’m camped at mile 131.5 hoping to make it to idllywild on Saturday.
PCT day 9 – Warner Springs to Mile 115
Start – Warner Springs Community Centre (PCT mile 109.5)
End – 115
Distance: 5.5 miles
Non PCT miles: 1.4
Steps: 22951
I slept incredibly well last night. I’m not sure the exhaustion that’s finally catching up to me or the fact I was sleeping on level really soft ground. But what ever it was I am truely thankful for it. I even slept in… until 6am. I wasted a few hours waiting for the resource Centre to open so I could start on my list of things to do before heading off for a “Nero”. A Nero is a day when a low mileage is walked… some say under 8 miles others say under 10 miles. The purpose of a Nero from what I can tell is just to get you out of town so that you don’t spend the next day there trapped in a vortex.
I ate a delicious breakfast at the Warner Springs golf club and got my bounce box from the post office. I quickly backup my photos and sent it forward to Idyllwild… which might prove to be problematic as they are closed on Sunday and Saturday. This might result in me taking a double zero day in town. I might have to come up with a better strategy for editing and backing up my photos.
I slowly packed up the food I’ll think I’ll need for the next 4-5 day hike to Idyllwild and places the rest in the hiker box. Deciding how much food you need on Trail is difficult math. The more you think you’ll eat the more weight you’ll carry. Don’t bring enough you will have to go without. Getting the math right requires experience that I’m slowly acquiring.
I returned to the trail and back into Warner Springs Meadow which is incredibly beautiful I passed some cows lying in the shade before resuming the ever popular ups and downs and arounds that is the PCT. if you want to know which way the PCT goes just look for the longest possible distance between two points and that will be it. The trail passed through a campground that had a really creepy vibe to it. There was a cooler on the ground next to a table… usually this means trail magic. This cooler however was old and looked like it had been sitting there for a long while. I cautiously opened it with my trekking pole to find it full of garbage.
Made camp early after a 5.5 mile hike next to a creek and have the sound of water nearby so long as it’s not being drowned out by the wind. There is a large group of us here camping today with good conversation and a horse head mask. We could really use an upgrade on the food beer selection tho. It’s going to be cool tomorrow so my intention is to sleep in a little because my sleeping bag is warm. I’m currently wrapped in my tent wearing almost every article of clothing I have with me.
The strange things that happen on the Pacific Crest Trail
