Start: PCT mile 94.4
End: Warner Springs (PCT 109.5)
Distance: 15.1
Non PCT miles: 1.4
Steps: 44372

I woke up early today and was packed up and hiking at first light. As the desert gets hotter I think I’ll be waking up even earlier and hiking until it get too hot before resting in the afternoon and resuming in the evening. This is a common strategy in the desert and the longer i spend in it I can see why. On the plus side you get to watch the sun rise as you start your day. The trick is finding shade (preferably with water) for the afternoon siesta.

The first real mile stone was today. I passed the 100 mile marker and I am very proud of myself for accomplishing this. There is a large part of the that seriously doubted my ability to get this far. As I was sitting there a group of 4 thru-hikers cams by and included me in there Trail naming “ceremony” for “Hauser Leforge”. It involves learning a quick song and we all surprised him as he turned the corner. It was funny… I swear. I got my obligatory 100 miles done photo and continued on.

The trail enters Barrel Springs which is the first water source since the third gate cache. The PCT water report says there are dead mice in the trough abut the spring that feeds the trough is clear. We all filtered and chemically treated the water. Fortunately i didn’t even have to use the water i took from there as I ended up having enough to Warner springs. Next the trail takes you through a beautiful meadow before arriving at eagle rock which is a rock that looks like an eagle. From then until Arriving in Warner springs the trail follows a creek and is forest area with lots of shade. Today I saw 4 people riding their horses on the PCT (the PCT is also an equestrian trail).

I spent most my day walking trying to sort out the next section Ahed to Idillywd and signing the songs that are stuck in my head at nauseam.

The folks at the Warner springs community Centre really go out out. There’s camping, bucket showers, bucket laundry, 24 hr washroom, an a small resupply store. It really is amazing the see these small communities come together to help us hiker trash. Most people are stuck here for the night until the post office opens so we can get out ressuply boxes. I’m hoping to add a few things into my bounce box to help reduce some of the weight in carrying but realistically it won’t be much.

Start: Scissors Crossing (77.1)
End: PCT mile 94.4
Non PCT miles: 0.6
Totalmileage : 17.9
Steps: 45733

Considering I slept under a bridge last night I got a pretty decent sleep. I tossed in some ear plugs and was sound asleep shortly after catching up on yesterday’s blog. I then woke up at some stupid hour and had to use the washroom. It really is a giant pain in the ass to get up in the middle of the night which camping to use the facilities. I’m told some people just use Gatorade bottles for this purpose… but I’m not there yet.

The majority of the day was spent walking uphill to the third gate water cache.  The general rule of thumb is that a hiker should never rely on a water cache actually having water when they arrive. They are filled by amazing volunteers who I can’t thank enough. The “third gate cache” is really well stocked and can almost definitely be relied on. Or at least that is what I was told in town. On my was there I was passed by an interesting hiker named “Nemo” who averages 30-40 miles per day. I bid him farewell as it’s likely I’ll never see him again to which he replied “it’s a big Trail in a small world.”

I got to the water cache at approx 1pm and took a long break in the shade with several hikers to wait out some of the heat. It was 26 degrees C with no cloud cover and no wind. I’m really going to have to start waking up even earlier to get more miles done while it is still cool outside. Finished the day at a campsite on PTC Mile 94.4 that overlooks the valley below and an amazing sunset that followed.

To add to my list of gear I’ve broken I managed to blow the crotch out of my pants today… I made a sad pathetic attempt to sew them back together but I doubt it will last long. If it ain’t one thing it seems it’s another.

Just about to go to bed and the wind seems to be picking up… fingers crossed it doesn’t get too crazy.

PCT day 6
Start: PCT mile 63.6
End: Scissors Crossing (PCT mile 77.1)
Miles: 13.5
Steps: 39451

Dispite the howling of the wind last night and the sand and dirt it thrusted into my tent I slept like a rock tossed to the bottom of the sea. I only woke up once sometime after midnight and only long enough to notice the wind had stopped. Not only had it stopped blowing violently but there was absolutely no wind at all. It was enough to make me wonder had a tree fallen on me and killed me in my sleep. The night was also cold and I woke up with condensation frozen to my tent. But I managed to stay happily warm inside my tent all night.  But just as I was falling asleep i noticed a small hole just above my tent. Too tired to deal with it last night I decided to take care of it the next day. So far I’ve broken; 1 trekking pole strap, one water filter and one tent.

The morning hike was good and included seeing some jets flying low in the mountains. There is a military fighter pilot training base nearby I’m told. Most of the morning I spent leap frogging with 4 other hikers. They were faster than me but took more breaks. Each time I would pass them I’d say “slow and steady wins the race”. That said I have been traveling too fast myself the last two days and my body is letting me know that some pain in the left knee. The only break in took yesterday was a 30 min lunch and today I didn’t take any until I arrived in Julian. .

I got to Scissors Crossing and set about to hitch hike to the town of Julian which is about 13 miles away. I have never hitched a ride before but fortunately I didn’t have to wait long until “Professor” a local trail angle stopped and picked me and two other hikers up.

After a short drive he dropped us of in front of Carmans restaurant. This is a must stop on the PCT… or was as she has sold her store to new owners. Your greeted with a free beer, place to do laundry, recharge your batteries and they will even let thru hikers sleep on the floor after they close. How amazing is that! Even better I managed to catch up to everyone who left while I took my zero day in Mount Laguna and they were all here eating lunch. I ate an amazing burger and caught up with everyone about the last two days. Next up it was to Mom’s bakery for a free slice of pie. Yes you read that right… in Julian not only do you get a free beer but also a free slice of pie and not just any pie but a decicious slice of heaven topped the way you want. I suppose there are some benefits of Thru Hiking.

I also am now the proud owner of a brand new water filter. I had ordered it to the Julian Hotel which no longer accepts hiker packages… but I called them and explained my mistake and they said they would hold onto it for me. When I arrived they told me they had not received it but that it might be at the post office. A quick trip down the road and it was in my hand. Now I know you can ship via amazon general delivery to post offices. For some reason I didn’t think you could.

I left town around 5 and got a ride from an interesting man back to scissors crossing where I set up my tent under a bridge. Here I am sleeping under a bridge with a few new friends… what a strange world this is.

PCT Day 5
Start: Mount Laguna – mile 42.7
End: PCT Mile 63.6
Distance: 20.9 miles (33.6 km)
Steps: 52622
Weather: clear skies, 7 degrees, high sustained winds of 35mph with gusts as high as 65-70mph

I slept really well last night safe from the wind inside the Mount Laguna Lodge and woke up ready to tackle the day. The goal was to hike approx 20 miles to a camp site that would put me in good position to make it to Julian on Friday. I left the safety of my comfy room at the  at 6:30 am into the cold windy air. There is a currently a wind advisory in effect for much of the Southern California mountains which happens to be where I presently am. The weather forecast is for sustained winds around 35-40 mph and gusts as high as 65 mph. So I was basically trying to walk a ridiculous distance, with a 45 lbs pack, whist Mother Nature laughed at me and tossed me around like a plastic bag. You know those weather reports they do when hurricanes are about to land… and they’ve got that poor reporter standing by the ocean trying to tell you just how windy it is. Well that was me.. except on ridge tops and cliffs instead of the ocean in the background.

I won’t lie… it was fun and entertaining for the first few hours but after that it got really exhausting.

The scenery was beautiful with the mountains in the distance as I walked alone listening to music all day. At one point I was so completely blown away by the beauty before me I had to tell someone. Fortunately I had cell service at that exact time.

I ate lunch at the pioneer mail picnic area which consisted of summer sausage and string cheese in a tortilla. I started to look for a place to set up camp around 4. I was beginning to gett tired and concerned that the wind would make any attempt to set up camp impossible. Finally at around 5pm I started a long down hill section and the winds got a bit less intense. At the bottom of the hill I found 5 people getting ready to set up camp and plenty more space. The wind is still hallowing so tonight I get to learn two things

1. will my tent hold up in strong winds
2. How will my sleep system perform at near freezing weather

I can unfortunately already tell you my tent is good at letting blowing dirt in. Everything is coated in dirt. So as the hiker trash I am now I lay me down to sleep in a bed of sand and dirt hoping for Mother Nature to be kinder tomorrow.

Fortunately the winds are suppose to die down overnight.

So I’m Hiking the PCT

I’m scared. I’m not exactly of what but sure but I feel fear now like I’ve never felt before in my life. At the moment I’m sitting on a plane flying thousands of kilometres away from my life, everyone and everything i know to begin an adventure that will take me 4200 Kms by foot. I’m afraid of failing, even though I’m not sure I know precisely what success would be. I’m afraid I’ve already failed myself by squandering my chance to better prepare. I’m afraid of what I’ll learn and what I’ll find walking, alone over the next few months. I’ve never doubted myself like this before.

At the same time none of this feels real. I still feel like I’ll wake up in my bed tomorrow. Next to my girlfriend and my dog begging me for breakfast. I’ll shower, put on my uniform and look proudly at myself in the mirror… my whole life now placed on pause or carrying on without me while I’ll be out here… walking.

Welcome to my PCT blog. I promise it won’t be as depressing as the last paragraph but i won’t promise that it won’t include some occasional TMI. God only knows what my unoccupied mind will come up with left alone without technology or humanity to occupy its time.

On Sunday April 8th, 2018 I will be dropped of at the Mexican Border and I will walk north. Should I traverse the 4200 kms of the PCT I will arrive at Manning provincial park sometime in September. I have been preparing for this journey for the last 2 years. I’ve spent entirely too much time reading gear reviews, trail reports, blogs, vlogs and anything else PCT related I could get my hands on. I’m excited to start this journey and experience what ever adventure may come.

I hope you enjoy reading about me living another day in paradise.