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!
