PAcific Crest Trail
About the Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a 2650 mile (4263 km) trail that spans from the Mexican border to the Canadian border. The PCT traverses 5 national monuments, five state park units, six national parks, seven Bureau of Land Management field offices, 25 national forests and 48 federal wilderness areas. A successful thru-hiker will climb just over 480 thousand feet (the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest 15 times) as they cross over its 57 major mountain passes. The PCT is physically and mentally challenging trail with only 20-30% of thru-hikers successfully making it to the end.
Follow along with me as I attempt to thru-hike the PCT starting on April 8th, 2018. Sign up below and receive email notifications of new blog posts.
BLOG POSTS
Pacific Crest Trail – 1 Year Later
PCT - 1 year later One year ago today on April 8th, 2018 I set about to walk the 2650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. 18 days, 210 miles and 561731 steps later, I would be on my way into Palm Springs having ultimately failed due to injury in completing my journey....
PCT Day 12 – Mile 151.8 to Idyllwild
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...
PCT Day 11 -Mile 131.5 to Paradise valley cafe
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...
PCT day 10 – Mile 115 to Mile 131.5
PCT day 10 - Mile 115 to Mile 131.5 Start: PCT mile 115 End: PCT mile 131 Distance: 16.5 Steps: 41406 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...
PCT day 9 – Warner Springs to Mile 115
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...
PCT Day 8 – Mile 94.4 to Warner Springs
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...
PCT Day 7 – Scissors Crossing to PCT mile 94.4
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...
PCT Day 6 – Mile 63.6 to Scissors Crossing
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...
PCT day 5 – Mount Laguna to Mile 63.6
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...
PCT Day 4 – Zero Day in Mount Laguna
PCT Day 4 - Zero Day in Mount Laguna I had originally planned to take a zero day in Mount Laguna. A zero day is a day in which you hike no miles and typically rest or take care of town chores. This was to help give my body a chance to adjust to the torment I am now...
Day 3 – Cribbets Creek Campground to Mount Laguna
Start: Cribbets Creek Campground - PCT mile 32.6 End: Mount Laguna - PCT mile 42.7 Distance: 10.1 miles Steps: 26422 Weather: 27 Celsius sunny I slept well last night even though in the dark I set my tent up on a strange angle. It was nice to fall sleep listening to...
Day 2 – Hauser Creek – Cribbets Flat Campground
Start: Mike 15.4 Hauser Creek) End: Mile 32.6 Distance:17.2 miles (27.68) Steps: 38392 Weather: sunny 26 degrees Celsius It has been a long hard and hot day. I was awoken twice last night by border officers on patrol with there ATVS (at least that what I think they...
Day 1 – Southern Terminus to Mile 15.4
Start: Southern Terminus End: Mile 15.4 (Hauser Creek) Distance: 15.4 miles (24.77kms) Steps: 38392 Weather: sunny 26 degrees Celsius. I did not sleep well last night at Scout and Frodo's place even though I was definitely tired. Anticipation for the journey to begin...
4 Days in San Diego
I've been in Sunny San Diego for the past 4 days mostly sightseeing but also getting all the last minute things to do checked off my list. My flight to San Diego was on points (Ottawa to Boston - Boston to Washington - Washington to San Diego). It was a long day but...
So I’m Hiking the PCT
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...
