PCT Day 80 – Wilma Lake (988.1) to PCT mile 1007.1

June 23, 2026

Total PCT miles: 19.0

Non PCT miles: 0

Total: 18.4 miles / 30.6 km

Total elevation gain: 3461 ft

Total elevation loss: 2336 ft

Steps: 41967

After yesterday’s series of torturous ups and downs today seemed like a walk in the park! From camp the trail gained elevation gradually while following Falls Creek and even had significant flat portions. We must be getting towards the end of the Sierra section!

Today is our last day in Yosemite and it ended somewhat like it started with a long beautiful meadow. Fortunately there would be no “Golden Staircase” today! We made really good time up to Dorothy Lake almost completing 10 miles before 10! I was really tempted to go for a swim here but instead we just took a long break in the shade. Another mile and we reached Dorothy Lake Pass officially exiting Yosemite National Park and entering the Hoover Wilderness Area.

The difference was almost immediate. The winds picked up, there were suddenly no mosquitoes and I even found a rock overlooking the valley below with cell reception! Gone were the jagged peaks and granite ridges, replaced with more rounded mountains. Still technically in the Sierras just the beginning of its foothills minus the big climb tomorrow.

Then it happened! After 80 days I finally made it to the 1000 mile marker of the Pacific Crest Trail!

Five hundred miles ago, I stood alone at the 500-mile marker just after sunrise, listening to I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers. I danced my way into that milestone.

Today, I smiled as I played the same song again.

After all… if I can walk 500 miles, then I can walk 500 more.

It’s hard to put into words what 1000 really means. One thousand miles isn’t just a statistic, it’s 2.4 million footsteps, countless climbs, dusty mornings, freezing nights, sore muscles, spectacular sunrises, and memories that will stay with me long after this journey is over.

Looking back, it’s incredible to think about everything that’s happened since leaving Campo. I crossed the desert, battled relentless heat, rolled my ankle early in the hike, questioned whether I’d even make it to the Sierra, and then found myself standing on top of some of the highest and most breathtaking passes on the entire trail.

The Sierra challenged me in every way imaginable. It demanded patience, respect, and perseverance. There were days when every mile felt earned, but walking out of those mountains gave me a confidence I didn’t have when I walked in.

This trail has also taught me that progress isn’t always measured by how many miles you hike in a day. Sometimes progress is simply getting up, packing your backpack, and taking the next step, even when you’re tired, uncomfortable, or wondering why you signed up for this in the first place.

Reaching 1,000 miles feels like more than just a milestone. It feels like a reminder that impossible goals are rarely accomplished in giant leaps. They’re achieved one step, one day, and one mile at a time.

There are still many miles between here and Canada, and I know there will be more challenges ahead. But today I’m taking a moment to appreciate how far I’ve come. The person who crossed the Mexican border on April 5 isn’t quite the same person standing here today.

Here’s to the next thousand miles, the friends still to meet, the mountains still to climb, and the adventure that continues just beyond the next bend in the trail.

We continued along the rest of the day taking a long break after the “damaged and closed bridge I definitely did not cross”. We were joined briefly by another Canadian hiker Patrick for the next mile when he stopped to camp for the night.

We have an early start tomorrow to go over Sonora Pass which apparently still has some significant snow on it. It’s 11 miles to Hwy 108 where we will go to Kennedy Meadows North or the town of Pinecrest and finally have a shower I desperately need!