PAcific Crest Trail 2026
Pacific Crest Trail 2026 - Redemption Hike
In 2018, my Pacific Crest Trail journey ended just 200 miles in. Injury forced me off trail long before I was ready, and ever since then, getting back has been in the back of my mind.
In 2026, I’m returning for my redemption hike.
The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a 2,650-mile (4,265 km) trek from Mexico to Canada, running through California, Oregon, and Washington. Along the way, it crosses deserts, climbs high alpine passes, winds through dense forests, and traverses some of the most remote wilderness in North America. In total, hikers gain and lose roughly 480,000 feet of elevation — the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest multiple times.
It’s not just the distance that makes the PCT challenging. It’s the heat, the snow, the isolation, the logistics — and the mental grind of showing up day after day. Every year, thousands start the trail, but far fewer make it all the way to Canada.
Eight years later, I’m heading back to see how far I can go.
Follow along as I take on the PCT once again. Sign up below to get email notifications whenever a new blog post goes live.
BLOG POSTS
PCT Day 45-47 – Double Zero Ridgecrest (653.2) to PCT mile 669.9
PCT Day 45-47 - Double Zero Ridgecrest (653.2) to PCT mile 669.9 May 19-21, 2026 Total PCT miles: 16.7 Non PCT miles: 0.0 Total: 16.7 miles / 26.9 km Total elevation gain: 3576 ft Total elevation loss: 3698 ft Steps: 40042 There isn’t much to do or see in Ridgecrest...
PCT Day 44 – PCT Mile 637.3 to Ridgecrest (653.2)
PCT Day 44 - PCT Mile 637.3 to Ridgecrest (653.2) May 18, 2026 Total PCT miles: 15.9 Non PCT miles: 0.0 Total: 15.9 miles / 25.6 km Total elevation gain: 2047 ft Total elevation loss: 3263 ft Steps: 48071 I woke up this morning tired and sore but no where near as sore...
PCT Day 43 – PCT Mile 610.1 to Mile 637.3
PCT Day 43 - PCT Mile 610.1 to Mile 637.3 May 17, 2026 Total PCT miles: 27.2 Non PCT miles: 0.0 Total: 27.2 miles / 43.8 km Total elevation gain: 5318 ft Total elevation loss: 5448 ft Steps: 63402 Today was certainly a day out here on the Pacific Crest Trail. It...
PCT Day 42 – PCT mile 587.5 to Landers Meadow Camp (Mile 610.1)
PCT Day 42 - PCT mile 587.5 to Landers Meadow Camp (Mile 610.1) May 16, 2026 Total PCT miles: 22.6 Non PCT miles: 0.6 Total: 23.4 miles / 37.7 km Total elevation gain: 5699 ft Total elevation loss: 4190 ft Steps: 52973 The new air mattress is amazing. Not waking up in...
PCT Day 40 & 41 – Zero day in Tehachapi (566.6) to PCT mile 587.5
PCT Day 40 & 41 - Zero day in Tehachapi (566.6) to PCT mile 587.5 May 14 & 15, 2026 Total PCT miles: 20.9 Non PCT miles: 0.0 Total: 20.9 miles / 33.6 km Total elevation gain: 5640 ft Total elevation loss: 4764 ft Steps: 48574 May 14 - Zero day Hiker gear...
PCT Day 39 – PCT mile 541.6 to Tehachapi (566.6)
PCT Day 39 - PCT mile 541.6 to Tehachapi (566.6) May 13, 2026 Total PCT miles: 25.0 Non PCT miles: 0.0 Total: 25.0 miles / 40.2 km Total elevation gain: 5253 ft Total elevation loss: 6211 ft Steps: 58352 I’m sure you the reader will see a theme here and you will...
PCT Day 38 – PCT mile 529.3 to mile 541.6
PCT Day 38 - PCT mile 529.3 to mile 541.6 May 12, 2026 Total PCT miles: 12.3 Non PCT miles: 0.0 Total: 12.3 miles / 19.8 km Total elevation gain: 2667 ft Total elevation loss: 919 ft Steps: 29060 The desert section of the PCT really knows how to give you a one two...
PCT Day 37 – PCT mile 510.9 to mile 529.3 via Hikertown and LA Aqueduct
PCT Day 37 - PCT mile 510.9 to mile 529.3 via Hikertown and LA Aqueduct May 11, 2026 Total PCT miles: 18.4 Non PCT miles: 0.0 Total: 18.4 miles / 29.6 km Total elevation gain: 1654 ft Total elevation loss: 2589 ft Steps: 46456 Today was just wild and full of iconic...
PCT Day 36 – PCT mile 498.3 to mile 510.9
PCT Day 36 - PCT mile 498.3 to mile 510.9 May 10, 2026 Total PCT miles: 12.7 Non PCT miles: 0.2 Total: 12.9 miles / 20.8 km Total elevation gain: 2152 ft Total elevation loss: 3517 ft Steps: 32470 Walking up to a semi inflated air mattress is not my or anyone’s idea...
PCT Day 35 – PCT mile 478.3 to Sawmill Camp (mile 498.2)
Juan and Jessica gave me a delicious dinner at sawmill camp PCT Day 34 - PCT mile 478.3 to Sawmill Camp (mile 498.2) May 9, 2026 Total PCT miles: 19.9 Non PCT miles: 0.3 Total: 20.2 miles / 32.5 km Total elevation gain: 4226 ft Total elevation loss: 2418 ft Steps:...
PCT Day 34 – PCT mile 458.5 to mile 478.3 (Green Valley Fire Station)
PCT Day 34 - PCT mile 458.5 to mile 478.3 (Green Valley Fire Station) May 8, 2026 Total PCT miles: 19.8 (Nero) Non PCT miles: 0.2 Total: 20 miles / 31.9 km Total elevation gain: 4019 ft Total elevation loss: 3573 ft Steps: 47133 It was an unreasonably early start to...
PCT Day 33 -Serenity Oasis (454.7) to mile 458.5
PCT Day 33 -Serenity Oasis (454.7) to mile 458.5 May 7, 2026 Total PCT miles: 3.8 (Nero) Non PCT miles: 0 Total: 3.8 miles / 6.1 km Total elevation gain: 2569 ft Total elevation loss: 2733 ft Steps: 17081 Even after a giant town meal, a shower and donning clean...
PCT Day 32 – PCT mile 440.2 to mile 454.7
I think I’m cool! PCT Day 32 - PCT mile 440.2 to mile 454.7 May 6, 2026 Total PCT miles: 14.5 Non PCT miles: 0.6 Total: 15.1 miles / 24.3 km Total elevation gain: 2569 ft Total elevation loss: 2733 ft Steps: 38920 It was a warm but damp night resulting in a cool...
PCT Day 31 – PCT mile 420.8 to mile 440.2
PCT Day 31 - PCT mile 420.8 to mile 440.2 May 5, 2026 Total PCT miles: 19.4 Non PCT miles: 0 Total: 19.4 miles / 31.2 km Total elevation gain: 2723 ft Total elevation loss: 5719 ft Steps: 44720 Everything is damp or wet. It rained a lot last night considering the...
PCT Day 30 – PCT mile 404.3 to mile 420.8
PCT Day 30 - PCT mile 404.3 to mile 420.8 May 4, 2026 Total PCT miles: 16.5 Non PCT miles: 0.75 Total: 17.25 miles / 27.8 km Total elevation gain: 3241 ft Total elevation loss: 3507 ft Steps: 38549 May the 4th be with you! I awoke this morning after one of the better...
PCT Day 29 – PCT mile 383.9 to 404.3 via Alternate Route
PCT Day 29 - PCT mile 383.9 to 404.3 via Alternate Route May 3, 2026 Total PCT miles: ???? Non PCT miles: ???? Total: 18.2 miles / 29.3 km Total elevation gain: 2828 ft Total elevation loss: 4429 ft Steps: 39796 Woke up this morning with a beautiful view. In the far...
PCT Day 27 & 28 – Zero in Wrightwood to PCT mile 383.9
PCT Day 27 & 28 - Zero in Wrightwood to PCT mile 383.9 May 1 & 2, 2026 Total PCT miles: 14.6 Non PCT miles: 0.8 Total: 15.4 miles / 24.78 km Total elevation gain: 4419 ft Total elevation loss: 4213 ft Steps: 38501 May 1st - Zero Day in Wrightwood. Nothing...
PCT Day 26 – PCT mile 358.6 to Wrightwood.
PCT Day 26 - PCT mile 358.6 to Wrightwood. April 30, 2025 Total PCT miles: 10.8 Non PCT miles: 0 Total: 10.8 miles / 17.38 km Total elevation gain: 2687 ft Total elevation loss: 2251 ft Steps: 30241 I had a surprisingly not great sleep considering how absolutely...
PCT Day 25 – PCT mile 343.6 to Mile 358.6
PCT Day 25 - PCT mile 343.6 to Mile 358.6 April 29, 2026 Total PCT miles: 15 Non PCT miles: 0 Total: 15.0 miles / 24.1 km Total elevation gain: 4534 ft Total elevation loss: 676 ft Steps: 33721 Kia Ora! Hello in Maori! Today was a slog. Woke up with a significant...
PCT Day 24 – Silverwood Lake Campground to PCT mile 343.6
PCT Day 24 - Silverwood Lake Campground to PCT mile 343.6 April 28, 2025 Total PCT miles: 14.8 Non PCT miles: 1.7 Total: 16.5 miles / 26.6 km Total elevation gain: 2257 ft Total elevation loss: 2677 ft Steps: 37507 Woke up this morning to a significant amount of...
PCT Day 23 – PCT Mile 313.4 to Silverwood Lake Campground
PCT Day 23 - PCT Mile 313.4 to Silverwood Lake Campground April 26, 2025 Total PCT miles: 15.4 Non PCT miles: 1 Total: 16.4 miles / 26.4 km Total elevation gain: 2631 Total elevation loss: 2156 Steps: 39228 I thought I slept well last night but I must not have because...
PCT Day 22 – PCT Mile 292.4 to Mile 313.4
PCT Day 22 - PCT Mile 292.4 to Mile 313.4 April 26, 2025 Total PCT miles: 21.0 Non PCT miles: 0 Total: 21 miles / 33.8 km Total elevation gain: 2792 Total elevation loss: 5269 Steps: 48676 It was a cold rainy night but I stayed warm and dry enough for the most part....
PCT Day 21 – PCT Mile 275 to Mile 292.4
PCT Day 21 - PCT Mile 275 to Mile 292.4 April 25, 2025 Total PCT miles: 17.4 Non PCT miles: 0 Total: 17.4 miles / 28 km Total elevation gain: 1673 Total elevation loss: 3432 Steps: 40176 It was a cold start to the morning but I don’t think it actually got below...
PCT Day 20 – Banning to Big Bear (266.1) to PCT Mile 275
Back on trail just outside Big Bear PCT Day 20 - Banning to Big Bear (266.1) to PCT Mile 275 April 24, 2025 Total PCT miles: 8.9 Non PCT miles: 0 Total: 8.9 miles / 14.3 km Total elevation gain: 1378 Total elevation loss: 961 Steps: 26573 I slept well enough last...
PCT Day 15 to 19 – Injury time.
Group of thru-hikers at Nitzy’s Reset Ranch on my last night there. PCT Day 15 to 19 - Injury time. April 19 - 23, 2025 Total PCT miles: 0 Non PCT miles: 0 Total: 0 miles / 0 km Total elevation gain: 0 Total elevation loss: 0 Steps: 0 It don’t look good…. I woke up...
PCT Day 14 – PCT Mile 190.5 to Mile 211.6
Crossing the 200 mile marker PCT Day 14 - PCT Mile 190.5 to Mile 211.6 April 18, 2025 Total PCT miles: 21.6 Non PCT miles: 0 Total: 21.6 miles / 34.7 km Total elevation gain: 1171 Total elevation loss: 7164 Steps: 51193 Today was a long day. I had forgotten how...
PCT Day 12 & 13 -Idyllwild to mile 190.5
PCT Day 12 & 13 -Idyllwild to mile 190.5 April 16-17, 2025 Total PCT miles: 11.1 Non PCT miles: 2.5 Total: 13.6 miles / 21.8 km Total elevation gain: 4675 Steps: 38405 Zero day in Idyllwild Zero days are glorious and after 11 days of hiking with no rest this one...
PCT Day 11 – PCT Mile 166.6 to Idyllwild
PCT Day 11 - PCT Mile 166.6 to Idyllwild April 15, 2025 Total PCT miles: 12.8 Non PCT miles: 3 Total: 15.8 miles / 25.4 km Total elevation gain: 4403 Steps: 39940 Today is a good day because it’s a town day. But first I must embrace the suck that are the mountains...
PCT Day 10 – PCT Mile 150.0 to Mile 166.5
PCT Day 10 - PCT Mile 150.0 to Mile 166.5 April 14, 2025 Total PCT miles: 16.5 Non PCT miles: 2.4 Total: 18.9 miles / 30.4 km Total elevation gain: 4150 Steps: 45247 It was exceptionally cold out this morning. It must have rained a little more last night because my...
PCT Day 9 – PCT Mile 136.7 to Mile 150.0
PCT Day 9 - PCT Mile 136.7 to Mile 150.0 April 13, 2025 Total PCT miles: 13.3 Non PCT miles: 2 Total: 15.3 miles / 21.4 km Total elevation gain: 3058 Steps: 34783 Everything hurts when your thruhiking. Every part of your body aches even parts you’ve never felt pain in...
PCT Day 8 – PCT Mile 115.0 to Mile 136.7
PCT Day 8 - PCT Mile 115.0 to Mile 136.7 Rain in the desert. April 12, 2025 Total PCT miles: 21.7 Non PCT miles: 0.3 Total: 22 miles / 35.3 km Total elevation gain: 4229 Steps: 50489 Today was the first time I have had the esteemed pleasure of suffering through rain...
PCT Day 7 – PCT Mile 104.9 to Mile 115.0
PCT Day 7 - PCT Mile 104.9 to Mile 115.0 Judy is a Saint. April 11, 2025 Total PCT miles: 10.1 Non PCT miles: 3 Total: 13.1 miles / 21.8 km Total elevation gain: 1732 Steps: 31959 Today’s plan called for less mileage, a resupply and some town food. A pretty solid...
PCT Day 6 – PCT Mile 84.7 to Mile 104.9
Crossing the 100 mile marker! April 10, 2026 Total PCT miles: 20.2 Non PCT miles: 0.6 Total: 20.8 miles / 33.4 km Total elevation gain: 2812 Steps: 46623 I camped alone last night and I finally got a decent night sleep which was great. I won’t lie today was a tough...
PCT Day 5 – PCT Mile 63.7 to Mile 84.7
PCT Day 5 - PCT Mile 63.7 to Mile 84.7 April 9, 2026 Start mileage: 63.7 End mileage: 84.7 Non PCT miles: 0 Total: 21 miles / 38.6 km Total elevation gain: 3491 Steps: 50595 The sound of air being let out of the mattress marks when a thruhiker has committed to getting...
PCT Day 4 – Laguna Camp Ground to PCT Mile 63.7
PCT Day 4 - Laguna Camp Ground to PCT Mile 63.7 April 8, 2026 Start mileage: 47.5 End mileage: 63.7 Non PCT miles: 1.7 Total: 17.9 miles / 28.8 km Total elevation gain: 1942 Steps: 41959 Turns out my tent was slanted way past any reasonable level of comfort last...
PCT Day 3 – Boulder Oaks Camp Ground to Laguna Campground
PCT Day 3 - Boulder Oaks Camp Ground to Laguna campground Early bird gets the town food. Start mileage: 25.0 End mileage: 47.5 Non PCT miles: 0.7 Total: 22.2 miles / 35.7 km Total elevation gain: 4504 Steps: 52651 Hiking before the sunrise! I was up bright and early...
PCT Day 2 – Hauser to Boulder Oaks Camp Ground (mile 26)
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...
PCT Day 1 – Southern Terminus to Hauser (15.4)
The only path forward is forward, Start mileage: 0 End mileage: 15.4 Non PCT miles: 0.6 Total: 16 miles / 25.75 kms 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...
2026 – Pacific Crest Trail – Redemption Hike
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...
