STORIES FROM A FIRST ATTEMPT
In 2024, I attempted a solo thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. This three month journey took me through some incredible places and left me with all kinds of stories. It was my goal from the beginning to journal at the end of each day on trail… now, I get to share it with you.
MY FIRST PCT MILES
MARCH 20 ⎸ DAY 1 ⎸ Mile 11.4
Walking up to the Southern Terminus felt incredibly familiar. I had spent months staring at photos and imagining myself standing in that exact place. It was as if I had turned on another documentary - except this one happened to be about my journey. There are no words to describe how surreal it feels to step foot on a trail that you had planned, for months, to get to. I would be lying if I said today wasn’t a hard day. Not necessarily the physical aspect (though my feet may say otherwise), but mentally. I felt a great sense of overwhelm stepping foot into an environment completely unknown to me. And on top of it all, I am completely alone. There is no one else who can push me forward when things get hard.
My first few miles came relatively easy. I was still riding the high of actually being on the PCT - every sign I passed reignited the excitement. I felt as if I was making good progress, and then the map would remind me that I had only moved half a mile… what’s up with miles being so long?! I am writing this from camp 18km from the boarder.
The heat in the Southern California desert is no joke (until it decided to rain). And yes, I am saying that in the middle of March. It can only get hotter. We just don’t get this kind of heat on Vancouver Island.
The first day on trail is packed with hikers. Every single person who started from the Southern Terminus this morning were part of one big moving mass. I passed, and got passed, by the same people all day - including some boarder patrol officers who were out for a stroll. The thru-hiking community is already incredibly welcoming and I have experienced bits of “tail magic” before even stepping foot on trail. I can already see the beginnings of trail families forming… I'm still yet to find mine.
The deserts rolling hills stretch on forever. The entire landscape is covered in green with huge rock formations - one of the perks of starting early in the year is you get to see some green. And then, you look down at your feet and the ground is covered in tiny lizards sunning themselves on the sides of the trail. I even got to see my first rattlesnake. It didn’t stick around for long (which I wasn’t too upset about). I had just finished being told that it was too early in the season for the rattlesnakes to be out. But sure enough, within the first five miles there was one in the middle of the trail.
All of this still feels like a dream that I’m trying my best to remember every part of. As time goes on things will only get easier. But for now, it’s the magic of the new things that is keeping me going. Only 2,650 miles until Canada…
CLIMBING OUT OF HAUSER
MARCH 21 ⎸ DAY 2 ⎸ Mile 20
My first night on the PCT is done. That’s crazy! I am still getting used to my tent (no, I had not spent a night in it yet), so it was set up on a slight angle. Other than the occasional slide off of my sleeping pad I couldn’t have slept any better. So far, it seems like I am going to have a pretty okay home for the next five months.
My morning went by incredibly quickly. I finished five miles before 9:00 this morning in order to get to the top of the Hauser Creek climb before the sun was at its highest… not that it made much of a difference. There was a slight underestimation on my part when it came to the length of the climb. I thought everyone was being dramatic about saying that it was going to be tough - I was wrong. It felt like I was moving slow the entire day. The miles, somehow, were not getting any smaller. I am learning very quickly that any plans you have made, will change. That is really the only thing you can be certain of.
Thru-hiking teaches you lessons the hard way. It is only day two and I have already been humbled. What I’ve learned so far; 1: Don’t keep your food bag at the top of your pack. That just puts more weight on your shoulders (and you will end up with bruised collarbones). 2: To stay on the topic of food, take out the food that you will need for the day so you don’t need to empty your whole pack just to get a snack (duh). And 3: No matter how cold it may feel in the morning, it is never a good idea to wear hiking pants in the desert. Yes, they all seem obvious - i’m just still figuring out my new systems.
It’s been a tough (but rewarding) two days on trail. Once you start counting down the miles all you want is to check of more. So, 2,650 to go…
FLYING THROUGH MILES
MARCH 22 ⎸ DAY 3 ⎸ Mile 32
Miles felt easier today. I am still taking it slow, but so far I have been physically feeling great - aside from the small blisters. My first few steps in the morning feel stiff but it’s never sticks around after the first couple miles. I woke up to a frozen tent this morning. And yes, I mean frozen. In the desert? The outside of my tent was covered in a sheet of ice. It was by far the coldest night on trail. Suddenly I am glad I decided to carry a -9 sleeping bag.
Again, my morning flew by. Why is it that mornings are always filled with flat, easy trail while the heat of the day is always filled with exposed hillsides?! I came around a corner to find my first bit of trail magic. The trail provides when you need it to. There really is nothing that compares to the generosity of a PCT Trail Angel. And a lesson to my future self: the weight and space that a can of pop takes up is worth it.
Up until today the landscapes have been somewhat predictable (again, I have been pleasantly surprised by the amount of green in Southern California) but most of this morning was spent in tree covered meadows. The trail never really strayed far from civilization. There was a near constant humm from cars flying down the highway. I don’t know what I was expecting however, it has been far from backcountry travel. I arrived at camp before 2:00 but the spot was too nice to pass up. The rest of my day was spent sitting by the river and enjoying the peace of being completely alone. Though that quiet didn’t last long, by the time I had crawled into bed there were at least ten tents scattered through the trees. The trail has been busy.
The PCT is starting to feel like a home away from home. It’s been hard to not get caught up in the mindset that I am just here to crush big miles - I know, I told myself the trail would be about experiencing the journey, not just reaching the end. With that being said, I still really do love watching the shrinking distance left to Canada.
CALM BEFORE THE STORM
MARCH 23 ⎸ DAY 4 ⎸ Mile 42.6
Today was a short hiking day. I was up and out of camp by 6:30, this time not to avoid the heat but to avoid the wind and snow that is predicted to come. The motivation of knowing a warm bed and proper meal were waiting for me made the miles go by very quickly.
Again, most of the day was uphill (seems to be a theme). But it’s getting easier. I can feel my body adapting to having a pack on all day, every day. The heat was traded out for wind (something I was very grateful for) and the early start was an extra bonus. Some of the best views of my trip so far were today, just barely outside of Mount Laguna. The vast rolling hills turned into forest and then opened up to a view of the entire valley below. It was one of the many moments on trail that have reminded me of just how small we really are.
And now, just four days after leaving the Southern Terminus, I am stuck in a trail town waiting out a storm - i’ve got no idea how long this will last. All the hikers have been filing into Mount Laguna looking for a place to crash. I was lucky enough to have booked a bed yesterday before the desperation started. I’m sharing a tiny home with four other hikers.
Life on trail is starting to feel normal so going into town almost feels like an inconvenience (even after only four days). I am ready to get back on trail and keep moving.
STUCK IN MT LAGUNA
MARCH 24 ⎸ DAY 5 ⎸ Mile 42.6
Today was my first zero on trail. We woke up to over 3 inches of snow (not something I’d expected in Southern California) and it has been non-stop snowing since. There is talk amongst the hikers on whether we can make it through these snowy miles, or if we will need to hitch a ride further up trail. I am not stoked at the idea of already having to skip some miles.
Our neighbor brought over eggs, sausages and bagels for us to cook up for breakfast. It was by far the best food I’ve had on trail so far. It helped keep our spirits up. Luckily the group of hikers I have been rooming with are staying positive - that’s not a very common theme in the thru-hiking world today. It has made a less than ideal situation a bit easier.
WHERE IS THE DESERT?
MARCH 25 ⎸ DAY 6 ⎸ Mile 51.6
Two of my hostel mates headed out early this morning to hike the 10 mile section of trail that is covered in snow. The rest of us opted to hitch a ride with a trail (“Fossil Lady”) further up trail. Since there were so many of us waiting for rides we didn’t get to the trailhead until close to noon. It would tough driving past the trail, knowing that we wouldn’t get to hike that section. But, that choice is allowing me to keep moving forward.
The 9 miles that I hiked today followed a hill that looked over the San Jacinto mountain range. Despite today being my fifth day on trail, it suddenly felt very real. It is incredibly surreal to be living the dream that you have imagined for so long. Is this really happening?!
It was a very windy day (and night so far), which wasn’t great while hiking on an exposed hill. And to make it better, the only available camp spot was in the valley between two mountains where all the wind was being funneled through. It’s all part of the adventure. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
It has been hard to get into a rhythm and routine after having to get off trail and take a zero only four days in. All the hikers being forced into the hostel for the past two days has brought everyone closer as we move further on trail. I may have found the start of my trail family…
PCT HIKER PERKS
MAKING PROGRESS
INTO THE TRIPLE DIGITS
RECOVERING IN RANCHITA
AN UNEXPECTED CHANGE
REUNITING IN IDYLLWILD
INTO THE UNKNIWN
IT NEVER GETS OLD
STUCK IN THE TOWN VORTEX
HITTING THE TRAIL
A DAY OF FIRSTS
RISING TEMPERATURE
TYPE TWO FUN
THE BEAUTY OF HIKING
CRUISE CONTROL.
OUT FOR A TRAIL RUN
THE PCT MCDONALDS
INCREASING ELEVATION
THRU-HIKING OR SKIING?
CAMPING IN ACTON
SOLO AGIAN
PARKED IN GREEN VALLEY
ENGULFED IN FO G
“I WILL WALK 500 MILES”
A MOJAVE WINDSTORM
THE LA AQUEDUCY
TRAIL MAGIC
SURROUNDED BY WINDMILLS
DESERT WIND
GEAR MALFUNCTIONS
NEEDED DISTANCE
COWBOY CAMPING
PUSHING THROUFH PAIN
GATEWAY TO THE SIERRA
A SIDETRIP TO YOSEMITE
ENTERING NORCAL
SNOW NAVIGATION
FLIPPING SOUTH
IS THIS THE END?
For a moment, let’s (thats a reminder for myself) focus on what I did accomplish during my time on trail. I hiked roughly 600 miles from the Mexican Border to Kennedy Meadows South. I have been on trail for just over
It’s been just over a month since i’ve been home and I still struggle putting my whole experience into words.
This is not the blog I was hoping to write as a wrap up of my PCT hike. As I am sure you have guessed, I am no longer on trail. It was an experience that I have been sitting with and figuring out if it was something I wanted to share. In all honesty, I was pushing aside some slight embarrassment in ending my hike early. Sitting at home and looking back on my hike allowed me to look at all the pieces I had experienced rather than all the pieces I was missing out on. Heading out on this adventure was a feat in itself - something that me five years ago never would have attempted. So, here’s the story behind me leaving the trail;
As you have probably guessed… my journey on the pct has come to an end. I have been sitting with my experiences and deciding if i wanted to share my experience. In all honesty, i was pushing aside the tinge of embarrassment i felt having to end my journey early. As i have sat at home ive been able to reflect on what i HAD experienced instead of what i was missing out on. For me to head out on this adventure was a feat in itself. Something me 5 years ago would never have done. So here i am finally putting that ending into words.
I had just parted ways from “crafty”, the only member of my trai family that i was still with and someone that i had spend two months hiking and adventuring with. We both knew we needed to let some of the snow melt before we headed back out on trail, our ideas on how to do that were the reason we separated. My plan was to head back to southern california to fill in the few missed sections i had remaining. Coincidentally one of the few bus paths was going to take me through anaheim the same week that my family was going to Disneyland (so obviously i had to join them). At the time that seemed like the best of both worlds. I would never say i regret making the choice because the memories i made with them arent something i would ever trade. But it is hard to watch that goal of mine slip away so quickly.
Being a solo female on trail never seemed so daunting because i wasnt having to deal with city life. Things are much simpler in the outdoors. And suddenly i was placed in the middle of Sacrameno, California in a not so great neighbourhood in a greyhound