Trip Itineraries
- About me, Backpacking & Thru-Hiking, California, Photo Journals, Trail Journals, Trip Itineraries, United States of America, West Coast
Barefoot In The Dunes: My First Contact With Thru-Hiking
This is the story about my first encounter with the idea of thru-hiking. On a random weekend social hike through the dunes with some coworkers, I made a fateful decision that forever changed how I viewed backpacking. And changed the trajectory of my life to set me up to be a long distance hiker, ultralight backpacker, and blogger. This post includes a short story, a photo journal, and advice for hiking the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Complex. How it All Began One of the coworkers on this fateful hike was Blake, aka Chunky Chuckwalla before he earned the name, who at the time was more of an acquaintance than a good friend.…
- Backpacking & Thru-Hiking, California, Lady and Minority Hikers, Leave No Trace, Pacific Crest Trail, SOBO PCT 2021, Solo Hikers, Trail Journals, Trails, Trip Itineraries, Ultralight, United States of America, West Coast
PCT 2021: Hughes Lake to Agua Dulce
Here is the 18th installation of my PCT trail journal (about two weeks off the present timeline as a safety precaution). I made a really tough decision when I got to Agua Dulce with my friends. I decided that I was going to head home early. I haven't yet decided if I'll get back on after Thanksgiving, or if this is it until next year.
- Backpacking & Thru-Hiking, California, Lady and Minority Hikers, Leave No Trace, Pacific Crest Trail, SOBO PCT 2021, Solo Hikers, Trail Journals, Trails, Trip Itineraries, Ultralight, United States of America, West Coast
PCT 2021: Tehachapi to Hikertown to Hughes Lake
Here is the 17th installation of my PCT trail journal. In this section I was supposed to make it to Acton where my friends Chunky Chuckwalla and Smiley were going to join me for the weekend. But all of the negative emotions and lack of motivation that had been dogging me over the last week or so had finally come to a head, and I had to get off trail early at Lake Hughes for a little R&R.
- Backpacking & Thru-Hiking, California, Lady and Minority Hikers, Leave No Trace, Pacific Crest Trail, SOBO PCT 2021, Solo Hikers, Trail Journals, Trails, Trip Itineraries, Ultralight, United States of America, West Coast
PCT 2021: Walker Pass to Tehachapi
Here is the 16th installation of my PCT trail journal. And so begins my journey through the desert. Mexico bound!
- Backpacking & Thru-Hiking, California, Lady and Minority Hikers, Leave No Trace, Pacific Crest Trail, SOBO PCT 2021, Solo Hikers, Trail Journals, Trails, Trip Itineraries, Ultralight, United States of America, West Coast
PCT 2021: Stuck in Bishop awaiting a package
The Hostel California is a vortex, through and through, and I've been sucked in! Not really. I'm stuck in Bishop waiting for a package with my microspikes and a warmer hiking shirt to arrive that's several days late.
- Backpacking & Thru-Hiking, California, Lady and Minority Hikers, Leave No Trace, Pacific Crest Trail, SOBO PCT 2021, Solo Hikers, Trail Journals, Trails, Trip Itineraries, Ultralight, United States of America, West Coast
PCT 2021: Independence to Bishop
Here is where I admit defeat in the wintery Sierra and decide to escape with my tail between my legs. I wanted to prove that sobo hikers CAN go through the Sierra in October, but I was unable to. That doesn't mean it's impossible, I just wasn't prepared. Hopefully in the future I'll have the right gear and supplies to do the Sierra in winter. Good thing I've still got 650 miles is desert to hike!
- Backpacking & Thru-Hiking, California, Lady and Minority Hikers, Leave No Trace, Pacific Crest Trail, SOBO PCT 2021, Solo Hikers, Trail Journals, Trails, Trip Itineraries, Ultralight, United States of America, West Coast
PCT 2021: Lone Pine to Independence
The Sierra certainly is a distinct part of the Pacific Crest Trail! Beautiful in its own, austere sort of way, with its sheer granite faces, scraggly trees holding on for dear life to the wind swept cliffs, exceptionally high altitudes, and an abundance of water features. I am a little bit spoiled, having grown up backpacking in the Sierra, so for the most part this isn't new to me, but I still find it beautiful, and now I am looking at it as an adult, with better knowledge of the surrounding world, and the ability to appreciate it in new ways.
- Backpacking & Thru-Hiking, California, Lady and Minority Hikers, Leave No Trace, Pacific Crest Trail, SOBO PCT 2021, Solo Hikers, Trail Journals, Trails, Trip Itineraries, Ultralight, United States of America, West Coast
PCT 2021: Kennedy Meadows South to Lone Pine
Here is the 12th installation of my PCT trail journal (about 1 week off the present timeline as a safety precaution). I feel that this leg of my PCT journey is a completely different journey from the one i started in July. I have quite a bit of different gear, I’m preparing for freezing temps and snow and rain, many of my original resupply spots have closed for the winter, I’m going north bound, i took a month and a half break, there will be fewer and fewer hikers, i have more experience and better know my limitations, the trail is now riddled with fire closures. So much has changed!…
- Backpacking & Thru-Hiking, California, Lady and Minority Hikers, Leave No Trace, Pacific Crest Trail, SOBO PCT 2021, Solo Hikers, Trail Journals, Trails, Trip Itineraries, Ultralight, United States of America, West Coast
PCT 2021: Getting back on trail, Walker Pass to Kennedy Meadows South
Here is the 11th installation of my PCT trail journal (about 1 week off the present timeline as a safety precaution). As my journey continues later into the year, fall is starting, and winter will be a consideration in the near future. I know that I need to do my best to avoid getting stuck in a blizzard. I need to pack warmer gear so that I can survive the colder fall and winter temperatures. I believe this also means giving up on my cold-soaking for the time being, since cold dinners simply aren't fun when it's below freezing outside. I might need to order some new gear, like a…
- Backpacking & Thru-Hiking, Lady and Minority Hikers, Leave No Trace, Oregon, Pacific Crest Trail, SOBO PCT 2021, Solo Hikers, Trail Journals, Trails, Trip Itineraries, Ultralight, United States of America, West Coast
SOBO PCT 2021: Mile 491.2 Cascade Locks to Mile 579.2 NF-42/Lionshead Fire Closure
Here is the 9th installation of my PCT trail journal. Read on for details on the section of the PCT from Mile 491.2 to Mile 579.2, PCT Days 2021, and to see images of beautiful scenery
