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  • Backpacking Tips & How To’s
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  • About
    • The Girl Behind the Backpack
    • Contact Me
  • Backpacking & Thru-Hiking,  California,  NOBO PCT 2022,  Pacific Crest Trail,  Trail Journals,  West Coast

    PCT 2022: Cabezon to Big Bear Lake

    May 15, 2022 / 0 Comments

    Low desert or ski town, the wind was relentless the whole way. We had our first snow storm, and vortexed in town for 3 days. Read on for my trail journals for the PCT nobo Cabezon to Big Bear Lake section

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  • Backpacking & Thru-Hiking,  California,  NOBO PCT 2022,  Pacific Crest Trail,  Trail Journals,  West Coast

    PCT 2022: Campo to Mount Laguna

    April 23, 2022 / 0 Comments

    And so begins my journey northbound through the desert. Canada bound! Read on for my nobo PCT trail journals from Campo to Mount Laguna.

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  • Backpacking & Thru-Hiking,  NOBO PCT 2022,  Pacific Crest Trail,  Trail Journals,  West Coast

    PCT 2022: Preparation to Get Back on Trail

    April 18, 2022 / 0 Comments

    I'm attempting at least a section of the PCT again this year. Here's how I prepared myself and my gear.

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  • Backpacking & Thru-Hiking,  Pacific Crest Trail,  Trail Journals,  West Coast

    PCT 2021 Attempt: My 1,100 Mile Journey in a Nutshell

    April 14, 2022 / 0 Comments

    This is my summary of my 2021 Pacific Crest Trail attempt, and the things I learned from it.

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  • About me,  Backpacking & Thru-Hiking,  Blog Updates,  Health,  Pacific Crest Trail,  Post-Trail Depression,  Trail Journals

    PCT 2021: Wading through Post-Trail Depression

    February 20, 2022 / 6 Comments

    For over 3 months since I left the Pacific Crest Trail, I've been struggling with Post-Trail Depression. Let me tell you about my experience and my recovery.

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  • 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

    November 26, 2021 / 0 Comments

    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.

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  • 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

    November 22, 2021 / 0 Comments

    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.

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  • 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

    November 4, 2021 / 0 Comments

    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!

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  • 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

    October 25, 2021 / 0 Comments

    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.

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  • 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

    October 21, 2021 / 2 Comments

    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!…

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Who is the Girl Behind the Backpack?

Kirsten Cook

Kirsten Cook

hiking the world before it gets dark

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