Welcome to my PCT through-hike journal page!
I hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2015, starting at the border with Mexico, and ending at the Canadian border. I had never through-hiked before, but I had spent many hours and days preparing for the journey. I felt I needed the extra training since I was 65 years old when I hiked the trail! To get an idea of how I prepared for this hike, take a look at my "Preparation" page.
The year BEFORE starting my hike, I spent many days on the PCT in Washington State, and hiked a complete section of the trail from White Pass to Snoqualmie Pass. This section hike helped me to get a feel for what the trail was like. It also helped me get acquainted with my gear. When I hiked the trail in 2015, I did not re-hike this section. You will see that I skipped from White Pass to Snoqualmie Pass. However, I have included my journal posts of this section of the trail in the "Before the Hike", so readers interested in this part of the PCT can get a glimpse of the experience.
In 2015, there were terrible wildfires in Washington State. When I got to Stevens Pass, I found that the trail was closed midway between the pass and Stehekin. A majority of hikers opted to skip this section, and rejoin the trail at Rainy Pass. That was my decision as well.
On my hike, I spent several hours each night recounting may daily experiences. I tried to express how I felt and what it was like to be on the trail. Midway through the hike, I started doing short reviews of my gear, since I had enough experience to explain what worked and what didn't.
This was an incredible journey. I hope you find it as interesting and amazing as I did.
The year BEFORE starting my hike, I spent many days on the PCT in Washington State, and hiked a complete section of the trail from White Pass to Snoqualmie Pass. This section hike helped me to get a feel for what the trail was like. It also helped me get acquainted with my gear. When I hiked the trail in 2015, I did not re-hike this section. You will see that I skipped from White Pass to Snoqualmie Pass. However, I have included my journal posts of this section of the trail in the "Before the Hike", so readers interested in this part of the PCT can get a glimpse of the experience.
In 2015, there were terrible wildfires in Washington State. When I got to Stevens Pass, I found that the trail was closed midway between the pass and Stehekin. A majority of hikers opted to skip this section, and rejoin the trail at Rainy Pass. That was my decision as well.
On my hike, I spent several hours each night recounting may daily experiences. I tried to express how I felt and what it was like to be on the trail. Midway through the hike, I started doing short reviews of my gear, since I had enough experience to explain what worked and what didn't.
This was an incredible journey. I hope you find it as interesting and amazing as I did.
Before the Hike
- 9 months before start...First Solo Overnight Hike
- 9 months before start...My first 26 miles on the PCT
- 8 months before start...The PCT - Chinook Pass north and south
- 7.5 months before start...White Pass to Goat Rocks
- 7 months before start...White Pass to Chinook Pass
- 6 months before start...Ulrich Cabin to Snoqualmie Pass
- 5 months before start...Training, researching, worrying
- 3 months before start...Planning and Training
- 2 months before start...Closer to being "ready"
- 1 month before start...Butterflies in my stomach
- 3 weeks before start...Itinerary (the plan)
- 2 weeks before start...Tying up the loose ends
- 1 week before start...Thankful for friends and family
- 1 day before start...Travel and Trail Angels
Trail Journal
- Day 1 - Mexican border
- Day 2 - Up 3,000 feet - Oh My
- Day 3 - Epic Desert Hiking
- Day 4 - The Real Desert
- Day 5 - America the Beautiful
- Day 6 - Desert Fog
- Day 7 - Resting in Idyllwild
- Day 8 - What we do on our day off
- Day 9 - Fury of the Storm
- Day 10 - Back to Idyllwild
- Day 11 - San Jacinto Mountain
- Day 12 - Windy Desert
- Day 13 - Back in the Pines
- Day 14 - Trail to Big Bear
- Day 15 - Back to the trail from Big Bear
- Day 16 - Hard day on easy trail
- Day 17 - Hot Springs, Dams & Lakes
- Day 18 - McDonald's & a little rest
- Day 19 - Up into the mountains again
- Day 20 - Wrightwood Resupply
- Day 21 - Mt Baden Powell
- Day 22 - Desert Storm
- Day 23 - Reunion at the KOA
- Day 24 - Aqua Dulce & Vasquez Rocks
- Day 25 - Casa de Luna
- Day 26 - Road-walk to Hiker Town & beyond
- Day 27 - Wind Farms
- Day 28 - Headed to Tehachapi
- Day 29 - Zero Day in Tehachapi
- Day 30 - Up to the Sky River Wind Farm
- Day 31 - The Driest Section of the PCT
- Day 32 - 30 miles to Walker Pass
- Day 33 - Double-Pack had an accident
- Day 34 - 30 Miles to Kennedy Meadows
- Day 35 - Resting in Kennedy Meadows
- Day 36 - Heading into the Sierras
- Day 37 - Sierra Snow
- Day 38 - A Big Decision
- Day 39 - Amazing Scenery
- Day 40 - Highest Point on the Trail
- Day 41 - Resupply in Independence
- Day 42 - Resting in Independence
- Day 43 - Glen Pass
- Day 44 - Pinchot Pass
- Day 45 - Mather Pass
- Day 46 - Muir Pass
- Day 47 - Selden Pass
- Day 48 - Resupply at Vermillion Valley Resort
- Day 49 - Silver Pass
- Day 50 - Resupply at Mammoth Lakes
- Day 51 - Mammoth Lakes day of rest
- Day 52 - Island Pass
- Day 53 - Donohue Pass
- Day 54 - Matterhorn Creek
- Day 55 - Two Passes & a River Crossing
- Day 56 - Rainstorm at Dorothy Lake
- Day 57 - Sonora Pass
- Day 58 - Change in Landscape
- Day 59 - Trail Angel "Legend"
- Day 60 - Bobaroo got his Mojo back
- Day 61 - South Lake Tahoe
- Day 62 - Resting in Lake Tahoe
- Day 63 - Where's Willy?
- Day 64 - Easy Trail = Big Miles
- Day 65 - Up to the Peter Grubb Hut
- Day 66 - Rolling Hills covered in Flowers
- Day 67 - Sierra City
- Day 68 - Up to the Sierra Buttes
- Day 69 - The Hill Tops have Trees
- Day 70 - Feather River Canyon
- Day 71 - Belden
- Day 72 - 4,870 Feet Up
- Day 73 - Halfway
- Day 74 - Lassen Volcanic National Park
- Day 75 - Old Station & Subway Cave
- Day 76 - Hat Creek Rim
- Day 77 - Burney Falls
- Day 78 - Roller Coaster Trail
- Day 79 - Blisters Again
- Day 80 - Dunsmuir
- Day 81 - Dunsmuir Day of Rest
- Day 82 - Castle Crags - Where am I?
- Day 83 - Logs and Thunderstorms
- Day 84 - Washington Rain?
- Day 85 - Russian Wilderness
- Day 86 - Etna
- Day 87 - Marble Mountain Wilderness
- Day 88 - Seiad Valley
- Day 89 - Up 4,472 Feet
- Day 90 - Oregon!
- Day 91 - Ashland
- Day 92 - Ashland Day of Rest
- Day 93 - Slips, Trips & Falls
- Day 94 - Lava Rocks
- Day 95 - Mosquitoes
- Day 96 - Crater Lake
- Day 97 - Flying High
- Day 98 - Mount Thielsen Wilderness
- Day 99 - Summit Lake
- Day 100 - Shelter Cove Resort
- Day 101 - Three Sisters Wilderness
- Day 102 - Lakes & Ponds
- Day 103 - Mount Washington Wilderness
- Day 104 - Big Lake Youth Camp
- Day 105 - Mount Jefferson Wilderness
- Day 106 - Olallie Resort
- Day 107 - Billy Goat!
- Day 108 - Timberline Lodge
- Day 109 - Camp Creek Campground
- Day 110 - Walking with Deb
- Day 111 - Ramona Falls
- Day 112 - Cascade Locks
- Day 113 - Washington State!
- Day 114 - Panther Creek
- Day 115 - Indian Heaven Wilderness
- Day 116 - Trout Lake
- Day 117 - Mt. Adams Wilderness
- Day 118 - Goat Rocks Wilderness
- Day 119 - White Pass
- Day 120 - Alpine Lakes Wilderness
- Day 121 - Waptus & Deep Lake
- Day 122 - Lakes in Fog
- Day 123 - Stevens Pass
- Day 124 - Zero Day at Home
- Day 125 - Rainy Pass
- Day 126 - Pasayten Wilderness
- Day 127 - Canada
After the Hike
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