Thru hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2016!
After less than 24 hours in Tehachapi, we returned to the trail at PCT Mile 558. We spent the next 6 or 7 miles walking through another wind farm. Wind turbines are pretty cool, but after three days of them, we were both ready for a change in scenery. Continue reading “Days 33 to 38 (Miles 558 to 652)”
Despite our proximity to the Iberdrola wind farm, we had a calm night camped amongst the Joshua trees. The wind had been howling the day before. Several people gave us advice on which tent sites would be most sheltered, but we seemed to have some kind of crazy luck and the wind completely died down. Continue reading “Days 31 & 32 (Miles 530 to 558)”
We spent a large part of the past few days walking through the Station Fire burn area, dodging poodle dog bush and unsuccessfully looking for morels. Continue reading “Days 24 to 26 (Miles 412 to 455)”
We are in a 110 mile stretch between resupply points (civilization). Our external battery died, so we’re relying on solar to keep the phones charged. Today was very sunny, so here are some updates since my last post. Continue reading “Days 19 to 23 (Miles 333.5 to 412)”
After two 20 mile days, we’ve made it within 9 miles of Cajon Junction, where food and a (half) rest day await us. Continue reading “Days 17 & 18 (Miles 293.8 to 333.5)”
We fell asleep to howling wind at Ziggy and the Bear’s. It did not die down as we slept, but grew stronger. I awoke at some point in the middle of the night and watched as somebody’s air mattress flew through the air. He must have gotten up without weighing it down with something. Fortunately he caught it before it flew over the fence. Continue reading “Days 14 to 16 (Miles 252 to 293.8)”
Today we made it to Ziggy and the Bear’s house! The first 12 miles were all downhill, from 6500-ft to about 1500-ft. The trail is really nicely graded, but that also makes it really long. After reaching the bottom of Mount San Jacinto, we trudged five miles across the desert in what felt like a wind storm. There are a ton of windmills in this area, so I suspect it’s pretty much always very windy here. Continue reading “Day 13 (Miles 194 to 211)”
A section of the PCT is closed due to the 2013 Mountain Fire. Some people are walking a parallel route on other roads and trails, but a lot of hikers are bypassing this section and hitchhiking straight into Idyllwild. With the weather (and also my feet) taking a turn for the worse, we decided to hitch a ride into town for a zero day. Continue reading “Days 11 & 12 (Miles 177 to 194)”
At Barrel Spring, we awoke to the sound of rain on the tent. It didn’t rain hard, but the weather stayed wet all day. Continue reading “Days 7 to 10 (Miles 101.5 to 151.9)”
In the past few days after leaving Laguna Campground, we made it through 54 miles of desert including a 25+ mile dry stretch. Continue reading “Days 4 to 6 (Mile 47.5 to 101.5)”
