Wandering the Pacific Crest Trail
PCT Round Two Warmup – Emerald Park
— December 11, 2013
July 5-6, 2013
Day 6-7: 14 miles hiked. Camped at Emerald Park and hiked out to Lucerne the next day. 4,300-foot elevation descent on the way out and my knees tell me no Pacific Crest Trail this year. Guess I’ll go to Madagascar instead.
PCT Round Two Warmup – Domke Lake
— December 5, 2013
July 3-5, 2013
Day 4-6: 4.5 miles hiked. Camped two nights at Domke Lake. Hiking a bit, swimming a lot.
PCT Round Two Warmup – Hart Lake
— December 2, 2013
July 1-2, 2013
Day 2-3: 9 miles hiked. Camped at Hart Lake one night, and back at Holden Village Campground the next. Hiking with the Luck Dragon, granite cliffs, waterfalls, and an icy swim in the lake.
PCT Round Two Warmup – Holden Village
— November 29, 2013
June 30, 2013
Day 1: One mile hiked. Camped at the Holden Village Forest Service Campground.
PCT Round Two Hiking Gear List
Holden Village, Washington, USA — October 22, 2013
Making changes to my hiking gear list and reducing my pack weight as I prepare to finish my hike of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2013. Oregon and Washington to go.
Hikers Get Synovial Plica Syndrome Too
— October 21, 2013
October 21, 2013
My 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail ended in southern Oregon with the onset of severe pain in both my knees. I put off seeing a doctor for seven months. I tried home treatment first. My injury? Synovial plica syndrome.
Gear Review: Bamboo Boxer Briefs from tasc Performance
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — April 9, 2013
Gear review of my bamboo technical outdoor apparel from tasc Performance (umm … boxer briefs).
Post PCT Hiking Gear Repair Kit Review
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — February 1, 2013
Evaluation of the items I carried in my hiking gear repair kit on my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail.
Improved Lightweight Wilderness First Aid Kit
— January 12, 2013
January 12, 2013 — An improved list of supplies in my lightweight wilderness first aid kit based on evaluations from my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail.
Post PCT Wilderness First Aid Kit Review
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — January 11, 2013
Evaluation of the items I carried in my wilderness first aid kit on my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail.
More Lessons Learned on the Trail
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — December 10, 2012
Fellow class of 2012 Pacific Crest Trail hikers have been discussing lessons learned on the trail. Here are a few mine.
Rattlesnake Bite First Aid
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — December 5, 2012
Rattlesnake bite first aid when you’re on a long trail and hours or days from a medical facility.
Post PCT Hiking Water System Review
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — November 28, 2012
Evaluation of my hiking water system used on my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. Including water filter, water purification, and water storage.
The Waiting and Walking Are Over
— November 18, 2012
November 18, 2012
It’s been tense and anxious the last couple of weeks. Also a little wistful the weeks before that right after I got off the trail. But now, finally, the waiting is over. Team No Hurries has made it to Canada. Well, at least one of us has.
Music for Long Trails – Ivan Rosenberg
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — November 15, 2012
For me, Ivan Rosenberg’s music evokes the feeling of various sections of the Pacific Crest Trail through acoustic, Americana, and folk sounds played on the resonator guitar and both Dobro and clawhammer banjos.
Post PCT Cooking Gear Review
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — November 13, 2012
Evaluation of food storage and cooking gear used on my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail.
Post PCT Sleeping Gear Review
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — November 5, 2012
Evaluation of my sleeping bag and sleeping gear used on my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. Including Zpacks sleeping bag and NeoAir sleeping pad.
Post PCT Tent Reviews
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — November 3, 2012
Evaluation of the tents I used on my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail including the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 and Tarptent Notch.
Post PCT Backpack and Storage Hiking Gear Review
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — November 2, 2012
Evaluation of the backpack and storage hiking gear I used on my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. Including ULA Catalyst and Sea to Summit Dry Sacks.
A Walk in the Woods
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — October 10, 2012
A book for wanderers and long trail hikers by Bill Bryson, which is spot on about the realities of trail life.
Metamorphosis
— June 18, 2012
June 18, 2012
Day 61 of my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. A reflection on what it means to be hiker trash that I wrote during a rest day in Tehachapi.
On to Whitewater River
— May 13, 2012
May 13, 2012
Day 26 of my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. 8.5 miles hiked. Left Ziggy and the Bear’s. Stopped by the Mesa Wind Farm. Camped at the Whitewater Preserve a half mile from trail mile 219.
Valley of Hell
— May 12, 2012
May 12, 2012
Day 25 of my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. 13 miles hiked. Finished coming down Fuller Ridge. Walked across the desert to Ziggy and the Bear’s. Experienced a little heat exhaustion.
Fuller Ridge
— May 11, 2012
May 11, 2012
Day 24 of my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. 12.4 miles hiked. Camped near trail mile 198 on Fuller Ridge.
A Trail Name
— May 10, 2012
May 10, 2012
Day 23 of my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. Leaving Idyllwild and back up Devil’s Slide. I earn a trail name. 8.7 miles hiked (I hiked 9.2). Camped near Deer Springs.
Idyllwild Rest Day
— May 9, 2012
May 9, 2012
Day 22 of my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. A day of rest in Idyllwild that isn’t so restful.
Idyllwild Again
— May 8, 2012
May 8, 2012
Day 21 of my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. 12 miles hiked. Hiked through the San Jacinto Mountains to Idyllwild. Camped at Mount San Jacinto State Park.
Apache Spring
— May 7, 2012
May 7, 2012
Day 20 of my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. 10.5 miles hiked. Camped near trail mile 170.5 past the Apache Spring trail junction in the San Jacinto Mountains.
Boulders and Pines
— May 6, 2012
May 6, 2012
Day 19 of my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. 10 miles hiked. Camped near trail mile 162 past Pyramid Peak in the San Jacinto Mountains.
Idyllwild
— May 5, 2012
May 5, 2012
Day 18 of my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. Rest day in Idyllwild, CA.
Mostly Up To Paradise
— May 4, 2012
May 4, 2012
Day 17 of my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. 15 miles hiked. Camped by Hwy 74 and PCT intersection near Paradise Cafe.
Tule Spring
— May 3, 2012
May 3, 2012
Day 16 of my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. 13 miles hiked. Camped by Tule Spring.
Boulder Camp
— May 2, 2012
May 2, 2012
Day 15 of my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. 13.5 miles hiked. Camped near trail mile 124.5 in the boulder field.
Warner Springs
— May 1, 2012
May 1, 2012
Day 14 of my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. 10 miles hiked. Camped near trail mile 111 (past Warner Springs).
San Felipe Hills Going Down
— April 30, 2012
April 30, 2012
Day 13 of my 2012 Pacific Crest Trail thru hike. 10.5 miles hiked. Camped by Barrel Spring.
San Felipe Hills Going Up
— April 29, 2012
April 29, 2012
Day 12 of my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. 13 miles hiked. Camped near trail mile 90.5.
Kick Off
— April 28, 2012
April 27-28, 2012
Day 10-11 of my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. Hanging out at the Annual Day Zero PCT Kick Off.
Locks of Love
— April 28, 2012
April 28, 2012
Day 11 of my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. My daughter Blaze volunteers for Locks of Love at the Kick Off.
Back to Lake Morena
— April 26, 2012
April 26, 2012
Day 9 of my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. Hitched back to Lake Morena for the Annual Day Zero PCT Kick Off.
Magic Scissors Crossing
— April 25, 2012
April 25, 2012
Day 8 of my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. Four miles hiked to Scissors Crossing and a hitch to Julian, CA. Seventy miles hiked so far.
Anza Borrego Desert
— April 24, 2012
April 24, 2012
Day 7 of my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. 14 miles hiked. Camped near trail mile 73 (past the Rodriguez Spur water tank).
Walking in Clouds
Sunrise Trailhead, California, USA — April 23, 2012
Day 6 of my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. 12 miles hiked. Camped near Sunrise Trailhead.
The Other Mount Laguna
Mount Laguna Campground, California, USA — April 22, 2012
Day 5 of my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. Six miles hiked. Camped at the Forest Service’s Mount Laguna Campground.
Mount Laguna
Burnt Rancheria Campground, California, USA — April 21, 2012
Day 4 of my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. 12 miles hiked. Camped at Burnt Rancheria Campground near Mount Laguna.
All That Glitters
Yellow Springs, California, USA — April 20, 2012
Day 3 of my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. 10 miles hiked. Camped by Yellow Springs.
Lake Morena
Lake Morena, California, USA — April 19, 2012
Day 2 of my 2012 Pacific Crest Trail thru hike. 5.6 miles hiked. Camped at Lake Morena. Team No Hurries is named.
Here I Go
Hauser Creek, California, USA — April 18, 2012
Day 1 of my 2012 Pacific Crest Trail thru hike. 15.4 miles hiked. Camped by Hauser Creek.
Ready or Not
San Diego, California, USA — April 17, 2012
The last few days before starting my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail.
Adventuring in Grocery Stores
Beaverton, Oregon, USA — April 16, 2012
Shopping for trail food for my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail.
PCT Hiking Gear Repair Kit
Beaverton, Oregon, USA — April 14, 2012
Hiking gear repair kit for my 2012 hke on the Pacific Crest Trail.
PCT Wilderness First Aid Kit
— April 12, 2012
April 12, 2012
Wilderness first aid kit for my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail.
My Pacific Crest Trail Gear List
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — February 19, 2012
Good, bad, ugly, or indifferent, here is my Pacific Crest Trail hiking gear list for my 2012 hike. Definitely a work in progress.
Happy PCT Hike to Me
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — February 2, 2012
Transitioning to lightweight backpacking gear for my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. And the fun when the new gear is delivered to the house.
Yogi, Dear Yogi, Let Me Count the Ways
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — January 25, 2012
I found Yogi’s PCT Handbook to be an incredibly useful resource for planning my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail.
And Behold, A Plan Was Formed
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — January 4, 2012
Planning steps for my 2012 hike on the Pacific Crest Trail: getting oriented, training, gear, food, trail logistics, and financing.
Orienting to the Pacific Crest Trail
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — December 14, 2011
Orienting to what it takes to hike over 2,660 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail.
2,660 Some Miles
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — December 7, 2011
How I decided to hike the 2,660 or so miles of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2012.