Beginning Days, Mile 0 to 109.5

This video's a compilation of my view while hiking these past 5 days. 

I've been hiking for hours and everything's getting hot. I awkwardly attach my umbrella to the pack's shoulder strap. When it's too hot to hike in the middle of the day, just take the shade with you.

Soon I'm hiking up a steep incline, sweating but feeling good. A panorama view is approaching!  One more rock to climb. I look up in excitement, and I'm greeted by a rush of wind in the face. My umbrella explodes its guts inside out!

The theme of the first 100 miles of the PCT is WIND!

At first the wind is wonderful! A cool breeze and fresh air. Ten hours later, it's still wind-ing... I'm almost getting blown off the mountain.
The wind is harsh.
Suddenly the wind hits my back perfectly. My speed doubles, but I'm putting in less effort. I'm flying, running down the trail.
The wind is glorious!


Unless you usually expect the unexpected, the beginning of the PCT (the desert) will surprise you. It isn't flat. It isn't that hot. It is full of life!

And it's full of gorgeous landscapes!

But what it has most of is interesting people!!

Getting to camp the wind is harsher than ever. Everyone hides up on the hill. Setting up tents behind bushes to fight off the wind. We all huddle under a bush with the wind rushing above. A sleepless night ensues as the tents flap flap flap flap endlessly. I wake up to even louder flapping. My tent fell over. I'm laying in a tomb of mesh and tarp. 

Best campsite yet!

Thank you trail angel Carl for giving me gatorade in the middle of the day. 

Thank you trail angel Gordon for buying us boxes of food along with beer and fire. We lived like hobo kings eating snacks around a warm fire, camping under a bridge. 

And thank you Hollywood for the avocados, tequila, and advice!

Most of all, thank you Jenn for picking me up from the airport, giving me a bed, driving me to the trail, and hiking the first 5 miles with me. It made the start of this adventure so much better getting a send off from a friend.