Continuous hiking. Mile 109.5 to 266.2

This is a selfish hike. It truly is. I'm abandoning society in pursuit of the temporary bliss in the outdoors. I'm no longer contributing to society. Just spending money to be happy. 

And yet, I've been rewarded with the best of humanity. Never have so many strangers wanted to start a conversation with me. The hikers are happy and sore. The non-hikers are fascinated and full of questions. Everyone wants to give to each other. The notion of "pass it forward" is law here. I love it! But I don't understand it. 

The theme of this section is closures and companions. 

By mile 109.5 our group had grown large. We started a hiking train. It was much different than the lone hiking before. Too many people in my opinion. Luckily we encountered our first fire closure. About 15 miles were closed, but there was a 20 mile detour to Idlewild around the closure. I was surprised to find out that most people chose to just hitch to Idlewild instead of walk the detour. We were now just 4 people. The ones who wanted to walk to canada, no skipping. 

I've now made it through the 2 closures of this section with nothing but my feet to guide me. The hard part of navigating the big closures is over. I'm 10% done. Just 2393 miles to go. 

Just before we arrived in Big Bear Lake at mile 266, we hiked 27 miles through a snow storm. It was the hardest day yet. We camped on snow. I woke up to frozen water bottles and frozen shoes too stiff to fit on my feet. I waited for the sun to rise and melt them before finishing the trek to Big Bear. 

Cars and planes are easy. Walking is a chore. 

Yet now more than ever, I am seeing more. 

What's the point of going faster, if you don't see anything. 

As I walk I see life changing, wonders that the day will bring. 

Sage bush of the desert, lying low to the ground

Changes to the mountains, with tall pine trees abound. 

The sage becomes pine.

A bush grows to tree.

Hills become mountains.

Growth all around me.

Life springs upward with the rising elevation.

Does it chase the sun? What is its destination?

As I climb the peaks, am I doing the same?

Chasing the sun in this never ending game. 

But at the top of the mountain, the pine shrinks to lichen. 

Is this life's respectful bow?

Does it understand the sun now?

I climbed so high to reach you, but I know I never will.

Am I a better man for trying, or was this all for nil? 

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. 

Day 1! PCT mile 0

I drove across the country. I hiked up mountains, snowboarded down other mountains, climbed boulders, explored cities, and paraglided over the ocean. Now I'm at the border of the US and Mexico. I have nothing left to do but walk North. I'll try to update this blog as much as I can, probably every week or so. Wish me luck!  I have nothing but a pack on my back and some challenging fun ahead!

Meeting a Mormon on a Mountain

My first stop on the way to the west coast is Boulder, Colorado. I threw on my back pack for a test hike up and around the Flatirons with my pack.  I also tested out my "selfie stick" made from a rubber band and trekking pole.  A bit hard in the wind, but it works.