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The Adventure Begins (Days 1-4; miles 0-40)

The Adventure Begins (Days 1-4; miles 0-40)


Day #1: It Starts

  • Distance: ~8 miles
  • Camping spot: Solo spot with a view of a valley (unmarked)
  • Menu: Fruit snacks, Cliff Bar, Italian sub from the Campo Green Store, Chicken Teriyaki Mountain House, Nerds Gummy Clusters
  • Entertainment: A couple hours of Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris.
  • Community: Met some people on the shuttle over - some I would see again, some I would not.
  • Treasures: I found a lens cap hanging from the brush on the side of the trail.
  • Wildlife: Wildflowers everywhere, lots of lizards, and a few cotton trail rabbits.
  • General sentiment: A solid combination of “this is absolutely amazing” and “what in the world have I gotten myself into” with a touch of “holy shit, it’s already so hot” on the side.

Still an incredible first day.

Day #2: Friends

  • Distance: ~12 miles
  • Camping Spot: Lake Morena Campground
  • Menu: Coffee, Snickers Bar, Fruit Snacks, Trail Mix, That’s It Bars, Burger/Fries/Milkshake from the Morena Malt Shop, Pad Thai Mountain House, trail magic Coke
  • Entertainment: No media
  • Community: Saw Colleen, a French friend from the shuttle as she was packing up and met her again at camp. Met the three English boys (Ben, Tom, and Max) and Bob (68 year old proud grandfather from Wisconsin) at Hauser Creek. Met Grace and Michael (couple from Australia) at Hauser Creek as well - they caught up with me and we hiked the last couple miles into the campground together with Jacob from Pennsylvania. Met Serena (a  recent grad from Michigan) at the Malt Shop and returned her lens cap that I found to her! She was just about to order a replacement. Met Mike from Minnesota (father of two adopted boys from Guatemala).
  • Treasures: Was gifted quarters to use the hot showers at the campground.
  • Wildlife: Saw loads of cotton tails, a horny toad, and one very polite rattlesnake (she warned the English boys ahead of me and quickly exited the trail)
  • General Sentiment: Okay, now this is going to be special. I’m with good people. The morning miles flew by and the afternoon was filled with laughter and story sharing. We’re all just figuring this out as we go.

Day #3: Glorious!

  • Distance: ~12 miles
  • Camping Spot: Fred’s Canyon tent site
  • Menu: Trail magic mandarins and blueberries brought by Julie the Trail Angel, coffee, fruit snacks, Cliff bar, trail mix, tuna tortilla with siracha, gummy bears, top ramen, Chips Ahoy
  • Entrainment: No media
  • Community: Started the day alone and was overtaken by Mike and Jacob. Caught up to the English boys at Boulder Oaks campground, and was joined by Grace, Michael, and Bob as they set off. Hiked with Grace and Michael for the rest of the day and enjoyed the company of the whole group at a hidden off-trail swimming hole and waterfall. Made camp with Grace, Michael, Bob, Serena, and the English boys. Enjoyed dinner together and made plans to stick together the next two days.
  • Treasures: Trail Angel Julie was a delightful bright spot in our morning, and the swimming hole brought us all back to life and bonded us together.
  • General Sentiment: My hiking legs are getting stronger. I experienced my first river crossings, and I feel like I’ve found a really special trail family to begin this adventure beside me. I may have been given a trail name (jury’s still out). And suddenly, on this day, the wild is starting to feel like home.

Day #4: Wolverine Trail Magic

For this day, I won’t list the details. I’ll just say it has been absolute magic. Amazing morning views, incredible company, decent into rolling meadows, first sign of pines, and made camp in the very place where I first fell in love with camping as a grown-up: Mount Laguna. We made it in on the last night that the Wolverine Trail Magic group hosted a group site for PCT hikers, equipped with cold drinks, trivia, blister support, and most importantly: puppies! The whole day #3 crew (and then some) reunited and enjoyed a delicious meal at the tavern down the road. I can’t describe how grateful I am to be doing this. All of it.

Notable trail musings:

I’ve been thinking about my mom a lot. Every time I see a little rabbit skipping across my path I think of her. She insists that I’m brave for doing this, but I think she doesn’t see how brave she really is.

I’ve also been thinking SO much about the weight of my pack. There is something really important about carrying the weight of that care for myself. Every single item I’m lugging around, every ounce, is designed and intended to support my own well being. It’s for nobody else. When the weight of that pack sinks down on my hips, or starts to feel heavy on my shoulders - that load is the burden of my own care for ME. And I’m proud of it. I know I would carry a weight like this for the ones I love, no questions asked. But it’s important, and powerful, and beautiful that for this adventure I am only invested in carrying my own love and care for myself. This is good. Sometimes it’s heavy, but it’s good.