PCT 2022 #6 Northern California

BELDEN (mile 1287) to DUNSMUIR (mile 1501.2). For seven miles out of Belden there was poison oak along the trail and since it was growing amongst oak tree seedlings and oak shrubs, it was tedious to avoid. After the climb out of town, the trail led us through fire burn zones after fire burn zones. … Continue reading PCT 2022 #6 Northern California →

PCT 2022 #5 Northern California

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE (mile 1090) to BELDEN (mile 1287) The land has changed since leaving the Sierras. We still do several climbs per day but they peak at lower elevations (between 9,000' and 7,000') and progressively less. Initially the PCT at this point shared the path with the Tahoe Rim Trail which circumnavigates Lake Tahoe. Rock … Continue reading PCT 2022 #5 Northern California →

PCT 2022 # 4 Sierra Nevada Mountains

LONE PINE ( mile 789) to SOUTH LAKE TAHOE (mile 1090). It is hard to leave the comfortable small town of Lone Pine with its powerful mountainous views but we do. A shuttle takes us to the Onion Valley Trailhead which after a 7.5 mile uphill climb on gentle switchbacks gets us back on the … Continue reading PCT 2022 # 4 Sierra Nevada Mountains →

PCT 2022 # 3 Southern California/ Sierra Nevadas

TEHACHAPI ( mile 566.4) to LONE PINE ( mile 789). We took a few days off before this section while we shuffled our van north to store it in South Lake Tahoe and rented a car back to Tehachapi. Having a van with us adds to the logistics of doing the trail but there are … Continue reading PCT 2022 # 3 Southern California/ Sierra Nevadas →

PCT 2022 # 2 Southern California

WRIGHTWOOD (mile 369.3) to TEHACHAPI (mile 566.4). First on the agenda is climbing to one of the highest points of southern California, Mt Baden Powell (9400 ft). This was a 3 hour ascent on a smooth slow grade, however up is up and with freshly laden packs, we had to catch our breath from time … Continue reading PCT 2022 # 2 Southern California →

PCT 2022 # 1 Southern California

BIG BEAR (mile 266) - WRIGHTWOOD (mile 369.3): So we are at it again! Our 5 months of trail food prepped So they loaded up the van and Headed south to California We joined onto the trail just where we left off and things are going well. The weather has been continuously clear which is … Continue reading PCT 2022 # 1 Southern California →

GDT # 8 MOUNT ROBSON – endpoint

Our final 5.5 days on the trail were weirdly emotional and varied except for one element...rain! We walked in wet conditions or were in the rain the whole time. Before Jasper we must have crossed into a different climate/environment zone as we noticed the natural conditions were wetter with clay soils, water tables that were … Continue reading GDT # 8 MOUNT ROBSON – endpoint →

GDT # 7 JASPER

This leg from SC to Jasper was our longest carry- 9 days, but due to rain/overcast skies and lots of forest trail, we moved through it faster. Although hiking in forests offers a calm, introspective beauty, we prefer the big expanse of an open landscape trail. Forest trail with moss flooring Open minded landscape On … Continue reading GDT # 7 JASPER →

GDT # 6 Saskatchewan Crossing

We came and went through Saskatchewan Crossing without being able to communicate as this is an outpost service station (hotel, restaurant, and small store) that generates its electricity and doesn't have cell or wifi connections. We had an easy going rest day there gazing at the mountains from our room's porch and enjoying the balmy … Continue reading GDT # 6 Saskatchewan Crossing →

GDT # 5 FIELD

This 4.5 day section of the trail from Banff incorporated the famous ROCKWALL TRAIL! This trail would rival the WEST COAST TRAIL in popularity as seen in the number of hikers and hiking families doing it. The path itself is therefore well trodden and maintained but there are lots of obligatory daily greetings and meetings … Continue reading GDT # 5 FIELD →