After you’ve launched enough thru-hikes, friends and family stop asking for the scoop. No biggie! I appreciate that they’re all in the know and have confidence in my Pacific Crest Trail 2017 preparations. So perhaps more as a record and accountability for myself, here’s what’s been going on in my world. As always, I dream … More Where In The Prep?
Not a whole lot has changed with this new gear list. I wanted to get an Arc pack with the heavier duty 4.2 oz/sqyd Gridstop fabric. Unfortunately, you can only get an Arc Haul in that fabric and ZPacks no longer offers custom orders. The 62L Arc Haul is just way too big and so … More PCT 2017 Gear List II
PCT 2017 oz. lb. zpacks 62L arc haul with hip belt pockets 25.5 zpacks 0F wide long bag with draft tube 27.1 big agnes platinum fly creek UL1 + GG polycryo sheet, 30 oz. zpacks solplex, 19 oz. (first 700 miles) 19 71.6 4.5 thermarest prolite small 11 gossamer gear 1/8″ pad 3.2 msr pack … More PCT 2017 Gear List I
Saturday, October 8 Start: mid Hanaupah Canyon Stop: Lone Pine 14 miles I toss and turn all night, sometimes admiring the star-studded sky and sometimes watching the glow on the horizon that must be Las Vegas. Two male hikers hike by at 4am. It’s perfect because I was planning on getting up at that time … More More Playa Views, Hitchhiking and Cowboys
Friday, October 7 Start: Hanaupah Canyon Spring Stop: middle Hanaupah Canyon Road 10 miles I get up during the night to pee for the first time since 1pm yesterday. Finally. The stars twinkle brightly against the dark sky. The spring’s calm melody comes and goes with the gentle breeze. I think this is the most … More Tough Climbing and Turn-Arounds
Thursday, October 6Start: Badwater Basin, Death Valley National ParkStop: Hanaupah Canyon Spring15 Miles I meet Uncle Jay after parking my desert-dusted Tacoma at Dow Villa’s courtesy parking lot. A stop at Lee’s, the home of Lone Pine’s best breakfast burrito, has us armed with water and chorizo breakfast burritos. By 7:30am, we’re speeding off into … More When I Crush Millions Of Salt Castles and Get Dehydrated
Monday, September 26 Start: Cottonwood Campground Stop: North Rim 6.9 miles Early to bed, early to rise. There really is only so long that one can lay on a thin sleeping pad on the ground. Besides, there’s a big climb and we might as well get started. 4200 ft. of gain in 6.9 miles. On … More Grand Canyon Rim2Rim Part Three
Sunday, September 25 Start: Indian Garden Campground Stop: Cottonwood Campground 13 miles The campground is slow to quiet despite the 8pm quiet hours and to my utter surprise the camp is rumbling at 5am. I was keen on getting an early start but damn. Those folks headed for the South Rim are no doubt hard … More Grand Canyon Rim2Rim Part Two
Friday, September 23 Start: Westlake Village, CA Stop: Grand Canyon South Rim, AZ With stars twinkling over the Grand Canyon, I peer down from the South Rim and see the slow movement of headlamps. Some in the Indian Garden Campground and some still methodically moving up the Bright Angel Trail with many more miles to … More Grand Canyon Rim2Rim Part One
Wednesday, June 29 Independence I sleep 12 hours and it’s not enough. I drag myself to Mt. Williamson Motel’s lovely breakfast at 8am. Owner Jim fixes a scrumptious yet simple breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, AYCE english muffins, homemade jam and coffee. I haven’t had coffee in weeks and it’s not long before I’m jittery … More Public Transportation Becomes My New Best Friend
Journey Return 