Hiking from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail? Wow! That sounds awesome. Yeah, except I don't have five months of life to spend being homeless in the woods. A lot of you have written in to ask something to the extent of, "I have *insert amount of time*, what section of the PCT should
The Mount Laguna Outfitter And “Getting Daved”
This early stop can be a monetary disaster for a hiker with insecurities in their gear. Dave will gladly go through your pack, suggesting replacements, and even mail home the gear you replace. I've seen hikers with a decent set of gear get talked into spending thousands to shed a few pounds off
PCT Progress Report I: The Desert
Seven-hundred miles of Pacific Crest Trail and the California desert are now behind me. I now sit at the legendary Kennedy Meadows with the Sierra and a state of perpetual highness await me in the distance. But before we discuss my entry into bear country, let us take a look back at some of
Dear Wind, Fuck You.
I really thought we had an understanding. Scorching daytime heat, you are on full blast. Attempting to set up tent and/or sleeping - you had best be elsewhere. I forgave you already for deafening me on my way to Cabazon, and even for blowing that poodle dog bush into me (I am still itchy); but
An Afternoon At McDonald’s (on the PCT)
I don't think I have ever been more content just sitting in a McDonald's watching obese Americans hasten their impending biological failures. I myself put down a double quarter-pounder with cheese, a Big Mac, a 10 piece chicken nuggets, a large fry, and a gallon of Dr. Pepper, so I don't know
Water: The One True God Of The PCT
On the Pacific Crest Trail, hikers have only one god to answer to: water. Where the next water source is, how much water you currently have, and the reliability of your water information are all incredibly important pieces of information on the trail. And said information will easily occupy 50%
The Poodle Dog Bush
The wildlife and foliage along the Pacific Crest Trail is quite diverse (even through the 700 miles of desert). Unfortunately, like some of the animals along the PCT (bears, rattlers, and mountain lions), some of the PCT's plants are also to be avoided. Namely, the poodle dog bush. Now I
The New Worst Day On The PCT
After taking my first zero in Idyllwild, I felt it necessary to make up for lost time and go from Idyllwild to Cabazon in one day: a 33-mile trek (spoiler alert: this was a terrible idea). Armed with new socks, new insoles, and a freshly laundered wardrobe I felt rather invincible (especially
Taking A Zero
Sometimes when you punish your body in ways you have never experimented with before (namely, walking long distances in rugged terrain with a backpack that is in all likelihood entirely too heavy), it decides to fight back. Begging you to stop with an aggressive arsenal of aches, cramps, blisters,