Spending months (or maybe month?) out on the Pacific Crest Trail, you are guaranteed to run into some wildlife.
This wildlife could be as boring as the “cheeseburger” birds taunting you with reminders of food you can't eat (Cheeseburger bird? Yes, cheeseburger bird. Go hike the PCT and you'll know what I'm talking about), or as exciting as a predatory mountain lions stalking you over the course of a day and night (and then killing you).
The desert offers PCT hikers chances to see countless rattlesnakes, infinity lizards, and a healthy helping of cattle. The Sierra introduces the chirpy bastards that are marmots and maybe a bear or two if you're lucky. Northern California to the Canadian border? Best just check out the photos and see for yourself.
The following photos are in chronological order (beginning at the PCT Southern Terminus) and reflect only a sliver of the animals I encountered hiking the PCT.
Do ants count as wildlife?
Desert lizard chilling.
So many colors.
He's watching me.
How far away can these guys strike again?
A blurry photo of Bambi.
Woke up sharing a campsite with this guy.
Hiding among the picnic tables.
At the boy scout camp.
The roosters of Hikertown.
MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooo……
Skunk.
LOOK! AN ADORABLE KITTEN!
Can someone identify this snake for me? UPDATE: Identified as a milk snake by Jburning. Thanks!
Kennedy Meadows friend.
If only I had one of these to carry all my shit.
A chipmunk?
The scariest thing I saw on the PCT.
Had lunch with this guy.
Do they count if I've decapitated them?
Bug sex.
It's about time I hunt, kill, and eat one of these things.
A snake eating a mouse – awesome.
As close as I could get to some mountain goats.
My favorite animal photo of the trail – a barred owl.
There are some huge mule deer up there, I promise.
Getting ready for a Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike yourself? What animal(s) are you most looking forward to seeing? To not seeing?
Leave a comment below and let me know!
