PCT
2009 Introduction
This summer, I continued my hike on the Pacific Crest trail, completing 439 miles of trail from South Lake Tahoe to a point a bit south of the border with Oregon. I was on the trail for 33 days, 5 of those days were rest days. On average I hiked about 16 miles a day, which (at my comfortable pace) took about 8 hours. Those who hike the entire 2650 mile PCT in one summer average more like 20-25 miles per day!
I saw some incredible things, especially the remote lakes. It wasn’t all rosy, though. Part of the journey is learning to deal with your body and emotions – finding balance, the strength to continue, and patience.
Without random people helping you out, you can’t hike the PCT. I’m ever thankful to my friend Paul for mailing out my packs of food that I picked up every week ; to Firefly and Firewalker in Old Station and Terry and Nancy in Buck’s Lake for the shower and bed; to the postmaster in Cassel who drove in on a Sunday so I could get my food pack ; and to Laurie in Sacramento and Terry and Linda in Yreka for driving me to and from the trail.
I hope you enjoy this narrative, which is based on my journals from the trip. You can click on any of the pictures to get a larger view in a separate window.