Southern California

Nearly all of Southern California’s PCT section is considered desert and yet it boasts numerous riparian zone canyons as well as pine forested San Jacinto peak.

PCT Day 139, Lake Morena campground to Mexican border, 20 miles

November 16, 2019 53 comments

You don’t choose the day you enter the world and you don’t chose the day you leave. It’s what you do in between that makes all the difference. – Anita Septimus I wake on my final day with the moon casting leaf shadows on our tent, Rich a giant breathing blue bag next to me. He’s more of a night owl, working on projects at home until the wee hours, but he’s always awakened with […]

Read More
Richard and I pose at Lake Morena the final night of the PCT.

PCT Day 138, Mount Laguna to Lake Morena County Park, 22 miles

November 15, 2019 12 comments

To me, there’s no greater act of courage than being the one who kisses first. – Janean Garofalo It’s quasi cowgirl camping in our enormous tent with no fly. The stars don’t disappoint before the moon rises over the ridge obliterating them. No campfires in this tinder box means everyone’s asleep when it gets dark. It’s quiet except for an owl and a few acorn bombs. Richard and I pop right up before it’s light, […]

Read More
Ted and Richard hand me a bottle of water before saying goodbye as I head into the mountains for the last night alone on the PCT.

PCT Day 136, Highway S2 to past Sunrise Trailhead junction, 18 miles

November 13, 2019 3 comments

Dreams and reality are opposites. Action synthesizes them. – Assata Shakur I wake up with the sun even though we were up late talking and laughing in the hotel’s beautiful lobby. It’s so nice to have Richard right there next to me, though he begs for more rest. I mess around with my pack on my last walk out of a town, at least my body’s clean, but dusty hiking clothes will have to suffice. […]

Read More
Cactus nuzzle in looking down on Scissors Crossing near Julian.

PCT Day 135, water cache to Scissors Crossing (Julian), 14 miles

November 13, 2019 25 comments

If you have the courage to fail, then you have the courage to succeed. – Shalane Flanagan Desert sunrises are magnificent – orange light in the east as the full moon drops, deep pink on the other horizon. I sit up and make coffee noticing a tiny animal hole right next to my mat. OK, who did this? Were you coming or going? I never saw or heard a thing – no harm, no foul […]

Read More
A happy trail worker on the desert section of the PCT.

PCT Day 134, Highway 79 to water cache, 19 miles

November 11, 2019 13 comments

You never find yourself until you face the truth. – Pearl Bailey I have seen lots of animals on this hike including black bears and marmots, rattlesnakes and golden eagles, but nothing has gotten too cozy or threatened to steal my food until my stay at one of the Warner Springs Resort cabins. There’s a mouse in the house and he chewed a little opening in my vanillacoffee. Fortunately, nothing spilled out and I simply […]

Read More
The plan for the final days to the end of the PCT.

PCT Day 133, zero, Warner Springs

November 11, 2019 5 comments

The more anger towards the past you carry in your heart, the less capable you are of loving in the present. – Barbara De Angelis Behold! The final ‘zero mile day of this epic hike, and all I have to show for it is this haiku – Luxurious restat mile one-hundred-and-nine.Hop, skip, smile, the end! ♥️ Singet

Read More