PCT Day 122, ridge above Mission Creek to Whitewater River, 18 miles
Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Remember, you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. – Harriet Tubman It’s cold. But that’s a good thing, right? Because we’re in the desert still and it makes for deep sleeping cuddled in Big Greenie […]
PCT Day 121, Arrastre Trail Camp to ridge above Mission Creek, 18 miles
Sometimes questions are more important than answers. – Nancy Willard Because it was so cold down in the creek canyon, I shared Ted’s tent, a tiny two-man tent, the one he uses with his son every year on an overland marathon in Scotland. It felt like an animal’s underground lair, tight and warm in a […]
Day 120, Van Dusen Road to Arrastre Trail Camp, 19 miles
A man told me that for a woman, I was very opinionated. I said, ‘For a man, you’re kind of ignorant.’ – Anne Hathaway A bed, a shower, loads of coffee and a comfy chair are all taken advantage of before trail angel ‘Papa Smurf’ comes to pick us up to return to the trail […]
PCT Day 119, zero, Big Bear Lake
If I had to live my life again, I’d make the same mistakes, only sooner. – Tallulah Bankhead
PCT Day 118, Holcomb Creek to Van Dusen Road (Big Bear Lake) 18 miles
I don’t think life is about the I-could-have-beens. Life is only about the I-tried-to-do. I don’t mind the failure but I can’t imagine I’d forgive myself if I didn’t try. – Nikki Giovanni Another glorious night solo by a stream for a change, the sound so relaxing until an acorn bomb crashes on the alicoop. […]
PCT Day 117, ridge above highway 173 to Holcomb Creek, 26 miles
The thing that is really hard and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and starting the work of being yourself. – Anna Quindlen My cowgirl night is heavenly. It got absolute silent except for an owl, “Hoo’hool hoooool hoo,” and a snake’s rattle twitching a few times, though I can’t be sure that’s […]
PCT Day 116, dry river bed near Cajon Pass to ridge above highway 173, 24 miles
I was built this way for a reason, so I’m going to use it. – Simone Biles I adore my camp spot just over the hill from the trains chugging up Cajon Pass. I hear their horns through the night – some long and steady, some short and sassy – but it calms me, somehow. […]
PCT Day 115, Inspiration Point to dry river bed near Cajon Pass, 26 miles
You’ve just got to follow your own path. You have to trust your heart and you have to listen to the warnings. – Chaka Khan I hit my alarm after its first semi-quaver. Jeremy pokes his head in to tell me he’s awake. He grind beans in a vitamixer and uses the jumbo size coffee […]
PCT Day 114, ridge below Mount Hawkins to Inspiration Point (Wrightwood) 14 miles
I can’t imagine people telling me what to do – I just can’t imagine it. – Jane Campion This night turns out to be one of my favorite of the hike. I’m snug as a bug in Big Greenie, thermarest on a tent footprint held down by a row of rocks on all sides. The […]
PCT Day 113, Highway 2 and Three Points to ridge below Mount Hawkins, 20 miles
It’s very important to take risks. I think that research is very important, but in the end you have to work from your instinct and feeling and take those risks and be fearless. – Anna Wintour Again, it’s dreams all night of walking, then waking and seeing I haven’t gotten anywhere. Ruth and Dave and […]
