Journeys

Places I've been

Mount Davidson Hike, Nevada

Mount Davidson Hike, Nevada

Mount Davidson is the highest point in one of Nevada's smallest counties, Storey. It's easily seen from Virginia City and much of South Reno and Washoe Valley. While only a few hundred feet higher than most of the surrounding peaks, the difference is significant. The views from it are unparalleled

27 things I learned hiking PCT SoBo vs NoBo

27 things I learned hiking PCT SoBo vs NoBo

In 2017, I completed the section from Donner Pass to Manning Park going northbound on the Pacific Crest Trail. It was my first long distance hike and I learned what it takes to hike longer than a few days in the wilderness. I learned something worked or didn't but others

Little High Rock Canyon, Black Rock Desert, Nevada

Little High Rock Canyon, Black Rock Desert, Nevada

High Rock Canyon in the Black Rock Desert is famous for being used an emigrant route through deserts of Nevada to California. Wagons use to cross through its towering walls on the way to California. Little High Rock is less well known and less prominent. I've haven't yet been to

Leadville, Nevada Ghost Town

Leadville, Nevada Ghost Town

Like much of Nevada, the Black Rock Desert has a fair share of mines in it. The Leadville mine is one of the easier ones to access. Silver and lead (hence the name) was discovered here in 1909, and the mines kept producing until the early 40s. Minor deposits of

PCT SoBo - Truckee to Mexican Border Stats & Retrospective

PCT SoBo - Truckee to Mexican Border Stats & Retrospective

July 24th - October 14th (82 Days) StatsMap of JourneyIt's been a few weeks since I've been off of the trail and I feel like this is the first time I've been able to sit down and consciously reflect on my journey. Part of the trail is putting your life

PCT SoBo Section A - Warner Springs to Campo & Mexican Border

PCT SoBo Section A - Warner Springs to Campo & Mexican Border

It was exciting to know I only had a few days left until I reached the border. Not only have I never been to Mexico, getting there would mean I had hiked the entire West Coast. I was unsure if I was ever going to do another thru hike after

PCT SoBo Section B - Cabazon to Warner Springs

PCT SoBo Section B - Cabazon to Warner Springs

Going down from San Gorgonio was one of my favorite sections in SoCal. Not only did this feel like the first set of "real mountains" since leaving the Sierras, the journey down into the desert of around Cabazon reinforced just how connected the two ecosystems are. When I came back

PCT SoBo Section C - Cajon Pass to Cabazon

PCT SoBo Section C - Cajon Pass to Cabazon

The most surprising thing I noticed when I entered San Bernadino National Forest was the Mojave River. Since leaving the Sierras, I had only passed a creek and here was an actual river. The trail wound up and down the desert canyon that held the river. I had stocked up

PCT SoBo - Section E, D - Hikertown to Wrightwood

PCT SoBo - Section E, D - Hikertown to Wrightwood

After several days of no trees and scarce water, the sign that announced that I was entering Angeles national Forest was a welcome sight. The trail out of antelope valley and up into the mountains was gradual but soon I found myself thousands of feet above the California aqueduct and

PCT SoBo CA Section F - Walker Pass to Hikertown

PCT SoBo CA Section F - Walker Pass to Hikertown

I left Walker Pass after a great zero day. I was rested and recharged and looking forward to a section of the trail I knew little about. I just began to adjust from the abundance of water in the High Sierras to the dry Mojave after leaving Kennedy Meadows. Since

PCT SoBo - CA Section G - Kearsarge Pass to Walker Pass

PCT SoBo - CA Section G - Kearsarge Pass to Walker Pass

End of the John Muir TrailGetting back over into the Sierras from Independence seemed easy. A quick 5 miles up and over the pass dropped me into the stunning wilderness of mountains and clear lakes. By the time I rejoined the JMT, it was quickly becoming dark. I hiked to

PCT SoBo - CA Section H - Tuolumne Meadows to Kearsarge Pass

PCT SoBo - CA Section H - Tuolumne Meadows to Kearsarge Pass

I was excited to get back on the Yosemite. To the south lied what many hikers say is their favorite part of the PCT. When I was going North in 2017, almost every hiker said the John Muir Trail section of the Sierras was their favorite, hands down. It's also

PCT SoBo - CA Section I - Sonora Pass to Tuolumne Meadows

PCT SoBo - CA Section I - Sonora Pass to Tuolumne Meadows

I got a late start in the afternoon when I headed south of Sonora Pass The trail quickly ascends to get up on the crest of the mountains and stays there for the next 10 miles. There were excellent views of the country around the highway and the Emigrant Wilderness

PCT SoBo - CA Section J - Echo Summit to Sonora Pass

PCT SoBo - CA Section J - Echo Summit to Sonora Pass

Section J of the PCT going south starts at Echo Summit on Highway 50. The trail quickly climbs up a 1000 ft or so around granite boulders and mountain streams. I got my final view of Lake Tahoe on the way up. Once the trail flatten out, I immediately dropped

PCT SoBo - CA Section K - Donner Pass to Echo Summit

PCT SoBo - CA Section K - Donner Pass to Echo Summit

That's a big pack you have there? Where are you going?Mexico.Ha ha... Well, good luck with that!This Year's LoadoutIt has been almost two years since I first started my thru hike of the PCT from Tahoe to Canada. This year I'm heading south from the same trailhead

Henness Pass Driving Tour

Henness Pass Driving Tour

Henness Pass was the most popular Sierra pass before the transcontinental railroad was finished. It offered the lowest elevation and shortest distance to get over the mountains from California to Nevada. For 10 years or so, it was a toll road that thousands of people and almost all cargo went

Grouse Ridge, Nevada County, California

Grouse Ridge, Nevada County, California

Grouse Ridge is home to one of my favorite views in the entire state of California. Only being on top of Mt. Whitney or Half Dome give it a run for its money. Until recently, it served as fire outlook for a good chunk of Tahoe National Forest. When you

PCT Retrospective

PCT Retrospective

The steppes of Mongolia are a harsh and unforgiving place. In order to survive there, Ancient Mongolians had to be more skilled and stronger than almost anyone today. When chieftans raided and conquered new lands, life became much easier. They noticed their sons that grew up in these lands were

PCT Day 64: Washington to Northern Terminus

PCT Day 64: Washington to Northern Terminus

I passed into Washington by crossing the Columbia Gorge on The Bridge of the Gods. The Columbia River was easily the largest river I had to cross on the PCT. The only other river close was the Klamath back in California. The gorge the river has created was equally impressive.

PCT Day 49 - Section OR-F, OR-G

PCT Day 49 - Section OR-F, OR-G

Today I passed into Washington state. Only one state and 507 Mi to go to the Canadian border. I've heard Washington has tougher trained in Oregon but it's also shorter. I've also heard it's much more Scenic in Oregon and hiking in Oregon was good enough for me. Since the

PCT Day 44 - Section OR-C, OR-D, OR-E

PCT Day 44 - Section OR-C, OR-D, OR-E

Soon after leaving the national park surrounding Crater Lake, I entered Mt. Thielsen wilderness. The mountain was exceedingly picturesque. The tall spire-like peak was surrounded by highlights the snow that survived into late summer. Just a few miles north of Mt. Thielsen, I came across a flock handsome birds caller

PCT Day 34 - Section Q, R, OR-A, OR-B

PCT Day 34 - Section Q, R, OR-A, OR-B

It's been awhile since I've done an update. I've been going through some fairly tough terrain. Once I left Mount Shasta City, I began a trek through multiple wilderness areas including the Castle Crags, Trinity, Russian, and Marble Mountain. All of it very remote and rugged. It was my favorite

PCT Day 22 - Section P

PCT Day 22 - Section P

I'm starting section P at at Castle Crags State Park today. I spent yesterday around the Mount Shasta, which dominated almost every long distance vista in section O. Once I got out of the Hat Creek Rim, the rest of the hike to Burney Falls was fairly straight forward. The

PCT Day 16 - Section O

PCT Day 16 - Section O

I just passed through the Hat Creek rim and I am on my way to Burney Falls. Once I'm past that I'll be on Section o. Since leaving Belden, I've pretty much hike the entirety of Lassen National Forest. The first part of it was very steep in mountainous Terrain

PCT Day 10 - Section N

PCT Day 10 - Section N

I'm starting the day off in Belden, the start of section N. Since last update, I've passed the middle fork of the Feather River and gone by numerous alpine lakes. I've notice a steady increase in the amount of milage I've been able to cover. The terrain is slightly easier

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