So this is it! As I sit on my flight to San Diego, I feel surprisingly calm. It's exciting to look out the window and see all the land I will eventually hike. My base pack weight is officially 16lbs 2oz (which is average for a PCT hiker). With 5 days of food and 2L of...

*Note: My hope is to do another entry later today as I fly into San Diego to give everyone an idea of the start process and how I'm feeling. In my final goodbyes, my friend Breana gave me the perfect going away card. If you look closely at the picture, you can see...

ADZPCTKO stands for Annual Day Zero Pacific Crest Trail Kick Off. It is the official kick off weekend when many thru hikers will start the 2,650mi hike from Mexico to Canada. The kick off takes place just after Mile 20 on the PCT at Lake Morena in...

The bulk foods section at WinCo. Perfect for backpackers! I have finally completed what has been the most frustrating part of this whole process for me...my food boxes! YAY! My strategy is to send myself 2/3 of what I'll need. I plan on filling the final 1/3 along the...

As a thru hiker, I find myself sheepishly hiding a certain aspect of my life. I tiptoe around the subject wondering how I will be judged or what other hikers will think about me once I tell them. How do tell them? It isn't a topic that comes up often along the trail....

Okay, I've put it off long enough...I've been forced to start the daunting task of planning my resupply boxes and town stops. I have to say that this part of the planning has, by far, been the most unenjoyable part of this whole process. I just can't stand it! Every...

I am NOT one of those people who planned to hike the PCT solo. I originally had a hiking partner (hi Adelaide!), but those plans unfortunately fell through. When that happened, I assumed I just wasn't going to hike the trail this year. Then I had a period of mourning...

Trail TownsAs the PCT runs from Mexico to Canada, it goes near and through many towns along the way. These towns are called Trail Towns, and they are very much a part of the trail experience. Places like Hiker Heaven in Agua Dulce, CA or the final and most remote...

One of the things that makes the PCT so great is what is known as the PCT Community. There is a connectedness among the hikers (past and present) and also supporters who live along the trail. It wasn't until I started to hike solo that I really started to experience...

Here I am with my "big three" (tent, sleeping bag, and backpack). Before I got into thru hiking, if anyone would have asked me the brand or weight of any of my gear, I would have shrugged and thrown out a couple of halfhearted guesses. I wouldn't have had any idea of...