Alex McCafferty 
We made stops for Starbucks, bathroom breaks, and Chipotle. The total driving time was about 4 and a half hours. At Kennedy Meadows, we made one final stop at the outfitter before we were finally back at the trailhead around 5:00pm. The brief hiatus, new equipment, and epic scenery on the horizon made hiking north … Read more
There were 8 miles of trail between the two roads leading to Tehachapi, CA. We had taken the first and spent the morning cutting through a massive wind farm to reach Highway 58. This was quite possibly the windiest section yet, gusts surely reaching 50mph or more. The highway was significant in that it meant … Read more
We have been making frequent crossings of Highway 2 within the Angeles National Forest. The upside has been a pit toilet at nearly every parking lot. Unlike the AT, where each shelter has a privy in varying states of cleanliness, these pit toilets are maintained by the Forest Service and are almost always pristine and … Read more
After cleaning out our backpacks and back-flushing our water filters, we chatted a bit longer with some of the friendly hiking folks, then left to grab a bite to eat. We had an early lunch at The Himalayan. My plate was a huge pile of Tandoori chicken and some lamb curry. Spout said that gobbling … Read more
Spout and I consumed some caffeine that wired us into hiking machines. We cleared the morning mileage efficiently, stopping for a breather and a snack on top of a concrete cistern. It was here that Spout finally had to wander off and dig her first cathole of the hike, after making it an impressive 140 … Read more
The terrain thus far has been exceptionally easy. Other hikers have commented that Spout and I hike fast, but we move at a pace that feels natural for us. After Garnet Peak, we knocked out several miles towards Sunrise Highway. Epic red cliffs surrounded the trail, with blooming patches of California Lilac that smelled delightful. … Read more
I’m not sure when exactly when Amy and I committed to attempting the PCT, but the idea had been floating around for many years. Back in 2022, we nearly hiked it instead of the AT, but decided that we might as well try both at some point in our lives. In October of 2024, we … Read more
What’s in my Bag? Amy and I are gearing up for the west coast. What we will carry on the PCT is quite different than what we carried on the AT. The reasons why we made so many changes are varied; old gear needed replaced, new products were invented, or the terrain requires specialized equipment. … Read more
Trip Report Since I found myself unemployed a month before flying out west to attempt the PCT, I had some time on my hands for a backpacking trip. Unfortunately, Amy couldn’t swing it, as she was apparently the bread winner now and had to work for another two weeks. However, Tim and his dad Chris … Read more
Trip Report For 2024, we wanted to push ourselves and attempt the longest trail we have ever hiked on a vacation. Tim, Season Pass, Amy, and I were in for the long-haul, planning to cover 174 miles around the entirety of Lake Tahoe in just nine days. This was uncharted territory for some of us … Read more