It was pretty exciting to drive up to the border this morning and see the Southern Terminus of the PCT come into view. Mom and I were both a little emotional, so I signed the trail register quickly, we took a few photos, and had our hugs and goodbyes. It all felt a bit surreal to finally be standing there. I checked in with “Terminus Tom”, the Forest Service trailhead volunteer, and got the water report and a quick rundown of restrictions and LNT principles. Then he said, “Ok now, get walking,” so I did – after he pointed out which way the trail went. In my defense, it wasn’t obvious.
“Layin’ sick, honey, on my bed…” ~ Skip James, Sick Bed Blues
I picked up a hitchhiker in Yosemite. A quick visit to an urgent care clinic in Palm Springs revealed my passenger to be a virus of some sort, which means that an upper respiratory infection will be my hiking partner for a little while. I’m hopeful that cold medicine and a sinus rinse (that’s a weirdly addicting practice…) will knock it back soon! Last-minute additions to my pack. Ugh.
While I was in the hotel hot tub last night hoping to boil the little virus bastards to death, I happened to meet a man and woman who were taking a break from their 33-mile bicycle trip and we got to talking about hiking, backpacking and outdoorsy things. When I mentioned that I am hoping to thru-hike the PCT, she generously offered to let me stay at her vacation home in Northern California and to help me with my resupply when I get there. People can be so amazing!
Another bright spot in my day was getting a chance to FaceTime with my brother Patrick’s family, who live in the D.C. area. A couple weeks ago, my sister-in-law sent a little Pusheen coin purse for me to bring along as a lucky charm, and also so my niece Olivia can have a fun way to follow it’s journey. I’m a little superstitious, so I already had a little collection going…
My ‘traveler’ voodoo doll, Catholic medal from Mom, and the Pusheen
…plus, who can say no to this face??
“Aunt Jenny, are you already on your big walk?” ~ Olivia, age 5
So, despite being a little under the weather, I feel a lot of love and good vibes from friends and family, in person and on Facebook, that will help me get going tomorrow!
Last Monday, Mom (my chauffeur to the trailhead) and I left rainy, gray Southwest Washington and headed South on I-5. Yesterday, we arrived in sunny Mariposa, California, a cute little town on Highway 140 with a history as a mining town and a gateway to Yosemite National Park. Continue reading “Halfway To The Beginning”
“I got a question for you, another question for you…” Franz Ferdinand, What She Came For
Whenever I tell someone that I’m taking off to hike the PCT, I inevitably get the same questions. So I’ve decided to do a Q & A here for anyone I haven’t talked to already. I think these cover the basics… Continue reading “FAQs”
