Tahoe to Oregon

Currently taking my second zero day in 1,100 miles in Ashland, Oregon. Northern California was mentally tough. It was hot, the terrain was mundane, there was poison oak everywhere, and the bees were much like seagulls at the beach trying to get into my food every time I tried to eat. Despite all this, walking the length of California was an incredible journey. Getting to experience the change in environments on a day to day basis was amazing as was the weather most of the time. Can't wait to see what the rest of this trail has in store!

 A few milestones crossed along the way :)

Out of the Sierra but there is still plenty of snow on the trail in spots for just a little bit longer

Heading through a valley where the trail looks like Yosemite again

Just Past Ebbets Pass (top) / fields of flowers past Tahoe (bottom) 

Heading into Lake Tahoe and taking a zero day to head into Nevada for some gambling :)

Aloha Lake

PCT is filled with breathtaking views around every corner 

A Sierra Club backcountry ski hut. The top door is the winter entrance, 2 story privy, summer entrance and winter entrance

Northern California at its finest

At a trail angel's house...a red tail hawk in rehabilitation, They also were rehabilitating this Kestrel.

The trail got narrow in spots and you never knew what you'd stumbled upon!

That would be a boiling springs pool behind the sign. It smelled like stinky eggs.

Beautiful stretch of boardwalk trail

Lassen Peak

A rather tall trail register!

Hat Creek Rim and tenting with cows!

The trail takes on a deserty feel again followed by volcanic rock

Shasta Peak!

Castle Crags...much more impressive than the Castellated Ridge in the Whites!

Shasta Peak at sunset

Burney Falls and giant lichen covered pines

Beautiful deep blue lake below a rugged mountain ridge

A curious chipmunk tries to jump into my pack!  Deer of Marble Valley roaming around and playing where we tented

Heading through some 'rolling' mountain hills past wild flowers as I head into Oregon

Big Bear to Wrightwood : 103 miles to PCT Mile 369

 Camping in and hiking through Deep Creek and its canyon

Deep Creek Hot Spring.  "It was nice to soak in the hot water and swim in the cold creek. There was a slack line and a rope swing too!"

Bridge over Deep Creek and hiking out of the canyon

You never know what you'll see around the next corner.  This time it was a damn...with no water!

Sunset and sunrise from Silverwood Lake

 Hiking along the beautiful Silverwood Lake

The hike into Wrightwood for a much desevered zero day.  "We hiked 11 miles through a wet cloud and then finally broke through to the sunshine (it was still ridiculously windy and very cold...just below 9,000 feet)."

2296 miles to go...and now there's tarantulas and rattle snakes in the trail!!!

Mexico Border, Mile 0, to Mile 210 (Lake Fire Closure)

 Starting out at the Mexican border in Campo, California!

The trail is almost all dirt and sand, much more forgiving on the feet than the Appalachian Trail which Whitney hiked in 2014.

 The first seven hundred miles is desert hiking, it can get extremely hot so an umbrella hooked up to the backpack is essential to stay shaded from the punishing sun

Whitney's gaiters and trail runners are no match for the sand which makes its way into her shoes then turns into a muddy paste as her feet sweat! 

End of day one heading into Lake Morena

 Day two starts off a misty and windy morning

Well that makes things a little more interesting!

Cloudy along the PCT but sunny down in the valley

The weather clears off and the trail is beautiful around every corner!

 Day three, another cold but sunny day as the shadows rise up from the valley floor

What a breathtaking trail to hike along 

 In past years there was barely any rain and most of the vegetation was dormant, this year there has been plenty of rain over the winter months revealing a lush green floor in the valleys below the high rising mountains

After a great weather day, Whitney settles in at a very picturesque campsite

Day Four, "Mile 56. It's still mother f***ing cold but at least the sun is out! This trail is unbelievably beautiful and yes the desert is cold!"

 Day four, starts off cool but it's dry and as soon as the clouds and shadows slip away the sun starts to heat things up quickly

Into the great wide open!

Just sharing the road with a couple of cows!

When extreme heat comes through, Whitney and her trail family takes a siesta in the early afternoon to save energy

After the siesta they set out again to get some more miles in the late afternoon shade

 Day five, passing by mile 100!

Eagle Rock, what an awesome natural formation of boulders

Day Six, hiking along one of the more lusher parts of the trail where green is more prevalent.

Mikes place, he makes great pizza!

 Day seven, passing by one of the much needed and appreciated water caches in the desert

After a long day of hiking Whitney and her trail family makes it to the highways and road walks to Paradise Valley Cafe...

"Week 1 on the PCT: 152 miles. Burger time"

Day eight and nine - Approaching one of the first trail closure as they head into Idyllwild

Day ten - Zero Day, "I'm winning the tan line competition."

 Day eleven, heading up to San Jacnito Peak

Snow!  Whitney and the gang makes their way up above 10,000 feet for the first time

View from the summit of San Jacnito Peak


Tip-Toe Tops Ten Thousand Feet!

Fuller Ridge

Undercast slowly creeping into the valley below

 Day twelve, a beautiful sunrise from camp

Early morning undercast!

Day thirteen, passing by mile 200!