Welcome to Sarah's PCT Adventure

Ok so I’m a lot behind on my posts! I so sincerely apologize! I did not know how exhausting hiking like this was. I mean don’t get me wrong, hiking is work, I knew that. But numbers like this has never really been realized on an ongoing basis in my hiking career. I regularly hike 18+ mile days. I have had mire than a few 20 mile days…

I have encountered so much generosity on this trail! I hiked 13 miles to get to the trailhead at Paradise Cafe near Idyllwild. On the way I passed a Trail Angel’s property (Mary’s place) that stocks water for hikers. Sometimes even does dinners for them (Easter). Once to the trailhead there was a sign that instructed us to call the cafe for a ride (2 miles is a lot). The owner of the cafe picked me and another hiker up while dropping off 2 others. Once there, a Trail Angel named Grumpy drove people to town and about. He also helped me find a room for the night then drove me back out to the trailhead.

Simple little things like this, while hiking alone, makes such a huge difference to my morale.

I will be trying to catch up in the next few days. In the mean time you can check out my Instagram or Facebook page for pictures

@PNWChildOfTheWilds

I’m a little behind on my posts. I find it difficult to settle down long enough to do the writing. Beyond the eat, hike, sleep, repeat cycle, I’m pooped (in a good way).

I am also dealing with some major heel pain and a cold that has me slowwwwwer than I normally am.

There was a little place called Warner Springs that I stopped at. I do have to add that this was preceded by my first 20 mile day. Almost all hikers stop here. I got a resupply box that my parents sent to the P.O. there. But here’s the fun part. The community center really caters to the Hiker community. Last year hikers contributed 90% of their budget through donations and purchases that supports a community that, the majority of, is under the poverty level. Pretty dang cool!

At the Warner Springs Resource Center you can, as a hiker, make a $15 donation to camp on the lawn, they will also let you do “bucket laundry” ($1 for detergent), “bucket showers”, use flush toilets and running water! They have great hiker boxes too! While I was there the school put on a fund raiser and fed us burgers!

While I was there I had a pack shakedown. There was an ultra light backpacking pro that would go through your pack, piece by piece. I eliminated 8 pounds out of my pack. I donated some things to the hiker box but mailed the rest to my parents (that still has not arrived).

Warner Springs was a great stop!

Now I can say I’ve been to Mexico. This is the hole in the wall you can stick your hand through to say such nonsense.

Here we are at the monument, yes that is the double wall between us and Mexico. I am amazed at the weather (it rained the first 2 days), the views, the people, the list goes on and on. I’m also amazed at the people that blog on an ongoing basis, my hat is off to those folks! I’m going to do my best to keep up when all I can think about is walking, eating and sleeping! Hopefully it will get better, the walk is so zen, outside of the pain.

Man oh man! I’ve hiked over 70 miles in 5 days. I am taking a Nero (nearly zero miles) day today. I did about 6 miles today but my feet said NO to another day.

Soooo I find myself in Julian, CA and the first place I went was Mom’s Pies. They offer PCT hikers a free slice of pie ala mode and a free beverage. I am mailing a few things home and ditching things in the hiker boxes where others can pick them up to use. Anything to lighten up. We have 5 hikers to a room tonight to share the cost. I am planning on doing some laundry in the tub as I shower tonight…

I stopped in at Julian Beer Co and got them to make me the calzone I was craving. I will be uploading more photos to my Facebook as it just seems more efficient to upload.

Much love from the trail. I will try to add more soon.

Air travel always sets me a little on edge. I have not done a whole lot of it for 2 reasons. The first: the first time I flew, I was in the 5th grade. My eardrums created so much pain and pressure that they burst after reaching our destination (Disneyland)… my poor parents. The second: it has always seemed like a prohibitive luxury. Something that other people seemed to be able to afford with such ease, when I checked flights it always seemed like a small fortune to fly with 2 adults and 2 children.

I think this might actually be a facilitator in my love of hiking. Without the, seemingly mundane, luxury of flights, hotels and dining out, we did road trips, camp outs and backpacking trips. We did what we could to make some memories of outings and togetherness a thing without being prohibitive. I always feel a little guilty when I fly, like I’m cheating by not driving. By not saving a buck. With air travel there is always an uneasy feeling. And it’s a little more than motion sickness.

And now I find myself in San Diego. I am waiting for a ride from a Trail Angel named Bo to take me to Frodo and Scout’s place where I am fortunate enough to stay.

Frodo and Scout are Trail Angels that have been hosting PCT thru hikers for YEARS! They have a dialed in system that includes an assortment for volunteers, “reservations”, rides from the airport etc, meals (dinner & breakfast) 1 day stay for US based hikers (2 day for internationals), transport to the Southern Terminus in Campo, CA… all free of charge and they will not take your money. They have made the difficult decision that next year (2020) will be their last year hosting so that they can retire and spend time with the grandkid(s).

I must now go experience this amazing thing and I will report back to you at my next opportunity!