This is the final year of the PCT and the point of this year is to fill in a couple areas where I was off the trail because of injury or because of fire. In 2015 (the first year) I had to go off the trial because I burned my knee by spilling boiling water on it. I was off trail for a week and when I went back on the trail I continued from where I would have been if I had not taken the time off. That section is 80 miles and starts at Cahon Pass by the famous McDonalds on Interstate 15 and extends into the Angeles National Forest and past the Wrightwood Ski Resort. The second section is 200 miles and is up in Washington and goes from Snoqualmie on Interstate 90 up to Rainy Pass on Hwy 20.

Mid August is a good time to be in Washington and it turns out Lenora had a needlework conference in Tucson at the end of July and so Lenora and Martha and I figure that is a good time to start California. While Lenora is at the conference, I will do the 80 mile California section and then we will all head up to Washington and finish it off.

Lenora helped me train to get ready for this by hiking with me in Georgia. There was a 5 mile hike to a Lodge in the mountains. 5 in and 5 back for a nice 10 mile hike. We started doing this pretty soon after having COVID and I was shocked at how little stamina I had. I would run out of breath and have to rest going up the modest hills on this hike. At one point Lenora mentioned she was worried about me and I told her I was worried as well. I got a little stronger each time but not much. BUT, I was still determined to finish the PCT and so we kept the plans.

Martha and I drive from Tucson up to California and for logistical reasons decide to stay in Palmdale CA which is very near the end point of my hike. Since we are there we decide to actual start at the end (north) and hike south. Turns out to be a very good decision and it puts 20 miles of my hike in the desert going mostly downhill rather than mostly uphill.

Here I am starting out towards the end of the day. Starting at the Mill Creek Fire Station on the Angeles Forest Hwy. Just want to get a few miles in. However it is over ninety degrees. Yes, I am starting my hike in the desert in August with perhaps weak lungs. What could go wrong 🙂 The good news is that a large portion of this section is very close to Hwy 2 just north of Los Angeles and crosses it multiple times. There are many places I can be picked up if necessary.

The first part of the trail here is uphill but not drastically so. Even so, I only make it a little over 3 miles before I get to a camp site and decide to quit. On the way up, I pass 2 older ladies who indicate I am the first person they have seen all day. But they say that tomorrow is the weekend and all the crazies come out. I can see the lights of Palmdale from my campsite.