Don Quixote PCT 2009

Group Pic

2010-02-02T00:25:00.000-08:00

CANADA! 2663 miles!

2009-09-21T03:53:00.000-07:00

I made it! Words cannot explain how amazing this experience was... Thanks to everyone for following along, hope to see you all in portland!

Mile 2476 Skykomish/Stevens pass

2009-09-12T17:16:00.000-07:00

No pictures yet! im less than 200 miles from the border with very scenic sections ahead, you will likely not hear from me via computer when i finish but check back around the 20th!

WASHINGTON! Mile 2156

2009-08-27T09:35:00.000-07:00

Staying in Portland at Tom's house for a couple days, i have updated previous posts with pictures... and may do some further updating later. That said, only 500 miles left! What an experience it has been so far, on one hand i cant wait to get done, but on the other, i dont want the experience to end. It is definitely a mixed bag of emotions having come this far. I hope to see everyone who wants to see me while im in town (thurs and fri.) I expect to complete the trail in its entirety around the 23rd-25th of september... hopefully things will go somewhat smoothly!

Bend, Oregon mile 1990

2009-08-19T23:34:00.002-07:00

Cant upload pictures for some reason, anyways taking a rest day at aunt Janet's house, will be in portland soon with a lot of pictures!

Headed back out today (21st) i feel so wonderfully rested and content... and FULL! thank you Janet & Roxanne for being wonderful trail angels!

Dunsmuir 1500 to mile 1990 Oregon

2009-08-04T15:38:00.000-07:00

Less than 100 miles from Oregon... not good bandwidth here so ill have to share the pictures later, very nice hiking through this section and very scenic.

TOMMY IS THE MAN

2009-08-04T15:15:00.000-07:00

Mt shasta side trip 14,179

2009-07-23T18:41:00.000-07:00

Mile 1415-Burney/Redding

2009-07-21T20:40:00.000-07:00

Side trip to mt shasta with susan, have been going through the previous miles fairly quickly, stand by for an update... heres some pictures

July 15 Mile 1270 Quincy

2009-07-15T11:42:00.000-07:00

Stayed at a trail angel's house last night, the food was absolutely amazing, im doing well and planning a long haul out of quincy to burney, ca... susan is planning on coming down to climb mt shasta with me around the 23rdish, and i will hopefully also take a zero-day at a wendy's. oregon border ETA is first week of august, the terrain has gotten very mild making 25's a regular day... 30's if i feel like getting on the trail before 8am (im lazy). i did a couple 20's out of sierra city due to fatigue and stomach cramps but soon figured out the bread i was eating was moldy. Oops.

Mile 1094 South Lake Tahoe

2009-07-06T21:39:00.000-07:00

Ended up going out of Tuolumne and then going back into town due to fatigue and nausea. I stayed there for a while and got a prescription for Flagyl and have since felt great. The miles will be coming easily from here, but im sure there are many surprises in store...

Mile 940? Tuolumne Meadows

2009-06-24T13:02:00.001-07:00

Got a stomach bug and back in mammoth, went to the doctor, etc., i think ive spent half of this month in town, hopefully headed back out tomorrow if i can keep food down.

Videos

2009-06-20T10:02:00.001-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cRZbWe4p8A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm8-PxmOPGk

Mammoth mile 906

2009-06-19T13:22:00.001-07:00

First off i would like to thank Francios, Ellen, Anna, & Scott for sharing their food and conversation when i was desperately low on both. A lot of hikers staying in town, the last section, due to unseasonably cold weather, has caused a lack of snow melt, and some additional fresh snow. Im going to take a rest day in town, but i feel absolutely blessed to have gone through the sierra at the time i did... it made things particularly beautiful and picturesque. There is no way to sum up the last section in 5 pictures.

Mile 790 Kearsarge pass/bishop

2009-06-10T22:50:00.000-07:00

youtube.com/watch?v=AECggth-N5g

Hiked about 50 miles in my ill fitted shoes, its been freak weather here with rain frequenting even death valley. A lot of hikers are getting antsy but i believe the sierras are still passable in bad weather, will be taking a zero day here in bishop. Got my new shoes!

Lone pine mile 740

2009-06-02T13:39:00.000-07:00

got off the trail due to some foot swelling & pain, suspect my new shoes arent fitting right, i reordered the same type of shoes i previously used and expect to head back up to the trail in a number of days

update: woke up this morning and swelling is mostly gone, weather is especially poor though, not a bad thing i guess to rest for a while

Kennedy meadows mile 702

2009-05-29T18:26:00.001-07:00

id like to thank chuck for getting my package to me at the last minute. it was good to see a familiar face after a long while. Otherwise i have intermittent internet, next update maybe in independence CA?

Tehachapi mile 558

2009-05-22T11:35:00.000-07:00

Feeling great, have all my leg pains and blisters sorted out. Happy to have the hottest section of the desert out of the way, i was lucky to have cool weather passing through the mojave. Heres pictures, i will have justin update my blog when i get to kennedy meadows (start of high sierra) but dont expect picture updates for a while.

Agua Dulce mile 454

2009-05-15T09:05:00.000-07:00

Staying at the Saufley's at Agua Dulce, after Wrightwood we went up into the San Gabriels and to the highest point of the trail so far, 9399 ft on Mt Baden-Powell, which had a spectacular view, into the desert and into the west, where smog covers the valley, this mountain range was a great one, few burned out areas due to a strict no fire policy, and had a good amount of water. The next section follows an aqueduct in the valley, which might be a good idea to hike at night. I have gained a bit under 5 lbs in the last section and plan to make it a few more while staying in town. I feel so fortunate to be doing this hike and am happy to meet all the people that make the trail the experience that it is.

May 11 mile 370 wrightwood, CA

2009-05-11T12:27:00.000-07:00

Everything is going well here in southern california, a few people i know have gotten injured which is a sad thing but something that is expected for almost everyone, hopefully they will be able to get back on the trail. The San Gabriel mountain range has been my favorite so far, my only complaint is the lack of water, which came after a 20 mile 4500ft hike, which was one of the dryest stretches so far. I am going much too fast but its hard to stop for days in town when the trail is right there, im thinking i might take a small side vacation when i get to the sierras to allow some snow to melt before i head out. I am finally tanned and not needing of sunscreen, and my feet seem to have calloused to the point of no maintenance. Im having the best time and couldnt ask for anything more.

Hope everyone is well

www.walkforwild.org

2009-05-04T16:02:00.000-07:00

Many sections of the trail i have found are in major disrepair, or not existent at all minus a ribbon on a tree or a cairn. Jeramy, & Serena, who thru hiked in 2008, i met and hiked with for 2 days, they have a website which links to donation for the PCTA (Pacific Crest Trail Association) which is the major organization for the trail, along with other wilderness organizations. Please feel free to check out their site. http://www.walkforwild.org/

Big Bear City mile 265

2009-05-04T15:27:00.000-07:00

I got in with a group to do fuller ridge and it was very much blown out of proportion, there was a lot of continuous snow travel but the maximum slope was about 40 degrees, with the average being 10-20 degrees, the snow was soft and manageable, and if you did fall, you would simply slide into a tree at relatively low speed...anyways that is overwith, the trail after getting down san jancito was miserable though, the ground was extremely hot, and i ended up getting a lot of blisters after coming down, it was over 100 degrees in san gorgonio pass.

anyways, 8000ft descent, 7000 feet back up, and now its smooth sailing, the trail has been very mellow, temperature just right, and much more plentiful water. i feel very much in the swing of things. i have been averaging 20-25 miles a day, taking it relatively easy, by this figure i would arrive in the sierras early so im going to maximize my time in towns. anyways, heres pictures.

more pictures

2009-04-29T11:22:00.001-07:00

Idyllwild april 28-29

2009-04-29T11:17:00.000-07:00

Here in Idyllwild library, mile 178, the trail goes up into the san jancito mountain range and i have already recieved a few miles of snow travel, the next section i may decide to bypass as reports from the ranger station say that no one has made it through yet, i may walk through a lower elevation trail and get back on fuller ridge at lower elevation, the official PCT runs through a stretch of this range at 8000-9000 ft, and has a lot of snow on north to northeast facing slopes

4/22

2009-04-22T14:07:00.000-07:00

I am at mile 77 and hitched to Julian to refuel a bit, everything is going well, i have encountered 1 rattle snake, 5 80-90 degree days, 1 shower, a lot of sunburn, and a lot of ingenuity to get things going smoothly. the desert is beautiful but i wish i had a tan and calloused feet. However, i feel well and my joints are in good shape. It's a lot of fun being out here, hope everyone is well, i apologize this computer isnt accepting my camera. I expected more libraries but this has been the first one, expect updates every week or three, hopefully the next one will have a more updated computer/etc so i can upload pictures.

Here I go!

2009-04-18T03:43:00.000-07:00

my flight leaves today! here are some pictures from mt shasta

Closer yet

2009-04-12T18:57:00.000-07:00

Have been doing some day hiking, went to the mountain cabin this weekend with friends

april 5

2009-04-05T20:26:00.000-07:00

had my last day of work, went to rainier this weekend to camp muir with full pack, great weather for the most part

Weekend march 20-22

2009-03-22T18:03:00.000-07:00

fri: hiking at table mountain, was very snowy/windy/cold, no footprints

sat: went hiking with susan and some friends, short hikes

sun: side job

the last full "week" at my job, i will be ecstatic to have all that free time between april 1 to when i leave, it will be good time to get my legs conditioned well.

3 weeks

2009-03-15T22:03:00.000-07:00

3 weeks sick, havent been exercising too much on the weekends, i feel im almost better but i felt dizzy the entire day today and had very little energy, if im not better by next weekend ill have to go to the doctor...

This weekend i took a crevasse rescue class to prepare for mt rainier with jordan & jamie, it was very informative, the mazamas have been very helpful, hopefully the weather will be clear for at least one weekend so we can give it a shot before i leave. it has snowed over 2 feet in the mountains since yesterday, if this keeps up we wont have much of a low snow year...

Weekend Feb 20-22

2009-02-22T12:35:00.000-08:00

fri morning, gambled on a "mostly cloudy" weather report for mt hood, i have never experienced more perfect conditions, and met some great people, hopefully will be doing rainier with the 2 guys i summited with, what a great day!

sat: went hiking with susan & lucy, it was very chilly and windy once on the exposed ridge, we turned around and had mexican food

sun: lazy

Weekend feb 13-15

2009-02-22T12:34:00.000-08:00

weather was kindve crummy

saturday, rode bike to noriko's house & back (60 miles :eek:)

weekend feb 6-8

2009-02-10T20:34:00.000-08:00

sat: short hike hamilton mountain

sun: ride bicycle

it snowed again today, boooo-urns.

weekend jan 29-feb 1

2009-02-01T17:56:00.000-08:00

ITS FEBRUARY, soon it will be march, and then april! <2>

fri-tommy and i hiked up to top of palmer ski lift, tommy needs to get more exercise..

sat- lazy

sun- susan was finally convinced to go to mt hood, she seems to be in good shape but i turned us around at ~9500ft because the weather seemed to be getting worse, susan really seemed to enjoy it, i hope she comes again on a beautiful day

weekend jan 23-25

2009-01-25T23:03:00.000-08:00

a lazy weekend as well as a lazy week

obama is the new president... lets "hope" his idealism doesnt stray too far, in any case its a welcome change from bush.

its been very cold this week as well will be into next week, bad weather to be in the mountains, i woke up to find snow today, im hoping it will warm up so i will be able to ride my bicycle to work and not have a case of icicle-snot, i figure that will be a while from now though...

i went for a short hike with tommy, susan, penny, & lucy (puppy) to eagle creek, it was cold and had some light snow, with a packed-snow trail after ~500ft of elevation gain, while heading back susan mentioned to me in conversation that she hates to turn around, although this is such a simple concept its one i enjoy thinking about... the way back always seems arduous, i wonder what effect my hike will have for future ones... i feel that each time i go out i take some sort of mental step farther into what i would like to experience, as well as what i feel possible... the completion or failure of my pct trip will surely affect my future, i hope that in the case that i fail i will not let it be decisive in what else i will accomplish.

weekend jan 16-18

2009-01-18T12:24:00.000-08:00

friday: turned in my passport application

saturday morning: tommy and justin went to mt hood with me, it was very crowded and as i traversed the hard part to the "old chute" route and was getting pummeled by falling ice from the climbers above me, i decided i would turn around and come back again, earlier in the day as to avoid the large amount of icefall i (my helmet) experienced. it was a little frustrating to have completed the traverse and nearly be at the summit, but i am more safety minded than i used to be... at least it was good exercise, especially since i decended ~1000 ft to meet up with tommy and justin and regained it... today i am feeling well, im feeling more confident in the condition of my knees, which are my main worry area of getting injured..

Introduction

2009-01-18T11:41:00.000-08:00

a blog is something i never thought i would keep but for the sake of simplicity, it must be done.

premise: thru-hike the PCT in 2009.

at this point in time i cant exactly pinpoint how the idea came to me. like many other males in their early twenties i desired a large lifestyle change, as well as something to look forward to, and better myself by. thus my dream was born, i can remember it has been around 1 year ago from now, it would have been possible to go in 2008 but i would not have been at all prepared, nor have had the funds to go... so in the spring and summer of 2008 i have entered the world of hiking, i expect i accrued around 600 miles on my shoes during the summer, and have discovered a new love of mountaineering. i expect my PCT hike will have many side-trips to the tops of mountains.

so, on this sunday, january 18, 2009, a well overdue blog has been created in the name of keeping my friends and family up-to-date on my progress and well-being.