PCT Day 142: Buffet Lunch At The Timberline Lodge

Miles hiked today: 19.4 Miles left to finish: 550.5 During the night I wake up to the taste of blood in my mouth. Another nose bleed, but smaller this time. Whenever I get nose bleeds, I never just have one. An awesome thunderstorm rolls through camp at about 11pm – I am surprised when I […]

PCT Day 141: And So The Rain Begins

Miles hiked today: 22.9 Miles left to finish: 569.9 This morning, I set an alarm. I wake up but end up snoozing for a little bit, as I don’t want to hike in the dark. I feel itchy all over – my feet, a rash on my arm (poison oak?!), the salt rash on my […]

PCT Day 140: First Time Camping Alone

Miles hiked today: 23.1 Miles left to finish: 592.8 In the morning my campmates and I introduce ourselves properly – they are called David and Randall. We chat for a while, but I am going in the opposite direction to them, so we bid farewell. There are a few more living trees around today, but […]

PCT Day 139: A Gruelling Day In The Mount Jefferson Wilderness

Miles hiked today: 22.1 Miles left to finish: 615.9 I decide not to set an alarm this morning. I am stretching the ‘listen to your body’ mantra to its absolute fullest. Whenever I naturally wake up will be exactly the amount of sleep I need – and the result of this is waking up just […]

PCT Day 138: New Shoes And A Silly Mistake

Miles hiked today: 14.1 Miles left to finish: 638 I wake up early to get a ride into town with Cyndy, so I can go to the post office to pick up my shoes. When I arrive I have to wait an hour for it to open (I had been expecting this), but when it […]

PCT Days 136 and 137: Getting to Bend

I wake up early to a tent soaked with condensation. Since I am not in a rush, I decide to wait until my tent is dry to start packing up, watching episodes of La Casa De Papel. It is such a gripping show! I pack up, then head to the laundry room, where someone has […]

PCT Days 134 and 135: Crater Lake!

In the morning I say my goodbyes to Janet and Patrick. They have really helped me out here in Ashland – not only by providing me with a home for the past three nights, but also with their medical advice. I get the bus to the Shop’n’Kart store on the edge of town, where they […]

PCT Days 129 to 133: Straight Back To Convalescence

Miles hiked: 3.5 Miles left to finish: 917.5 I wake up at 4am, having planned an early start since we had a 30+ mile day ahead of us. I was going to set off earlier than the others, as I wanted to be able to take foot-airing breaks throughout the day. But when I use […]

PCT Days 127 and 128: I Can Walk Again!

Miles hiked today: 12.9 Miles left to finish: 921 On my last morning with the Nielsens, I make the lattes for everyone using the espresso machine (by now I am a proficient barista). Craig cooks French toast, and then we all help to pack up the car, and clean and tidy the kitchen. Craig and […]