Wednesday 28th July I wake a few times in the night, and always to the sound of rain. It’s quite a comforting sound really, when you’re cosy in your sleeping bag and don’t need to leave the tent. When Clare wakes up, we dilly-dally on our morning tasks, neither of us particularly keen to be […]

Tuesday 27th July I moved into my new place two weeks ago, and have already had a few nights on my brand new mattress, which was only delivered recently. But the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a long while was just now – with only a quarter inch of foam pad separating me and […]

Sunday 25th July I wake up way too early at my flat. I moved there only recently, and there are still boxes everywhere, but it already feels like home. The thought of leaving for a week makes me feel sad, and I am already looking forward to the return. How can I be wishing away […]

Miles hiked today: 0 PCT miles, ~3 on side trail Miles left to finish: 534.2 During the night, I keep waking up to shift positions, and to make sure none of my stuff is getting wet. Every time I roll over, my back is in white hot intense pain. At 3am I notice some activity […]

Miles hiked today: 16.3 Miles left to finish: 534.2 It’s a fitful night. Everything is damp from mist and condensation, and it rains so hard that I am sometimes sprayed with water from the inside of my tent. But crucially, the puddle goes down at some point in the night, and I stay warm and […]

I wake in our motel before everyone else, and I research flights home, car rental prices, and tips for driving an automatic on the wrong side of the road. Eventually the others wake up and we enjoy a long, relaxed packing up process. I call my mum and tell her about my decision to get […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]