And So It Begins

Writing from Idyllwild California having made it to mile 152 of the trail! It’s slowly settling in that this is real and I’m finally doing the pct after all the prep and talk about it. Above all Ive been loving meeting all the fellow thru hikes and getting to know everyone. It’s a lively, easy going bunch. And people come from so many different places. Annie and I have been hiking with two people from New Zealand for the past few days and now know many more folk that we keep running into. Some we’ve gotten to know better than others and many we may never see again as we walk different speeds. Which is a pretty odd concept and friendship dynamic but fun too when chancing across people we’ve met along the trail and in town.

And I’m loving walking through the desert and the stunning mountain views as the path goes along pretty high vantage points. It’s a beautiful trail. The desert is very different from the temperate rainforest of Oregon I’m used to backpacking which has been super fun. Neat desert life includes cactus, yuca, and manzanita trees and lots of lizards including horned lizards (who can shoot blood out of their eyes as a last resort defense, had to take Max’s word on it for three days until I could look it up), lots of caterpillars, and have seen 3 rattlesnakes (not sure if that’s a pro or con).

Hard parts have been the cold, windy nights and feeling pretty exhausted especially getting up to walk in the desert heat after lunch. And a squeaky pack I’m still getting used to. But I’m loving all my other gear and am soaking in the beauty of living outside.

Highlights:

Good friends Bryan and Sha dropping us off at the trailhead! And spending some time in between with them beforehand. Then the excitement and surrealness of finally starting.

Lots of chats with fellow hikers while walking. Talking about interesting facts about the desert, books we like, theology, jobs, family, favorite mundane things to do in ordinary life, you name it.

Dinner on day 2 with fellow thru hikers. Two from Canada (who we ended up hiking the next day with), one from the Czech Republic, another American, and an Englishman. Rob (the 50 year old Englishman) was getting absolutely ridiculed by everyone for carrying three oranges, a bottle of olive oil, a large tube of tooth paste, and a whole onion. But he offered me some onion to put in with my rice and chicken and it’s been my best dinner yet.

Drinking water with liquid IV lemon-lime flavor 😋 tastes so good

In the town of Julian, Mom’s Pie offers PCT hikes a free slice of pie and ice cream and so we all swarm the town and enjoyed the pie together. Also learned from two different locals that the town’s UPS driver was retiring the next day and they’re devastated to see him go. Julian, I wish you the best with your next driver.

Im stopping by as many Catholic Churches as possible to go to mass if I can but if not at the least to pray there. So the first town we reached, Julian (with the free pie), I found my way to the church and it was named St. Elizabeth of Hungry Church. This small little town, the first one on the trail, the name of their Catholic Church is my confirmation saint.

Hitching into town one time I got asked if I had a birthmark on my face but really my cheeks were just caked in dirt.

Getting shown up by a 71 year old lady who hiked more miles than us the other day. Not sure if this is actually a highlight. Didn’t realize the pct would be so humbling.

When it started raining Frances put on his tent rain tarp as a poncho then used his charging cord as a belt. Most ultralight thing I’ve seen yet.

Getting to Paradise Valley Cafe at mile 152 and chowing down on some large burgers with trail friends. We’re starting to get hungry out there as the miles build. And really enjoying in general camping and now in town getting dinner with friends we have meet along the way.

In general all the different desert landscapes and vistas we’ve seen. It’s been beautiful. Didn’t expect to see so much already just by walking.

Having Annie Snow as a hiking partner

That’s all I have for now! Time to go to bed in this warm place with a bed and get some good sleep before hitting the trail again tomorrow. Oh and if you see me out there my name is Let’s Go :). I guess I very enthusiastically said let’s go to a friend Picasso when he decided to camp with us. A few days later we ran into him again and he said that should be my name. I said ehh really? And he goes whaaaat you don’t think so! I’ve been thinking about it for the past 20 miles!!