Ohh we’re half way there, ohhh we’re living on a prayer! Kyle and I have officially walked half way across the country on the Pacific Crest Trail! Official half way point was 1,327.6 miles :) Trail life has become normal, we are “Hiker Trash” and we’re loving it! The label ‘Hiker Trash’ is a term of endearment for those in the long-distance hiking community who have chosen to ditch social norms and live another way while on a trail journey.
Today, as I came out of the grocery store, looking around for Kyle, a gentleman stopped and asked me if I needed assistance finding my car. “Car!?”, I laughed, “I walked here from Mexico”, I replied. “Okay”, he replied chuckling, clearly thinking I was joking. Then it hit me just how inconceivable this journey is to some.
I am happy to report, Kyle and I are healthy and happy and fully intend to continue onward for another 1,327.6 miles to CANADA!
This has been a challenging section due to burns! In 2021, the Dixie Fire burned Butte, Palmas, Lassen, Shasta, and Tehama counties in northern CA, taking out 963,309 acres including 100 miles of the PCT. It was the largest single wildfire in California’s history and it’s been humbling to spend days walking through the burned area seeing the scale of impact. The fire has had lasting impact on the towns in the area too, for example most businesses and homes are still running on generators due to electrical damages from the fire.
The trail winds through miles of burned forest. In places, charred trees still lay across the trail, scrambling over their blacked trunks leaves us covered in soot. In other places, new saplings are rising up, while this is encouraging to see new life retaking the land, it’s difficult to weave through all the new trees/scrubs. At one point, we could not see the trail, let alone each other due to the thick under growth. It’s been hot in Northern California too, with temps in the mid 90’s, and the burnt trees provide little shade. Fortunately, there have been many ice cold rivers to jump into to cool off. We also need to be cautious when selecting camping spots, as you don’t want to camp under a widow maker (a detached or broken limb or tree top that has the potential to kill unsuspecting hikers by falling on them).
Fires have becoming common place on the PCT. There is currently one fire that likely will affect our trek north. The Shelly Fire (15,477 acres and 48% contained). Thank you to all the firefighters and emergency personnel attempting to control this fire. If the area is unsafe, we may have to skip a trail section and come back when it is safe to do so.
Next stop, Mount Shasta.
