Snoqualmie Pass to the Canadian Border
Here it is, the final chapter of my PCT journey. The trail did not hold punches in it’s final stretch. Fallen trees, eroding trail, relentless rain, and an incoming snow storm pushed me to my limits. Simply put, the trail here is just plain rugged and remote. There’s a reason over 85% of PCT thru…
Cascade Locks to Snoqualmie Pass
I’ve fallen way behind on updates. Washington proved to be challenging and remote, so free time and cell service were limited. The weather worsened, and I had to race to beat winter as cooling temperatures and incoming snow threatened to derail my hike. Still, Washington was rugged and beautiful. Here’s how the first half of…
Crater Lake to Cascade Locks
I’ve made it all the way to Washington! At this point, I’ve been hiking so long that NOT hiking makes my body hurt more the next day than hiking does. In this section, I got to see glaciers up close, pet a few llamas, and dealt with some classic Pacific Northwest rain. Here’s how it…
Etna to Crater Lake – Adventures in the State of Jefferson
A few years ago I read an article about supporters for the creation of the State of Jefferson, a new state that would cover inland counties in Northern California and Southern Oregon and operate as a Libertarian safe haven smashed between two deep blue states. I brushed off the article, assuming that there were probably…
Chester to Etna
I’m making my way through NorCal and I’ve finally started to understand what it feels like to travel at the speed of a human being. Exploring small towns and parts of the state that I’ve never seen before has been exciting, but the threat of fire has continued to push me forward. I made great…
South Lake Tahoe to Chester
I’ve finished up the Sierra and headed into NorCal, into the third of the five major sections of the PCT. I’m finally more than halfway through my journey, but I’m starting to see some of the effects of the unprecedented drought, in the form of rampant wildfires. It’s unnerving hiking through smoke, but it gives…
Kennedy Meadows North to South Lake Tahoe
This section may be hard to read, and trust me, it was very hard to write. I debated for a while on what to include, if anything, for this post. I decided that omitting the negative experiences would make this section feel hollow, so I’ve included them how they (mostly) happened. I’ve changed names and…
Mammoth Lakes to Kennedy Meadows North
I’ve finally started to hit my stride as I make my way through the Northern Sierra Nevada. As someone who has typically relied heavily on planes, trains, and automobiles to get around on vacations, I’m finally learning what it feels like to travel at the speed of a human being. I’m gaining confidence and starting…
Kearsarge Pass to Mammoth Lakes
I thought that the Southern Sierra would be perhaps the most difficult section I’d face. I thought that the long food carry and trip up the highest peak in the US and highest pass on the trail would be the hardest days I’d face, and that it would feel easy and simple from there. This…
Kennedy Meadows to Kearsarge Pass
When I talk to people who don’t hike about the trail, their two biggest fears for me are usually nefarious people and bears. I always assure them that no PCT hikers have ever been killed by bears and that hikers are generally nicer than normal people. My two biggest fears for myself have always been…
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Megan Heads North 