Twig Adventures

It’s been just a bit over a month since I finished the PCT and I’ve been reflecting on my journey a lot. It’s hard to believe that it’s now almost exactly a year since I started the Te Araroa and I have a whole additional thru-hike to think back on. I covered over 4500 miles in one year and over 5000 miles in the last year and a half. I would have never guessed that I’d be where I am today before starting all this (obsession). If I could use one word to describe my PCT hike, it would be PERFECT. There is not one thing that went terribly wrong in 4 months or that I would do differently. I[…]

October 28th, 2018 Mm 18 to The End, mm 0 Distance: 18 miles 0600 – 1200 I was on the trail early to ensure that I finished around mid-day. My friend Jon (same that dropped me off at Harts Pass) was driving all the way from Phoenix, AZ to pick me up. He had made the offer a few weeks ago and I thought it would be pretty cool to be greeted by the same friend that had seen me off at the start, almost 4 months ago. Stellar and I would also be finishing together. We had been hiking buddies much of the way since just before Tuolumne Meadows, a stretch of nearly 1,000 miles. That is the farthest[…]

October 27th, 2018 Mt Laguna mm 42 to mm 18 Distance: 24 miles 1030 – 2000 Sleeping in felt oh-so-good. I slept until 6 am! Then I had TWO coffees and chatted with Zappy and Gail. Zappy, looking like he has commandeered my backpack and tent Gail with his toys Then Stellar arrived and he and Zappy went for breakfast. I was slow to pack up but made it to the PO just as it opened. I bought a few things at the store, which had a good selection, but I no longer needed much. Stellar and I left town together and looked forward to an easy day. We chatted as the miles passed easily. Honestly, I remember little of[…]

October 26th, 2018 Mm 75.5 to Mt Laguna mm 42 Distance: 33.5 miles 0550 – 1800 I needed an early start today. For one, it’s just better to get in as many miles while it’s still cool. And two, my headlamp batteries were dying, so I wanted to make it to Mt Laguna before dark in the evening. In the early morning, I had the benefit of the moonlight and didn’t need my headlamp. Worst case, I could rob the batteries out of my Spot device. I passed by Zappy’s tent early on and began my way up into the Laguna mountains. This was the last big climb that would take me from about 2300′ up over 6000′. These hills[…]

October 25th, 2018 Warner Springs Community Center mm 109.5 to mm 75.5 Distance: 34 miles 0800 – 2000 My tent was mostly dry in the morning, despite the sprinklers. It was such a nice area that I took my time packing up. I regretted dragging my feet later in the day but at the time felt no rush. Stellar and Snowman had to wait on the post office to open for their packages and Zappy left just after me. I was in a very good mood starting out on my own and enjoyed hiking up a river valley and then through open plains on a beautiful morning. I came to eagle rock, a series of boulders that have a pretty[…]

October 24th, 2018 Muirwood mm 145.5 to Warner Springs Community Center mm 109.5 Distance: 36 miles 0630 – 2030 What a long, hot, and happening day! First, it was a new record for longest distance hiked in a single day. I am inching my way towards 40 miles but I’m not sure its going to happen in the short time I have left. I know that I could do it but with the limited daylight hours, it’s hard. As it was, I walked for a couple hours in the dark on this night. My goal was to get to Warner Springs so that I could camp at the community center, where there are bathrooms, outlets, and picnic tables. I started[…]

October 23rd, 2018 Spitler TH to mm 168.5 (rejoining PCT after closure) to Muirwood mm 145.5 Distance: 23 miles plus 4.7 miles to town 0830 – 2000 I had arranged to meet Lorraine, our Trail Angel, at 8 am and the grocery opened at 7 am. So Stellar and I went there to get breakfast burritos. I also ate a huge pecan cinnamon roll that I got at a bakery the day before. It was as big as my 2 hands. I was so stuffed after all this food that I barely ate anything until the afternoon. With all these town stops, I am no longer loosing weight and may actually be gaining. We met Lorraine and were shortly at[…]

October 22nd, 2018 Fuller Ridge mm 189 to mm 179.5, then Devils Slide and Ernie Maxwell Trail to Idyllwild due to fire closure. Distance: 9.5 miles plus 6 miles to town 0610 – 1300 I had to go into town today since the trail is still closed for 11 miles from a 2013 fire. There are many side trails from the north end. To get back on the trail south of the closure, there is a detour on dirt roads. Thus a continuous footpath into and out of town could be achieved. Unfortunately, another fire closed the dirt road route this year. Now the only way to get back to the trail is by travelling along 2 narrow, windey, busy[…]

October 21st, 2018 Whitewater Preserve mm 218.5 to Fuller Ridge mm 189 Distance: 29.5 miles plus .5 mile from preserve. 0630 – 1820 First, if my memory serves me right, I wanted to point out that I finished the Te Araroa in 108 days and today is my 108th day on the PCT. It would have been cool if I finished both trails in the same time but I will be within a week. Not bad for a trail that is nearly 800 miles longer. Secondly, today was like clearing a huge hurdle, perhaps the last big challenge. I was a bit intimidated by the massive climb and lack of water to end the day, but it wasn’t so bad.[…]

October 20th, 2018 Mm 253 to Whitewater Preserve mm 218.5 Distance: 34.5 miles plus .5 mile to preserve. 0630 – 1800 I set a new record for distance hiked in one day, but only by half a mile. I have done several 34 and 34.5 mile days but today I finally got to 35. I pushed hard to make it to a conservation preserve and it was worth it…more about that later. It was cold, as usual, in the morning. I could feel that the ground was frozen in places. Mt Gorgonio caught the morning sun and showed off its snow cap beautifully. I got nice views looking back at the Angeles forest and mountains and forward to the desert[…]