Mt. Baden-Powell is a mountain in southern California’s San Gabriel Mountains in the Angeles National Forest which boasts an elevation of 9,407 ft (2,867 m). It’s named after Robert Baden-Powell, a man who’d had a high ranking in the British Army and who later became the founder of the world scouting movement. It’s ironic that …
The morning was cast in shades of blue and pink while the moon still had jurisdiction over the sky. I could see the outlines of San Jacinto Peak and the impressive valley down below whenever I turned around to see how far I’d come. The air was chilly and there were some dark, ominous clouds …
The San Jacinto mountains are the first real mountains of the Pacific Crest Trail, going northbound. Rising up from the desert floor, these mountains reach elevations well-above 8,000 ft, with the pinnacle being San Jacinto Peak at an elevation of 10,834 ft! The unrelenting uphill battle to get over the San Jacintos is difficult not …
Although my journey on the Pacific Crest Trail was still in its infancy, I had already made quite a few solid friends and experienced a great variety in different landscapes. My First Week on trail had been an exploration of new trail realities and new-found friendships. This second week on the PCT was a continuation …
The desert. She can be hot and mean during the day, but in the mornings and evenings she’s on her best behaviour. After only a week, I was already getting acquainted with the natural cycles of desert days and forming a daily routine. At 4am, I would awake while the world around me still slumbered. …
The days following my first day on trail were challenging and fun. My first week was an eye-opener. A test of strength and mental endurance. A taste of what was yet to come. Every day I gave it my best, taking on obstacles as they came, learning to walk from water source to water source. I didn’t …
I’m actually here… how crazy is that?! Standing at the southern-most point of the Pacific Crest Trail with my big backpack strapped on and my hiking poles at the ready, I took in my surroundings. Now all I have to do is walk 2650 miles back home to Canada… sounds easy, right? At 7am, the …
I woke up this morning and couldn’t believe that today was the day! I’d been so busy preparing everything that I hadn’t had time to actually settle into the idea of leaving. It was an early 4am start – the first of many to come. As the day of my departure approached, I’d felt an …
The Pacific Crest Trail is a long and daunting 5-month journey. Why would anyone want to do such a thing?? And how would you even begin to prepare? I was hooked to the idea of doing it ever since I first heard about it. I was sitting with my friend in the basement of a …
The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), officially known as the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, is a hiking trail spanning 2650 miles (4,265 km) from Mexico to Canada. It leads through the mountain ranges of California, Oregon, and Washington, hence the name “crest”. Some people decide to hike it in sections, whereas others decide to tackle …