May 12, 2022 Swarthout Canyon at mile 347.2 to Inspiration Point parking lot on Highway 2, mile 369.3 to Wrightwood 22.1 miles My alarm rings at 4:40 but I ignore it. I know Andy is heading out early, but I’m not sure I have it in me today. I hear him go from awake to …
May 10, 2022 Deep Creek Hot Springs at mile 307.9 to dirt road at mile 324.8 16.9 miles It’s another slow morning. When I sit up, Andy is coming back from an early dip in the springs. I go get water upstream, then slowly start to pack up. I can’t decide whether to have my …
May 8, 2022 Big Bear Lake to Highway 18 at mile 266.1 to Little Bear Springs Camp at mile 285.6 19.5 miles I’m the first one up in my room. Despite sleeping in a bed, I didn’t sleep well. Curse this pattern of falling asleep and then waking up! Oh, well. It was still nice …
April 20, 2022 Hauser Creek to Fred Canyon - 16.6 mi My alarm wakes me at 5:10. I turn it off and snooze for ten more minutes before finally remembering that I’m getting breakfast at Lake Morena! I pack up quickly after that. It’s so nice not to be hooked on coffee anymore. It means …
Continue reading PCT Day 2: Breakfast, Wildflowers, and Creek Baths
Day 0: April 18, 2022 It’s happening. Today I am flying to San Diego, and tomorrow I begin hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. This morning Katie drives me to the Oakland airport, where my flight is delayed, then delayed again. I eat a breakfast sandwich and focus on finishing my book so that I don’t …
Hikers love talking about gear. I think the only thing we might love more than talking about gear is buying new gear. Believe me, I understand the impulse to purchase a whole new kit before another thru-hike. It's exciting to look back on past hikes and to tinker with the setup, upgrade items to newer …
Continue reading Why I’m Not Buying a Ton of New Gear for the PCT
There's a saying in the thru-hiker community: Either you do one of the Triple Crown trails, or you do all three. I hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2019, nearly three years ago. This year, I am embarking on the second trail of my eventual Triple Crown. I am officially thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in …
Continue reading I’m Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2022!
I've been distracted recently. I suppose in a way, everyone has been distracted recently, but I really feel all over the place. I'm normally very goal-directed, and I have, for the most part, always known what I wanted. It feels like I'm losing that, though, and I don't like the feeling. A friend recently asked …
10ish miles? - Windy Pass to Ramshorn Lake Although my GPS said it was about 8 miles to Ramshorn Lake from Windy Pass, I remembered reading a trip report that had today's mileage around 13. Classic Gallatin Crest. Nothing for certain, everything guesswork. 13 miles would be a long haul at this elevation, especially without …
Continue reading Gallatin Crest Trail Day 3: Thursday, July 15
10ish miles - Crater Lake to Windy Pass Wow, what a day. It started off with me sleeping in a bit, which isn’t in the least out of the usual. I woke up around 5:30, but didn’t get moving until 7:30. I had breakfast by the lake, and I also checked my maps, dug my …
Continue reading Gallatin Crest Trail Day 2: Wednesday, July 14
Sarahmarie Specht-Bird 