I’m not sure how to even put today into words. I’ve talked it out with a few key people, and I’ve replayed it in my head enough times: it’s not a problem of recollection. This time, I’m unsure how to adequately describe how my day unfolded, and I want to make sure I’m honouring and … Continue reading Day Ninety One: 1713.0 – 1753.8km
Lately, I’ve been seeing so many posts from friends along the PCT who have reached the midway point. Some of them started before me, some after, and all those I have seen on Facebook or Instagram are currently 500km ahead of where I’m sitting in my tent right now, typing this. Pickleback had a conversation … Continue reading Day Ninety: 1684.6 – 1713.0km
Man. Yosemite. And fires. Have I forgotten to mention there are fires? HOW have I forgotten to mention there are fires? WE CAN’T EVEN SEE YOSEMITE. The smoke is crazy - it burns my eyes every morning I climb out of my tent, and my throat is scratchy all day. If I smoked cigarettes, I … Continue reading Day Seventy Seven – Nine: YOSEMITE
I’m craving some human touch today. I want a hug. I’m not feeling down or entirely lonely. Nothing’s really wrong, and I’ve got the best gang by my side - I think I just need a big hug. Have you heard of The Five Love Languages? It’s a concept that we all feel love and … Continue reading Day Seventy Five: 1466.1 – 1485.5km
Yesterday was the first time I’ve fallen down on trail. It was a solid one too: I was as good as a turtle, splayed out in the dirt. Only a few scrapes and bruises that have made themselves known today to show for it, but it happened. So I just wanted to admit that I … Continue reading Day Seventy Four: 1459.1 – 1466.1km
I know I’ve said it before. I’ve probably said it plenty! I just can’t get enough of the Sierras: The crystal clear lakes. The vibrant green grass. The miles we keep chipping away at. The granite mountains that surround us, protect us, mystify us, beckon us. Has it really been 900 miles of trail already? … Continue reading Day Seventy Three: 1431.1 – 1459.1km
My alarm went off at 6AM. I deflated my mattress like a good hiker girl, and replied to a few messages I’d received overnight. No one stirred, but I figured it was only a matter of time before the camp started moving, so I went all out and cooked up a dehydrated egg and bacon … Continue reading Day Seventy Two: 1416.2 – 1431.1km
You can now call us the River Bandits, as well as Hiker Biker Gang. Today we looted, and came up with a lot of treasure. We hadn’t thought it would end up a zero, but it was. And it was a productive day for our gang. I made a pot of communal coffee at 7AM … Continue reading Day Sixty Eight: ZERO
We watched the sun rise. We crossed creeks. We passed by lakes. We met a trail cat. We walked some more. We napped. We walked again. We crossed rivers by bridge. We crossed rivers by foot. We set up camp in a field, soaked right up next to each other in teensy hot springs - … Continue reading Day Sixty Seven: 1356.7 – 1380.4km
If I rated days out of 10, I’d probably be averaging around an 8.5. There’s be a few 3’s in there, definitely a lot more 9’s and a handful to 10’s already - today being a stand out 10/10. I woke up happy. It’s the best way to wake up. Pickleback waved me off with … Continue reading Day Sixty Six: 1329.8 – 1356.7km
I don’t think I’m exactly taking this hiking thing seriously anymore... I mean, we didn’t start until 11:30AM this morning. I skipped up some of the trail. A couple of hikers heading the opposite direction remarked with a laugh, “You’re way too happy to really be hiking this!” But honestly, how can I not skip, … Continue reading Day Sixty Three: 1269.9 – 1287.2km
I’m almost embarrassed even to write it... We’re still in town. BUT I PROMISE WE LEAVE TOMORROW MORNING! It’s just - it’s Fourth of July. Which, yes, means we’re on our fourth zero, but it’s the Fourth of July! This basically doesn’t count. We needed the first zero for rest, the second for resupply, then … Continue reading Days Fifty Eight – Sixty One: ZEROES
I know I’ve had a lot of good days out here. The standard has been set high. I’ve gone from desert wastelands to rocky mountains to bubbling creeks. I’ve touched the Mexican-United States ‘wall’, walked just about thirteen hundred kilometres from there, and climbed one of the country’s highest mountains. Even so, I think it’s … Continue reading Day Fifty Seven: 1245.8 – 1269.9km (+12.2km)
I reckon every day has something special to offer. Sometimes it’s like a treasure hunt and you have to search for it (admittedly, I don’t always find it), but sometimes it’s served to you on a silver platter. Today, I had that something special served to me in ziplock bags, by some very special people. … Continue reading Day Fifty Six: 1234.4 – 1245.8km
‘The Great Bishop Shakedown’ It’s all I can think about, as we go up and up and up today. My mind has been made, and Jefé and Pickleback are right on board (as is everyone else): we’re going to give me a nice big shakedown. Like, a really nice big shakedown. I can feel all … Continue reading Day Fifty Four: 1212.9 – 1234.4km
IT’S MY BIRTHDAY! 😁 (Here, in America.. Because I know for my Australians it happened yesterday. Time zones, right?) And it’s been an absolutely beautiful day. Maya woke me up with a cup of coffee. Thibaud - who left KM sometime after Jefé and I but hasn’t been seen in two days - caught us up. … Continue reading Day Fifty Three: 1195.7 – 1212.9km
Well, it wasn’t the best day, but it also wasn’t my worst. I got up early to try and catch M&D - Jefé and I didn’t get too far last night, and without reception or any way of contacting them I really had no idea how far ahead they were. With the rivers and the … Continue reading Day Fifty One: 1134.1 – 1166.8km
“So do you get splash back on your shoes when you pee, too?” “Every time! Do you scuff dirt on them to disguise it?” “Yes!” *cue belly laughs and a deeper sense of sisterhood We bond a lot on trail. And about such a variety of stuff that is completely taboo to acknowledge back in … Continue reading Day Forty Eight: 1095.8 – 1130.1km
It’s easier to keep myself motivated when I’m motivating someone else. I guess it’s a little like love; the more you give it out to others, the more your heart is full of it as well, right? I met Al as I powered past he and his son Pops mid morning. It was downhill, hence … Continue reading Day Forty Seven: 1055.8 – 1095.8km
Can you tell I was inspired yesterday? These are the moments I have come out here for. These are the moments I don’t think I could find if I were anywhere else. And yet, I know these moments are how I should be living every day. I don’t want to get so bogged down in … Continue reading Day Forty Five: 980.0 – 1015.3km
There is a smile that plays at the corner of my mouth; a twinkle in my eyes as I walk in wonder and fascination of the world around me. Recently, in my grit and determination to push out miles and speeds that defied the pain my body was feeling, I hadn’t realised how much my … Continue reading Day Forty Three: 923.7 – 954.0km
My pack is heavy. Heavy heavy. With seven days worthy of food and seven(ish) litres of water, up around the 25kg mark heavy. I figured coming out of Tehachapi with the equivalent of a small human on my back mightn’t be the easiest, so I started hiking early and left Thibaud asleep. The Mohave Desert … Continue reading Day Forty Two: 898.9 – 923.7km
My 5AM alarm was much nicer than yesterday’s 2AM one, and after sleeping soundly, I set off pretty quickly. As the sun started to rise, I stopped for a moment to soak the moment in. What a difference six minutes makes! Just imagine how much a few hours does! This is why I try and … Continue reading Day Forty: 870.6 – 898.9km
It’s hard when you have to follow up days like meeting the tenth Doctor Who (I love you David Tennant!) or driving a Ferrari, because really - how do you do that? How does it get better than this? I’m sorry if you’re expecting a huge big brilliant OHMYGOODNESSTHISACTUALLYDIDJUSTGETBETTER answer... I don’t have one. Today, … Continue reading Day Thirty Eight: ZERO
Story time! And one to go down in the books: The best day of my life. June 6th, 2018 It started off like any other day. The sun woke me up as it warmed my quilt, I went and poured a cup of coffee, and joined a handful of hikers gathered around a map to … Continue reading Day Thirty Two: 731.5 – 739.7km
Naomi, you deserve to set yourself an alarm! Didn’t we just go over this last week?! 😫 It was after 8AM but the time I rolled myself out of the tent, and past 9:30AM when I had my pack strapped on and started walking through the campground towards the trailhead. Last night, I hadn’t cared … Continue reading Day Twenty Eight: 632.9 – 660.4km
I should have known I wouldn’t do any walking today. No further than lunch, or the supermarket. I was feeling a little off this morning. There’s not much alone time on trail. It’s a bit hard to describe, because it sounds silly. Most people hike all day by themselves - myself, included - but whenever … Continue reading Day Nineteen: ZERO
I SAW MY FIRST BEAR TODAY. So by default, no - I did not get murdered by any ghosts last night. Those angels must have stood guard well. I left early so Speedy could catch up and we'd have lunch together (otherwise his average wait time for us is 2hrs+). I felt the sun rise, … Continue reading Day Eighteen: 396.7 – 428.3km
The forecast was for wind... I just didn’t expect this much wind. My first half hour was a veerrrryyy slow one; straight down a bitumen road, and after yesterday’s efforts, my knees hadn’t yet forgiven me. Nor had my feet, actually. I’ve got a few blisters going - some already popped, some I just let … Continue reading Day Sixteen: 331.1 – 364.0km
Thirteen is my favourite number. Thirteen was my favourite day on the PCT? Mmm... just about. But we didn’t do any [real] walking, so I’m not entirely sure it counts. Three more of our posse were due to rock up in the afternoon, we needed to resupply, and the Swiss offered to cook dinner, so … Continue reading Day Thirteen: ZERO
