One week in and 110 miles down!

On a brighter note, at day 7, I am the only one who hasn't had to use the poo shovel! I know my time will come but I am proud of this simple fact. Also, I can feel my body becoming slowly acclimated to the miles. Kristi and I are competing for that beachbod! Obviously, I will win and my new rock hard ass-of-a-goddess will provide me with a lucrative career as a jeans supermodel.

We're now in Warner Springs and you should believe everything Kristi has to say about this hiker haven. Everyone we've met here has been amazing (not to mention the food, music, showers, and clean laundry). Looking forward to getting back on to tackle the 70 miles to Idyllwild, but hoping the trail leads us back together again. Oh, Idllywild. Where we hope to find guacamole and drink mimosas while watching the sunrise to celebrate Kristi's 24th birthday properly!
-Lindsay

Overcoming fear

Wednesday, May 1: Crossed first cliff ledge in hurricane winds after passing about 5 memorial plaques honoring fallen hikers. Go me! ~J

First Injury

It happened in hell. The hikers choosing to camp at the grassy, shady area below Hauser Creek called it Hell and said they would tackle it the next morning. Not us. We climbed. I made a common novice's mistake and looked up to appreciate the view as I stepped into a shallow hole. It was enough for my pack weight to throw me off balance and to the ground. My leg got scraped up and I was filthy with black dirt. Lesson learned: never, ever take your eyes off the trail while moving. Stop. Admire. Move on. ~J

First 20 of 2650 scenic miles and ADZPCTKO (Kick-off)

  April 25, 2013 Day 1 on PCT: "there's a reason it's called a scenic trail and not an efficiency route": a fellow hiker's response to my comment that Lake Morena is 3.3 miles from the highway. I'm not gonna lie; there were some tears of pain and exhaustion just before reaching our first oasis. Friday and Saturday were spent recovering, learning and meeting some amazing people. Went to seminars for the basics: how to walk to prevent injury (Ryan and my knees thank you, presenter! Popping Aleve like candy.), about bears (they can shimmy a line better than a human, so hanging your food is useless) and snakes and other random, relevant information like how to cross a river without being carried away by the current. We'll need to know these things as we go.

  At a burrito dinner provided by the PCTA, overheard a woman explain hunger on the PCT: "If some food drops on the ground, a day hiker throws it away; a section hiker will apply the 5 second rule, but a through- hiker will eat it and look for more!" So true.

  An introduction to the people of the PCT, including Trail Angels: Liz from the PCTA offered Ryan and I a ride back to camp from the local store. He was carrying firewood (the girls carried the 30 pack of RR) and yes, we smelled and were dirty. Liz gave us a ride in her beautiful new car and apologized to us for making us wait while she registered and said hello to a friend named Gottago. A trail angel former marine named Doggers gave Kristi his sandals and checked our blisters. The dog with him is named Pi Squared (Pi and Tao can both be used in an engineering calculation, he explained, but Tao gets a more direct result. Women are the stronger sex and more complicated, thus Pi2. Pi is a female.)

  We ate, we drank, we showered, we used restrooms. Overall, it was a party with new friends that we hope to see again along the trail. ~Janis (Zazu)



 

Where the wild things are

As I continue to hike this trail, I begin to notice a change in my body. It is as if I am changing, morphing into a beast of the wild; my feet and hands concede to the dirt that relentlessly tries to find its way into my shoes and socks, I pee on the brush that lines the trail, my face is growing the hair that was never allowed to stand taller than a 5 o'clock shadow, and my arms have lengthened so that I may walk on four limbs. Four limbs? In the last week, I have adapted to use my poles with every step I take. They have become a part of me. They maintain my momentum even when my energy begins to fizzle out. They literally hold me up and keep my face from meeting the jagged earth. They help me plan, feel, and see each step. Click clack. They are my support. Click clack. They are of me. I am a beast of the Californian wild! RRRAAAWWWRRR!

-Ry

Day One:

ABSOLUTELY AWFUL. Perhaps I shouldn't say that. The first 15 miles were glorious. We owned the PCT. The view was breathtaking and the weather was a perfect 75ish with just enough wind. Little did I know Father Sky was frying me like a lobster. Then we met Hauser Canyon (see below-although the picture does not due this evil monster justice). Hauser Canyon can lick my sweaty, filthy asshole. 20 miles and 13 hours from Campo, we hobbled into camp and set up our tents in the dark. Too exhausted and cold to bother eating the spaghetti that had become my mantra of hope, we went to bed. Better luck next time.
-Linz

Best friends ever!

Before I left on this adventure, it hadn't quite sunken in yet that, potentially, I wouldn't see my friends for 5 months. These are the people that I spend countless hours with hanging around doing nothing but laughing, that will do ridiculous stuff with me on a whim, and that I could share my heart and soul with. To leave them would mean I was leaving some of the most important people in my life. The weekend before our plane flew out, I was supposed to go out with a few of my besties as a goodbye celebration. I met my friend for dinner and was told that we would meet our other friends at her apartment on campus. Little did I know that they were skeeming. I climb the stairs to her apartment, open the door, and see dark shadowy figures spread throughout the room. Before the lights were turned on and the "surprise" was yelled, my jawed dropped with a smile. Many of the people I didn't think I would have the opportunity to see before I left were there to see me off in the best way you could send someone off. Par-tay! I couldn't ask for better friends!

The rough part was to come. A couple days later, we had a "buzz Ryan's hair party" right before we said our final farewells. I think "I love you" was said far too much yet not enough. I'm man enough to admit that I cried as I watched them drive away. To my friends back home, you are amazing and I love you. Don't forget about me!

-Ry