Pacific Crest Trail 2021: Sobo Old Station to Kennedy Meadows South
Our PCT 2021 starts in Old Station, California where we’ll meet fellow hikers from 2019! Mark (Vfat) and Claire (Snickers) meet us and then drive Cupcake to a storage facility in Ridgecrest. Now that’s what we call good friends! We’ll hike to Kennedy Meadows South and then hitch hike to Ridgecrest. This section of the Pacific Crest Trail traverses through snow-covered mountains and some of the best scenery in America! Well, we don’t think we’ll hit too much snow, because it’s a low snowpack year, plus we’re starting in July. So we’re hoping for a balance of low snow, but enough water. Heat but not fire. It’s a fine line! We’re intersecting with the John Muir Trail, during our PCT 2021 trek, so that’s exciting. It’s said to hold some of the most beautiful views and landscapes in America. We can’t wait to see it.
So this trek will finish out the last 600 miles that Steve has left to complete the entire PCT and we couldn’t be happier to get started. Our attitudes are a bit different than before we started in 2019. We’re a lot more relaxed about planning than we were then. But we’re also a lot more aware of the random things that can happen along the trail. We hiked with some great athletes last time, some of whom were taken about by bone fractures or injuries. A simple misstep can change the whole game. So while we’re more relaxed in most aspects, we’re also more aware of potential challenges.
You can check out the PCTA’s pages for lots of section detail or you can just start below. See where our journey takes us. Hopefully it’ll inspire you to take your own trail journey, by day or section or backpacking the whole dang thing! Let’s get hiking!
PCT Finishers medal
2652 miles is a very long distance to hike with a heavy load.
Day 258: The end of the trail
Day:258 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1954 Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2620 Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 623Miles hiked today: 24.9Elevation: 6051 High/low temp/humidity: 70/52/10 Spinning on the turntable: Yann Tiersen: EUSA So here we are, you...
Day 257: Almost there…
Day:257 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1925 Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2580 Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 578Miles hiked today: 14.9Elevation: 9047 High/low temp/humidity: 70/52/10 Spinning on the turntable: Cowboy Junkies: The Trinity Session I'm...
Day 256: Pain in my ass Pass
Day:256 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1910 Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2580 Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 563Miles hiked today: 17Elevation: 9966 High/low temp/humidity: 64/46/10 Spinning on the turntable: Post Malone: Hollywood's Bleeding Oh my word it...
Day 255: Guyot Pass
Day:255 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1894 Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2563 Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 546Miles hiked today: 11.1Elevation: 9822 High/low temp/humidity: 63/45/20 Spinning on the turntable: Yann Tiersen: Kerber OK, Forester Pass...
Day 254: Forester Pass
Day:254 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1883 Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2552 Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 535Miles hiked today: 13.1Elevation: 10353 High/low temp/humidity: 70/51/25 Spinning on the turntable: The Struts: Everybody wants Peak...
Day 253: Kearsarge Pass (again)
Day:253 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1869.6 Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2539 Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 522Miles hiked today: 10.9Elevation: 10640 High/low temp/humidity: 70/51/25 Spinning on the turntable: The Struts: Everybody wants Well I...
PCT: Day 248: Glen Pass & Kearsarge Pass
Day:248Direction: SouthboundTrail location: 1865Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2528Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 511Miles hiked today: 14.6Elevation: 10747High/low temp/humidity: 70/50/25Spinning on the turntable: The Struts: Everybody WantsToday is my moms 85th...
PCT: Day 247: pinchot Pass
Day:247Direction: SouthboundTrail location: 1856Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2513Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 496Miles hiked today: 14.35Elevation: 9495High/low temp/humidity: 70/50/25Spinning on the turntable: Bruce Springsteen:We shall overcome The climb to...
PCT: Day 246: Mather Pass
Day:246Direction: SouthboundTrail location: Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: Cumulative miles hiked 2021: Miles hiked today: Elevation: High/low temp/humidity: Spinning on the turntable: My feet are really bothering me. My left big toe is now making a clicking noise...
PCT: Day 245: Muir Pass: Day 2
Day:245Direction: SouthboundTrail location: 1827Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2484Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 467Miles hiked today: 14.46Elevation: 8383High/low temp/humidity: 70/46/40Spinning on the turntable: Pearl Jam: Gigaton It's very cold this morning, my...
PCT: Day 244: Muir Pass: Day 1
Day:244Direction: SouthboundTrail location: 1813Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2470Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 453Miles hiked today: 11.59Elevation: 11454High/low temp/humidity: 60/39/60Spinning on the turntable: George Harrison: Let it roll Today is a climbing...
PCT: Day 243: Selden Pass
Day:243Direction: SouthboundTrail location: 1801Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2458Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 414Miles hiked today: 15.77Elevation: 8594High/low temp/humidity: 80/35/35Spinning on the turntable: It's was cold this morning, so I broke out both my...
PCT: Day 242: leaving Vermilion Valley Resort
Day:242Direction: SouthboundTrail location: 1785.4Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2443Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 426Miles hiked today: 13Elevation: 10010High/low temp/humidity: 67/49/40Spinning on the turntable: 10000 Maniacs: Playing favorite The bill for my time...
PCT: Day 241: Vermilion Valley Resort
Day: 241Direction: SouthboundTrail location: 1779Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2429Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 413Miles hiked today: 9Elevation: 9309High/low temp/humidity: 67/49/40Spinning on the turntable: Jenny Lin: Glass: Piano worksThis morning I again...
PCT: Day 240: Silver Pass
Day: 240Direction: SouthboundTrail location: 1772Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2420Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 403Miles hiked today: 12.5Elevation: 9309High/low temp/humidity: 80/54/40Spinning on the turntable: 10,000 Maniacs: UnpluggedI was amused last night in...
PCT: Day 239: Climbing
Day: 239Direction: SouthboundTrail location: 1760Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2408Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 391Miles hiked today: 13Elevation: 9981High/low temp/humidity: 80/54/40Spinning on the turntable: Jeremy Robinson: Infinite 2 The morning started with...
PCT: Day 237: Going nowhere fast
Day: 237Direction: SouthboundTrail location: 1747Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2395Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 378Miles hiked today: 12.3Elevation: 7597High/low temp/humidity: 55/83/70Spinning on the turntable: Baltic Sea Philharmonic: Richter: ExilesThis morning...
PCT: Day 236: Donahue Pass
Day: 236Direction: SouthboundTrail location: 1737.7Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2383Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 366Miles hiked today: 14.7Elevation: 8774High/low temp/humidity: 67/53/70Spinning on the turntable: Billie Ellish: Happier than everI made an early...
PCT: Day 235
Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1724 Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2368 Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 352Miles hiked today: 11.9Elevation: 10513 High/low temp/humidity: 83/49/55 Spinning on the turntable: U2: All that you can’t leave behind: 20th...
PCT: Day 233: Tuolumne Falls
Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1711.1 Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2356 Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 339Miles hiked today: 13.4Elevation: 8599High/low temp/humidity: 73/40/20 Spinning on the turntable: Peter Gabriel: Growing up Live Four lanes The...
PCT: Day 232: Benson Pass
Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1687 Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2342 Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 326Miles hiked today: 12.4Elevation: 8543 High/low temp/humidity: 69/49/20 Spinning on the turntable: Coldplay: Live in Beunos Aires This morning began...
PCT: Day 231
Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1675 Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2330 Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 314Miles hiked today: 9.5Elevation: 9265High/low temp/humidity: 74/40/30 Spinning on the turntable: Peter, Paul and Mary: The very best OK, today I...
PCT: Day 230: A tale of two titties
Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1675 Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2320 Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 304Miles hiked today: 12Elevation: 8430 High/low temp/humidity: 74/40/30 Spinning on the turntable: Pearl Jam: 20 It's cold this morning when I wake...
PCT:Day 229: Entering Yosemite
Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1663 Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2308 Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 292Miles hiked today: 13.9Elevation: 8020 High/low temp humidity: 65/46/20 Spinning on the turntable: Peter Himmelman: Press On Here! I punched into Yosemite...
PCT: Day 228
Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1649.7 Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2295 Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 278Miles hiked today: 13.09Elevation: 8587High/low temp/humidity: 72/51/20 Spinning on the turntable: P!NK: All I know so far I Started the day with...
PCT support team of one – NorCal & Sierras
Similar to 2019, I’m again the PCT support team of one for Steve. It’s a pretty fair gig! I read a lot, drive some & see my favorite hiker.
PCT: 2021: 30 days in: Proof of life
I thought I'd give you a quick breakdown from the past 30 days on the trail. What's working out OK, and what's not working out so well? (Hopefully!) I explained in a prior post that I didn't want to spend a bleeding nickel this year on gear if I absolutely didn't need...
PCT: Day 224: The end of Northern California
Day: 224 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1554 Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2273 Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 257 Miles hiked today: 10.25 Elevation: 8123 High/low temp humidity: 65/55/40 Spinning on the turntable: Tove Lo: Sunshine Kitty A short hop Today...
PCT: Day 223
Day: 223 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1554 Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2273 Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 257 Miles hiked today: 10.25 Elevation: 8123 High/low temp humidity: 65/55/40 Spinning on the turntable: LP: Live in Moscow Feed me! I hit snooze a...
PCT: Day 222
Day: 222 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1544 Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2263 Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 246 Miles hiked today: 15.29 Elevation: 7980 High/low temp humidity: 69/59/50 Spinning on the turntable: Grouplove: Healer It's again very humid...
PCT: Day 221
Day: 221 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1528 Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2248 Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 231 Miles hiked today: 12.67 Elevation: 7660 High/low temp humidity: 75/55/rain Spinning on the turntable: AC/DC Live at the River Plate It's very...
PCT: Day 220:Truckee
Day: 220 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1516 Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2235 Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 218 Miles hiked today: 15.5 Elevation: 7259 High/low temp humidity: 76/54/27 Spinning on the turntable: Greta Van Fleet: The Battle at Garden’s Gate...
PCT:Day 216: The smoke!
Day: 216 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1500 Cumulative miles hiked: 2220 Miles hiked today: 15.7 Elevation: 6708 High/low temp humidity: 86/58/20 Spinning on the turntable: Keane: Cause and Effect . Wow! It is SMOKEY today. There's a fire burning to the...
PCT:Day 215: Tux
Day: 215 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1485 Cumulative miles hiked: 2204 Miles hiked today: 15.63 Elevation: 8049 High/low temp humidity: 84/62/20 Spinning on the turntable: Richard K. Morgan: Altered Carbon This morning I'm starting off early with the...
PCT:Day 214: Slack packing
Day: 214 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1470 Cumulative miles hiked: 2189 Miles hiked today: 11.8 Elevation: 6000 High/low temp humidity: Spinning on the turntable: Richard K. Morgan: Altered Carbon Today I had expectations that I would fly up and down...
PCT:Day 213: Shake it baby!
Day: 213 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1458 Cumulative miles hiked: 2178 Miles hiked today: 12.29 Elevation: 4661 High/low temp humidity: 85/58/15 Spinning on the turntable: Richard K. Morgan: Altered Carbon This morning began with a four mile uphill...
PCT:Day 212: Trail magic
Day: 212 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1446 Cumulative miles hiked: 2165 Miles hiked today: 12.35 Elevation: 6557 High/low temp humidity: 89/61/20 Spinning on the turntable: Richard K. Morgan: Altered Carbon Feeling rebellious this morning I opted to drink...
PCT: Day 211: Going back for wilson
Day: 211 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1433 Cumulative miles hiked: 2153 Miles hiked today: 15.14 Elevation: 6557High/low temp humidity: 89/57/15 Spinning on the turntable: Billy Joel: Live through the years Each day on the trail I tell myself that tomorrow...
PCT: Day 210: Fire Burnout
Day: 210 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1418 Cumulative miles hiked: 2148 Miles hiked today: 14.82 Elevation: 6455 High/low temp humidity: Spinning on the turntable: Coldplay: Everyday Life Hiking through a burnout section isn’t the most exciting thing in the...
PCT: Day 209
Day: 209 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1403 Cumulative miles hiked: 2134 Miles hiked today: 13.74 Elevation: 3031 High/low temp humidity: 89/57/15 Spinning on the turntable: Diana Krall: Sunflower The trail behind me (North) has been closed due to a forest...
PCT: Day 208: Slackpackimg
Day: 208 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1390 Cumulative miles hiked: 2109 Miles hiked today: 4.49 Elevation: 5566 High/low temp/Humidity : 77/53/15 Spinning on the turntable: Glen Campbell: Live at the Royal festival hall Today was a easy slack pack kind of...
PCT: Day 206: Reunited
Day: 206 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1385.7 Cumulative miles hiked: 2105 Miles hiked today: 8.41 Elevation: 5518 High/low temp/humidity : 77/57/20 Spinning on the turntable: Morrisey: I am not a dog on a chain My home for a night Today I’m headed into Quincy...
PCT: Day 205: That’s a mighty big hill
Day: 205 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1367.8 Cumulative miles hiked: 2096 Miles hiked today: 10.43 Elevation: 6644 High/low temp/humidity : 82/59/10 Spinning on the turntable: The Cranberries: No need to argue I spent yesterday preparing for the hike today....
PCT: Day 203: The heat!
It’s really hot and I’m really hungry on this stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail. Making a stop in Belden to add snacks and hot food!
PCT: Day 202: Dang these nipples!
The Pacific Crest Trail brings rattlesnakes, sore nipples, face plants to bend hiking poles & even a blessed soak in a creek!
PCT: Day 201: Trail Magic
Trail magic is a wonderful thing to behold!
PCT: Day 200: Mourning an easier hike
Today I reached the official half way point marker on the Pacific Crest Trail. From here, it’s 1325 miles to Canada or to Mexico.
PCT: Day 199: Going solo
I’m back on the Pacific Crest Trail, headed south as a solo hiker. It wasn’t our plan, we thought Noelle would continue hiking. It just is.
Day 196 1/2?
Noelle here: Over the last few days I’ve taken two regional buses and three Greyhound buses to get within an hour of some friends, where they picked me up. I don’t know what I was thinking and why I forgot about airplanes. But I guess because I had to take the little...
PCT:Day 196
Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1303.3 Cumulative miles hiked: 2042 Miles hiked today: 6.58 Elevation: 5400 High/low temp/humidity : 89/62/20 Spinning on the turntable: Noelle here: Today’s hiking was a lot better for me! We discovered the keys: bear, cool...
PCT:Day 195
Day: 195 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1297.6 Cumulative miles hiked: 2035 Miles hiked today: 6.58 Elevation: 6626 High/low temp/humidity : 89/62/20 Spinning on the turntable: Toby Mac: Eye on it I wish I could say that today was a better day for hiking for...
PCT: Day 194
Day: 194 Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1291 Cumulative miles hiked: 2029 Miles hiked today: 4.6 Elevation: 6231 High/low temp/humidity 89/62/25 Spinning on the turntable: Young the Giant: Young the Giant 10th anniversary Today was not a good hiking day for...
Thru-hiking with Sleep apnea
Hiking with sleep apnea is challenging. Here are the ways I tried to combat it, while still keeping my back pack light. Here’s how to hike with sleep apnea devices while backpacking.
PCT: Day 193
Direction: Southbound Trail location: 1284.9 Cumulative miles hiked: 2024 Miles hiked today: 7.97 Elevation: 4912’ High/low temp/humidity : 85/59/25 Spinning on the turntable: Bruce Springsteen: Letter to you Our friends Mark/Claire drove down to Old Station from...
Pacific Crest Trail: Act 2
Pacific Crest Trail: Act 2 is about the Sierra Mountain Range & John Muir Trail. Our backpacks are loaded & we’re ready. July 1st is the day!
Check Out our PCT Oregon section
Read more about our Pacific Crest Trail thru hike by clicking to go the Oregon section. We didn’t see any rattlesnakes here, but there are a ton of lava fields to cross over. Plus mountains and lakes and so many deer. Good friends along the way made the trail so much fun. And Crater Lake, what beauty. After months in California, Steve flew through Oregon! His legs were like chiseled marble and he was looking mighty fine (can you tell Noelle is typing this?!) At the Bridge of the Gods, family came to meet us and then we got to go home for a week! Oregon’s a great section of the PCT, don’t miss it.
We hope you’re enjoying our adventure and making plans for your own!