
PCT day 12 – Into town
Pacific Crest Trail, USAArrastre Trail Camp (256.2) to Hwy 18 (266.1)
9.9 miles
The night had been cold but not as bad as the last one. I managed to stay in my sleeping bag until short before 6 am but then had to leave my tent to jump behind a tree.
I went to sleep…

PCT day 11 – Sightseeing
Pacific Crest Trail, USAMission Camp (239.9) to Arrestre Trailcamp (256.2)
16.3 miles
I woke up from a freezing cold night. It was actually hard to stay warm in the tent. I wished the campfire was still going... My goal for today was to get to the next watersource…

PCT day 10 – Washed out Mission Creek
Pacific Crest Trail, USAMission Creek Camp (226.2) to Mission Camp (239.9)
13.7 miles
When I pulled up my tent zippers Smiles was all packed up and ready to go. I wasn't in a hurry so I wished him Happy Trails and turned around again. It had been my best night on…

PCT day 9 – Fighting the wind
Pacific Crest Trail, USAInterstate 10 (209.5) to Mission Creek camp (226.2)
16.7 miles
I woke up in a wonderful warm and cozy bed at Mary's and Jim's place. My friends had picked me up again at the I10 and had given me another wonderful day of rest, plenty of food…

PCT day 7 – Into the desert
Pacific Crest Trail, random stuff, USAWindy camp (201.1) to Interstate 10 (209.5)
8.4 miles
I didn't have to wake up at all. The wind had kept me up all night. And not only the wind. The temperature didn't drop at all and so I was sweating underneath my sleeping bag which I needed…

PCT day 6 – Fuller’s Ridge
Pacific Crest Trail, USAOff-trail camp to windy camp
14,9 miles
Some pain in my left knee made me wake up in the middle of the night. It felt like an upcoming problem and I immediately thought about taking some Ibuprofen. But I decided against it as I didn't want…

PCT day 5 – Climbing Mt. San Jacinto
Pacific Crest Trail, USAIdyllwild to off-trail camp
7.8 miles (+ 2.5 miles on devils side trail)
I woke up and packed my stuff. The hiker shuttle was supposed to leave at 8am to take us up to Humber Park. I didn't look forward to climbing up on the 2.5 miles long…

PCT day 4 – Idyllwild
Pacific Crest Trail, random stuff, USAZero miles (except the ones I walk around town)
Last time I had been to Idyllwild I could hardly walk. I went around town to see Doctor Bill the physical therapist here and to get an x-ray at the health center. The friendliness of the locals…

PCT day 3 – First snow
Pacific Crest Trail, USARidge Camp to Saddle junction (Idyllwild)
4 miles (+ 2.5 miles on sidetrail)
The night was warmer than I expected. Gusts of wind were blowing through the campsite every now and then waking me up from a light sleep. It was around 5:30 when…

PCT day 2 – Challenges
Pacific Crest Trail, USACedar Spring to Ridge campsite
12.7 miles (+ 1 on sidetrail)
I woke up to the sound of birds and the noises of Salsa and Tables two fellow hikers who were aiming at an early start. My decision to camp close to Cedar Spring came with a pricetag…

PCT Day 1 – A new beginning
Pacific Crest Trail, USAParadise Valley Café to Cedar Springs
10,9 miles (+ 1 on sidetrail)
My feet were digging into the sand of the Californian desert. I looked around. Behind me I could see the hill I have come down three years ago. Unable to proceed.
Something…

How to deal with a hiking injury on a long-distance hike
Pacific Crest Trail, USAImagine you are out there on the AT, CDT, PCT or any other long-distance trail and you get injured. Is it the end? How should you react? What should you do? On day ten I was knocked out by a hiking injury on the Pacific Crest Trail. Find out how I managed to have a great comeback and continue my hike on the PCT!