The climb out of Belden was steep and hot, a precursor for what was to come. Across the valley we could see lush pine forests providing shade and shelter for the creatures and visitors that passed… Continue Reading »
We split an Uber with two other hikers and were deposited in front of a casino hotel. The quiet serenity of the mountains and trees was suddenly replaced with bright lights, billboards, and the sounds… Continue Reading »
We were out of food and toilet paper, our extra batteries were all dead and our phones running on their last drops. Twelve straight days through the High Sierra had completely depleted our resources… Continue Reading »
It has been close to 2 weeks since any sign of civilization. Even longer than that since we were last in a real town, and by real town I mean a place that doesn't run purely on generators as there is… Continue Reading »
With the desert section behind me I feel it is a good time to look back at all of the gear changes that took place over that 700 miles. There were some pieces that shined greater than expected and… Continue Reading »
In the middle of the blistering heat and barren landscapes sits a place with shade, running water, and even air conditioning. Run by a couple of "trail angels" out of their own home is Hiker Heaven… Continue Reading »
We took off from Big Bear Lake fast and strong. Our sights were set on the town of Wrightwood and the summit just beyond it, Mount Baden-Powell. This next section marked the last big climb of the… Continue Reading »
As we looked at the map in preparation for our ascent up Mount San Jacinto, we planned three distinct days - an up day, a down day, and a flat day. The up day was going to be from Idyllwild up to the… Continue Reading »
The day after I slept in a kitchen shed we hitch hiked back into the desert. We were picked up by a young couple, Anwar and Claudia, who seemed even happier to be driving us than we were to be getting… Continue Reading »
It is the fifth night of my hike and I have given up on sleeping for the night. The point at which I gave up is after my tent collapsed on me twice due to the intensity of the winds. And it's only 1… Continue Reading »