From May 5 to September 11, 2018 I thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and photographed and journaled my experience. All five trail sections have been broken up into subsequent blogs found below.
Jump to section: DESERT | SIERRA | NORCAL | OREGON | WASHINGTON
The Desert
“The Desert” can bring rain and snow, or cloudless weeks above 90 degrees. This section covers Days 1-30, miles 0-570, Campo to Tehachapi, California.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 5-8 from Julian to Mike’s Place, mile 80-127.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 9-12 from Mike’s Place to Cabazon, mile 127-211.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 13-16 from Cabazon to Big Bear, mile 211-266.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 17-21 from Big Bear to Wrightwood, mile 266-376.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 22-25 from Wrightwood to Agua Dulce, mile 376-462.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 26-30 from Agua Dulce to Tehachapi, mile 462-570.
The Sierra
Post-holing through snow-covered passes above 10,000 feet can be grueling. Fortunately grand views are a constant distraction. This section covers Days 31-59, miles 570-1,090, Tehachapi to South Lake Tahoe, California.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 31-36 from Tehachapi to Kennedy Meadows, mile 570-700.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 37-39 from Kennedy Meadows to Mount Whitney, mile 700-766.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers day 40, Mount Whitney.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 41-44 from Mount Whitney to Bishop, mile 766-831.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 45-49 from Bishop to Mammoth Lakes, mile 831-906.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 50-52 from Mammoth Lakes to Tuolumne Meadows, mile 906-942.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 53-56 from Tuolumne Meadows to Sonora Pass, mile 942-1,020.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 57-59 from Sonora Pass to South Lake Tahoe, mile 1,020-1,090.
Northern California
Sublime sunrises and stellar sunsets, rolling hills and steep climbs, California still has much more to offer. This section covers Days 60-86, miles 1,090-1,700, South Lake Tahoe to the California-Oregon border.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 60 and 61 in South Lake Tahoe, mile 1,090.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 62-65 from South Lake Tahoe to Sierra City, mile 1,090-1,195.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 66-70 from Sierra City to Belden, mile 1,195-1,300.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 71-75 from Belden to Burney Falls, mile 1,300-1,420.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 76-79 from Burney Falls to Mount Shasta, mile 1,420-1,500.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 80-83 from Mount Shasta to Etna, mile 1,500-1,600.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 84-87 from Etna to the California/Oregon border, mile 1,600-1,700.
Oregon
Densely timbered views occasionally part to reveal massive volcanic mountains. This section covers Days 87-106, miles 1,700-2,150, Ashland to Cascade Locks, Oregon.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 88-92 from Ashland to Crater Lake, mile 1,700-1,820.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 93-95 from Crater Lake to Shelter Cove, mile 1,820-1,900.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 96-99 from Shelter Cove to Sisters, Oregon, mile 1,900-2,000.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 100-104 from Sisters to Cascade Locks, mile 2,000-2,150.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 105-106, Cascade Locks, Oregon and PCT Days.
Washington
Lakes and ponds are nestled like precious gemstones amidst forested, mountainous terrain. This section covers Days 107-130, miles 2,150-2,652, from Cascade Locks to the USA-Canada border.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 107-110 from Cascade Locks to Goat Rocks, mile 2,150-2,270.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers day 111, Goat Rocks and my 30th birthday.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 112-116 from White Pass to Snoqualmie Pass, mile 2,270-2,390.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 117-120 from Snoqualmie Pass to Skykomish, mile 2,390-2,465.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 121-126 from Skykomish to Stehekin, mile 2,465-2,570.
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 127-130 from Stehekin to the Canada-USA border, mile 2,570-2,652.
Additional Articles
In 2018, I thru-hiked of the Pacific Crest Trail. In this blog post I will share my thoughts and give a thorough review of the gear I used. Here’s where you can see all my PCT articles, including my daily journal and photos.
In 2018, I thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail. Here are the stats, the aftermath, the by-the-numbers account of my time on trail.
In 2018, I thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail with my brother. Before the trail, we watched dozens of YouTube videos and read countless gear reviews. In the spirit of giving back—and recording my memories for posterity—here's what we did before either of us set foot on trail.
Guest Writing
Atlas Guides: My Trail Story
Mucky: Jewel of the Sierra
Photos and stories from my thru-hike of the PCT. This post covers days 1-4 from Campo to Julian, mile 0-80.