The Wonders of the PCT

Well, it’s been a few crazy, joyous, sad and wonderful days. On Friday morning at 6:30am I said “good-­‐bye” to the boys at the border. The trail is pretty amazing. Thanks to all of the PCTA volunteers that keep this trail in such great condition.

As we drove to Campo, we stopped at Warner Springs to check out the spot where I would be picking up Shane. There we met WALL-­‐E. I knew he was a thru-­‐hiker before we even met him, as he was rubbing his feet and looking pretty worn. What a nice guy. Smoke Jumper for 30+ years out of McCall, Idaho. Nice to know Kevin may be walking with him at times. While camping in Lake Moreno, I met so many nice people. There was Tracker (from Alaska) and the Tres-­‐Amigo’s, and Mr. Happy, and the 2 girls for Colorado, who were so excited when I offered them homemade cookies!!! There was Buzz (short for Buzz LightYear), who is walking in flip-­‐flops – Teva looking like sandals! My friend, Nancy would be proud to know there are other wierdo’s out there that walk in flip-­‐flops! Everyone was more than nice, each one so happy to be on the trail and so helpful to other hikers. Really, you are not alone if you don’t want to be.
Shane started out a bit fast the first 20 miles, but slowed down for Kevin! They made it to Lake Morena within 6 hours. It was pretty hot and no water. So they each carried 6 litres. Made for a heavy pack day. Looking pretty good when they arrived.

Day 2 they were up at out of camp at 6:30am. Going just shy of Mt. Laguna (19 miles). I received the location around 5:00 this evening...so they took it a bit slower! Didn’t help that Kevin’s eye was almost swollen shut from his bee sting at mile 3!

I’m so glad that Shane is able to hike with his Dad for these first 115 miles. I think it is a nice transition for Kevin and great for them to spend time together.

So the journey begins.....off to Canada.

Maureen

Signing the log book at Start

The PCT Logbook

Hello CAMPO, We're Off!

Hello Everyone,

We are off! Shane and Kevin will be leaving from the Mexican Border at Campo in the wee hours of Friday morning. Trying to get through the heat and the "nastiness" of the first 21 miles.

We want to THANK everyone that has been so incredibly supportive in all of our planning for Kevin's big Walk. It warms our hearts and souls to know that we have such amazing friends and community that surround us The kindness and enthusiasm from so many of you is quite astonishing. Thanks to our friends that we walk with every morning at the park - their farewell surprise breakfast was so touching. From our friends that are following Kevin's journey...just because, hope we can keep you excited. It's hard to just name a few, but a big thanks goes out to PAUL and RIK (for getting it all going LIGHT!) to our immediate family who just can't believe any of this,especially our daughter, ERIN, who continues to believe that "Dad is Batshit CRAZY! to SHANE for walking with his dad for the first 100+ miles, to all of our great friends that have volunteered to resupply (DANA, JOE & MARY, GREG, RICH & KATHLEEN, NANCY, JEANETTE, SUSIE, MARTIN & Z, JACKIE & MARTIN, and SHAUNA (who's flying to the BEST spot on the trail via a float plane! - Stehekin, WA) and all the others that are tagging along and have volunteered to be my driving buddies! THANKS to all of you. Without help from you all and the wonderful Trail Angels along the way, this walk could not be accomplished.

A big, huge Thanks goes out to JEREMY! He really wanted to be involved and he surely found his niche. Straight from Washington D.C, he will be keeping us posted on Kevin's every move. Below is the URL link that you can use to follow Kevin's journey. JEREMY will keep it updated periodically so you can see how he's doing and where he is in the midst of 2,650 miles. It's a cool map and I had fun playing with the zooms. The legend is self-explanatory with the resupply spots added. so cool.
Thanks to all of you that have called and wished Kevin well. This is really meaningful that you care. DANA and HILLY...don't worry about me!


All of this has given us a renewed outlook on friendship and human kindness. With the most recent disaster at the Boston Marathon, we sometimes doubt human nature has much to offer?

“I hike because the voices in my head tell me to”

The URL is http://esriurl.com/PCT2013ME Kevin and Maureen........ 

"Chief" and "BootCamp"

Resupply Plan

17 days and counting........
Just before the last storm the snow level at Big Horn Plateau (west of Mt. Whitney) is at 27 feet. That’s good news for me, bad news for the dry environment.
That means that my estimated time to leave Horseshoe Meadows is right on schedule, which is around June 9. Again, these are all estimates and until I start walking, I won’t know what my body can handle..again, my goal is to do 20 miles/per day pace.
I have enclosed an updated time frame for those of you that are helping out with the resupply. Again, I can’t thank you enough that you have volunteered to be a “part of this!” Maureen will keep you posted as to my actual dates and time.
Thanks also to the keen eyes of the Phelps family for getting me on track in the Sonora Pass! (see correction on resupply mileage)
Kevin
"Chief"

The List

ReSupply for Kevin PCT 2013

Destination	MILE	Need	Trail Angel
Mt. Laguna, CALIFORNIA (April 24)	43	6 days food	Market
Warner Springs (April 25)	110	5 days food	Maureen
Anza	151	maybe?	Hitch hike to Market
Idyllwild (April 29, April 30) Hotel	178	3 days food	Hitch hike to Market (O day)
Cabazon ( May 2?)	210	4 days food	Mail/l Ziggy & Bear
Big Bear City	274	4 days food	Maureen/Market?
Phelan	342	7 days food	Mail/Best Western Cajon Pass
Acton/Aqua Dulce (May 17?)	454	3 days food	Martin/Jackie/Maureen
Lake Hughes	486	4 days food	Market
Tehachapi (May 21)	566	6 days food	Maureen
Walker Pass (May 31)	652	5 days food	Maureen
HorseShoe Meadows (June 9)	744	8 days food	Maureen
Vermillion Valley Resort (June 16)	877	2 days food	Greg Lopez (O day)
Mammoth (June 19)	901	3 days food	Maureen/Nancy
Tuolume	942	8 days food	The Phelps in between
Echo Lake-South Lake Tahoe	1094	6 days food	Hitch hike to S.lake Tahoe
Tahoe City	1126		Market
Sierra City	1197	5 days food	Market
Belden (July 12)	1290	3 days food	Mail/Braatan Trail Angel

ReSupply for Kevin PCT 2013

Drakesbad Guest Ranch	1353	4 days food	Mail/Drakesbad Ranch
Burney Falls	1423	4 days food	Mail/PO Box
Castella	1505	6 days food	Mail/UPS/Gen Delivery
Etna (AUGUST 1?)	1606	3 days food	Market
Seiad Valley	1662	3 days food	Mail/Trail Angel/Market
Ashland, OREGON	1726	5 days food	Market
Crater Lake	1830	5 days food	Mail/UPS/Gen Delivery
Shelter Cove	1912	4 days food	Mail/UPS/Gen Delivery
Big Lake Youth Camp	2001	5 days food	Mail/USPS
Timberline Lodge (AUGUST 25?)	2107	3 days food	Maureen with kids!(O day)
Cascade Locks, WASHINGTON	2155	7 days food	Market
White Pass	2302	4 days food	Mail/PO Box
Snoqualmie Pass	2401	4 days food	Mail/Chevron Station
Skykomish (Sept 19)	2476	6 days food	USPS/Dinsmores-Hiker Haven
Stehekin (SEPT 24?)	2574	5 days food	Mail???? Shauna???
MANNING PARK, CANADA	2663	LOTS!!!	FINISH!!!!!!!

Vin Scully

March, 2013

Well I am watching the first preseason Dodger game with Vin Scully as the announcer. Spring must just be around the corner and the Dodgers will have a great season and beat those despicable Giants. Now is the time for the final stages of my preparation for the Hike. The days are getting longer and warmer, in SoCal way warmer!!!
I have been focused on my physical fitness, but the logistics have been lagging. Fortunately for me, Maureen is really excited about preparing trail food, go figure!! I have put together an itinerary with the snow pack in the Sierra as of late February. Things can change but it looks like an earlier year for the Sierra snow melt. The rule of thumb is to leave Kennedy Meadows by the following formula -

Kennedy meadows departure day = June 1 + (snow depth at Big Horn Plateau on April 1....I used today’s measurements) divided by 3.5 days. Right now it looks like I can leave by June 10 from Kennedy Meadows. Otherwise, you can get yourself in BIG trouble with too much snow on the big passes.

As far as the training, I have been averaging 10 miles a day on trails mixed with a few days in the gym for core strength. Also. I have been backpacking in the Los Padres with friends once or twice a month. Of course when the days are sunny and warm I may camp at Refugio beach to surf and lounge. Training is so difficult.
I have attached my tentative resupply schedule. I am looking for help in a few places. If you are interested and want a better schedule of dates in those areas, please contact me. Lake Edison is my first problem. Maureen will be heading with her horse and riding buddies to Red’s Meadow for a resupply and couple day ride-along, so she won’t be able to get from the Western Sierra’s to the Eastern in that time span. That’s ironic.....I will be able to get from one place to the other faster than she and her HORSE! You will notice on the schedule that I have quite a few mail drops to Trail Angels and small Post Office locations mostly in Oregon and Washington.

Things are moving along. My base pack weight is 12 lbs. That is everything except food and water. My shoes are just some nice running shoes (1.2 ounce total weight). I will have my resupply boxes filled with food and new socks, a new t-shirt, and things I will need for that specific section of the trail (ie: ice axe for the Sierra’s, raingear for Washington, etc.).
I’m excited but a little bit apprehensive about the unknown adventures and challenges. The Kick-Off (KO) is on April 26 at Lake Moreno.
http://pct77.org/adz/


This is a gathering of all the class of 2013, designed primarily for thru-hikers. They have vendors, movies, people meeting and the official registration of the start date. Shane and I will be starting as planned on April 19 and will hike to Warner Springs,

where Maureen will pick us up and return to camp at the KO. Then off again from
Warner Springs........


Many people have asked if I am walking alone. There usually is between 300 – 400 people that start. They sort of clump together by age, experience, likes/dislikes, etc. The drop off is pretty quick. The percentage drops by 30-40% in the first few weeks, and then the Sierra’s is the next big drop off. So....I am hiking my own hike, but there will be times when I will be joined by others.

Permits have arrived for both the PCT and Canada, Resupply is organized, pack is getting lighter, dehydrated food is taking over our house, and Maureen can make a darn good beef jerkey!

As my daughter Erin so eloquently stated.....”It’s official, Dad’s Bat Shit Crazy!”

Kevin
"Chief "