We’ve often been asked “Is it worth it?”. That’s a tough question to answer. How far back do you want to zoom the lens before taking a look in order to accurately answer that question? For one, ‘it’ is not over, so I’m not entirely sure what ‘it’ will be yet. Somedays ‘it’ really sucks. It could be steep traversing in snowshoes on ankles that are already screaming. ‘It’ is always the constant foot pain reminders. Occasionally ‘it’ is simply getting out of your warm sleeping bag in the morning when the snow is already beginning to fall. But for me ‘it’ is not over and not fully defined. I won’t truly understand what ‘it’ is until ‘it’ is no longer.

    These trips that we undertake, I’ll call them adventures, are a range of emotions. Without them life is predictable and flat-lined. Everyday is a walk into the known. Living on the edge is toying with the notion that failure could be around the next corner. It keeps you mentally sharp, constantly aware of your surroundings, yet drained and in wonder. This is how I like to feel when my head hits that pillow (in this case a pile of dirty laundry in a stuff sack) each evening; exhausted and content.

   

    To view the PCT during the winter has felt like a window into a secret world. For most, the trail is hibernating at the moment, waiting for spring’s thaw. To witness anecdotes from the trail become buried in snow, frozen from the elements and transformed into a blanket of white has been awesome. I use the word in its true meaning, not a Bill & Ted’s reference. I will remember the verglas ice coating the trail register heading into Mt Lassen National Park, preserving it until spring. The accumulating layers of snow atop bridges and downed trees is a cross-sectional reminder into our reality. Seeing grass growing along the forever hot and dry Hat Creek Rim turns an ‘ok’ section of trail into a deeper appreciation for every landscape the trail encounters. The way the light dances on the snow formations in the wee hours of the day is motivation enough for me to do it all again the following morning.

    These last 250mi since the Christmas break have been a great way to reflect on why we are out there. Sunny California can be the best medicine and we just received a 12-day dose. We’ve also been fortunate to encounter a hard crust of snow to walk on and the occasional snowmobile track to follow. Never before did I think I would be so appreciative of expedited trail upon discovering the interlacing patterns of snow-machine tracks. At times we were ready to put the call in to ship out out shorts along the exposed ridge walks through the Sierra Buttes and Northern Tahoe regions. Breaks are enjoyable and things actually are drying out overnight. I like to think the warm breeze at night while in our sleeping bags is letting us know we paid our dues in Washington and Oregon.

    From here we head into the beginning of the High Sierra. If the trail truly is hibernating, we might be walking into the bear’s den. Caution and assessment will be on our minds as we continue this tread south, yet I am looking forward to visiting an area I am so familiar with; like a surprise visit for an old friend.

    For the number crunchers, here are some fun facts reflecting on the first half of the trip:

Number of miles covered:                                        1500mi

Number of miles to go:                                            1160mi

Total number of days:                                             80 days

Number of days travelled:                                       69 days

Average distance covered per day:                          21.7mpd

Overall average:                                                     18.75mpd

Miles covered in snowshoes:                                    ~600mi

Number of nights in a hotel:                                    10 nights

Number of nights with friends/trail angels:                10 nights

Number of broken trekking pole sections:                   5

Pieces of gear chewed on by mice in WA:                 12

Feet of fruit by the foot consumed:                            ~267ft

    For a visual representation of the last 250mi, please follow this link.