Thanks! Primary goal is to have something we can look back on and remember what it was actually like out there. So all the staged shots etc just detract from that for us. When is your start date?
@@alyishiking probably a good call. I made the comment to someone that last year was the first year I would have put it off even if I’d quit work and had everything on hold. Because the only bigger bummer than not being able to do the big hike right away would have been not being able to complete it properly once I was settled in
@@FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikesWhen I saw footage from Mt Laguna of PCT hikers in full rain suits in near whiteout conditions I knew I wasn't interested in even trying. Thankfully I hadn't officially quit work so I was able to stay on another year and prepare for this year. I'd already hiked the AT so boss knew what was up. I want to be out early enough to beat the inevitable fires and have one continuous hike north, and so far the snow pack is looking amenable to that.
Mt Laguna is at least fairly mellow. San Jacinto can be a much worse crossing early season. It's just a big questionmark with the PCT these days. I started May 4th in 2020 and that worked really well since I was able to hit the Sierra after the melt which was both more enjoyable and meant we could travel faster. Plus I really didn't want to have to sit around at Kennedy Meadows or San Jacinto waiting for snow to clear. Two years after that I had a student who ended up having to skip most of Oregon because of fires despite being significantly ahead of where I was my year. Here's hoping things work out this year!
Matt. Those bunkers are part of Camp Hale. The 10th Mountain Division trained here during wwii. They were trained in Nordic and alpine skiing, cold weather survival, and mountain climbing, and were deployed to the mountains of Europe. Just this week Camp Hale was designated a National Monument by the US government.
I remember this section well from a prior section hike on the CT. I went through in late August, everything was golden. I night hiked over Kokomo Pass and camped between there and Searle Pass. In the morning, I woke up to frost everywhere followed by a beautiful sunny day. Good memories.
Congrats on the 20+ miles! Even feeling like crap you can do the miles. What a difference between the snow covered passes and the beautiful forests below the peaks. Hike on! Tortoise
I don’t think it will ever come to the Appalachian Trail. That trail is just too civilization adjacent. And considering all the wilderness areas are their own little fiefdom with different people with different ideas about permits I’d be surprised if it came to the others. The Pacific Crest Trail is kind of a Frankenstein monster Permit and it is quite possible to hike without it
I was just communicating with Stan the man about why part of the AT was rerouted in CT. I seemed to recall that there was a new land owner with a bulldozer that a hiker showed last year or the year before. During WWII the 10th Mountain Division trained in Colorado. Those bunkers may have belonged to them. I hope that you take a couple of zeros when you meet up with your folks. You sound like you need rest. Happy Trails. Good Luck, Rick
2020 may have been the year where there was the most “likemindedness”, but even still that sentiment held true. Main character syndrome is a great way of putting it man, it’s running rampant on trails these days. While stopping at the yellow deli last year I remember overhearing a gentleman who was using all their free amenities and utilities, mocking them for being a cult. Can’t make these things up… that true comradeship and likemindedness is rare and truly hard to find these days amidst all the tramilies and skippers. I thought I was the only one who thought this way.
Beautiful folige and clouds against the mtns. It really is sad that troublemakers on the trail have to ruin it for everyone. Frustrating to say the least.
20+! Well done, Matt! We were on Avalanche Pass Trail yesterday. I was hoping we might cross paths, but alas, no. Rained on us last night though. Hope that cloud avoided your campsite.
@@FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes we were on the wrong side of the Collegiates. You are making good time, though. Meeting the parental trail magic today or tomorrow?
@@stitch3163 meeting them in about 8 miles here. I’ll be in Salida tonight and then back on trail headed for Creed in the morning. I keep debating it with myself but my gut is trying to redline through the San Juan’s this late is asking for trouble especially considering my reduced speed and how much further I have to go
@@FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes that’s a tough call, Matt. On one hand, you lost nearly two weeks of travel time through no fault of your own and can make a good chunk of that up by heading through Creede. On the other hand, you’ll be missing perhaps the most beautiful part of the CDT. You might start checking the long range forecast as you get closer to San Luis Pass as cell coverage permits. If the forecast is awesome, your decision will be much easier. Have fun in Salida!
The hours of light that I have right now are very short From first light that I could remember seeing this morning looking out my window from work that was approximately 20 after 7 maybe 7:00 and the night falls the last ray of sunshine lately is roughly around 5:30 p.m. that will get shorter I too miss the long days of spring and summer
We're I a trail angel 😇 who went out of my way to bring food and drink to the hikers and somebody went off on me, I would not bother to bring another morsel ever again.
Love your videos Matt, but equally interested in what audiobooks you’re listening to since apparently Taters is a science teacher and you guys talked books a lot back in MT. Have you guys read The Expanse series? 9 + 1 Novella
I go through a ton of them and I recommend the best ones to Taters. The expanse is one I finished earlier this year when the last book came out and she is now on the last few.
Specifically I’m looking for audiobooks since that’s what I have time for. I’ve found often sci-fi books have a bad habit of doing these long asides that drag things down to a crawl which can make an already tough day a struggle. There are the occasional one offs like Project Hail Mary or Saturn Run that have been decent but in general I struggle a lot more with finding decent sci-fi books
Even knowing that you're not eating very well and things usually get your stomach really uptight When you are in town next and hopefully that they would have some beetroot pills or beat pills that you could take with some plain water real quick like that alone will actually help with your oxygen intake Now even knowing that you are in a weakened state I highly suggest two beat pills in the morning one time only after you get better until then I highly suggest 2 in the morning around 6:00 and 2:00 in the afternoon around 1:30/ 2:00 This will actually help your blood restore the oxygen of what little you're able to breathe in for right now and help out going the distance even better so long as you are not allergic to it and that's the big I have no idea if you are or not until then my good man take care rest well try to get some food in you what warm food you can or hot food you can and hoping things get better for you
