Day 1-2

As mentioned, at around 8:30 a.m. we started our hike. I did a last Covid test that morning in the hotel and it was negative. But I still wasn’t fully recovered. My voice was still a bit rough and my nasal cavities were more or less completely blocked. My lungs were fine, so nothing could have stopped me from hitting the trail that day.

At first we had a short access trail to the PCT of about 0.5 miles but then I was there, turned left and actually started hiking on the PCT. It was a strange feeling. So much planning and preparation had accumulated in that moment and now that it was here. But nothing „happened“. I just started hiking…. But I also hadn’t expected any fireworks or so either 😉

Jeanette had planned to hike 17.2 miles today and to be picked up by an trail angel at the end of the day. I initially had planned to hike only approx. 10 miles to start with. But this trail angel had fuel for us both, so I had a good motivation to get there. If I would have refused that offer, it would have resulted in me only eating cold food for the first week.

My first section on trail was between Castella and Etna and was about 100 Miles long. With my initial planning of 10 miles per day, that would have been a ten days stretch. It would be doable but I would also have needed to carry food for so long. So my initial planning was already out of the window at the start. I had food with me for approx 8 days, which meant, I had to do a bit more miles every day.

In the beginning I didn’t pay too much attention to the elevation profile of the segments I wanted to hike in the Farout app everybody uses here. That turned out to be „disadvantageous“. The climb out of Castella is one of the bigger ones on the entire PCT. The overall climb on that day was 4843 ft / 1476m…. And additionally laying in bed for more or less 10 days due to Covid had taken most of my physical fitness I might have had.

Jeanette, even though being a retired teacher, had a much faster hiking speed then I did. So I was climbing that area with my nasal cavities closed, warm California temperatures and perhaps 50% non-shaded trail by myself. We just met during breaks. 10 miles were doable. I was definitely exhausted by mile 12. But we had an agreed meeting point and I had to make it there. I had packed my backpack not ideally for me (the heavy food was on top), which led to a lot of pressure on my shoulders and therefore pain the longer the day lasted.

The day was exciting on the other hand because it had a lot of „firsts“. First time seeing a deer, first time filtering water, first break on the trail, first time beginning to understand the vastness of the wilderness areas, first time meeting other hikers…..

The trail itself was more or less a foot path with a variable width, overgrowth and obstacles. Sometimes only as wide as two shoes next to each other, sometimes wider. There were also fallen trees which covered the trail and where I had to either crawl under, go around or over.

At around 7:30 p.m. I had finally made it to the car park, where our trail angel Henk was waiting for me with Jeanette. I was so happy to meet him and to be able to sit in his car, it was unbelievable. Henk owns a cabin in the mountains and he was so kind to bring us there. When we arrived, I got my backpack and sat down (or better described fell on) one of the sofas in the cabin.

I don’t know if I have ever been physically so exhausted in my life. Henk offered us a cold beer and some potato chips. Feeling the energy slowly coming back to me, I cooked my frist meal. Strangely enough, I wasn’t hungry at all. But I forced myself to eat anyway, because I knew my body needed the energy. I also ate some snacks.

Henk had offered us to heat some water, so that we could at least sponge bath and refresh ourself. That little bit of warm water felt so great. At around 10 p.m. we went to bed. My legs were a bit sore and I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to walk tomorrow.

Day 2

My first night out on trail wasn’t very good. I was too warm, the surrounding was new, there were mosquitos in my room/area and I woke up what felt like every hour. At 6 a.m. Henk started his day and Jeanette shortly after. But I could squeeze a bit more sleep in until 7 a.m.

I prepared my breakfast (Instant Oatmeal and a cup of tea) and prepared everything for my departure. Surprisingly, I didn’t have any sore muscles. The first steps were a bit difficult, but after that, (to my surprise) I felt great.

Henk wanted to leave the cabin as well and he prepped everything as well. At around 11 a.m. we were at the trail again and Henk dropped us off. Jeanette and I just felt like hiking fewer miles today, so we agreed to meet at Deadfall Lake. This way everybody could hike his/her own speed.

Even with my backpack on, I wasn’t feeling anything like the evening before. Of course, the climbs were still challenging due to the nasal cavities and the backpack, but I made good progress for being on trail the second day.

At around 2 p.m. I had made it to Porcupine Lake, which was 5 miles of the trailhead I had started. It is a pristine mountain lake with clear water surrounded by mountains. There were a couple of other hikers resting and also peoples who appearantly wanted to spend the weekend there.

After I had rested, eaten some snacks and filled up and filtered my water I continued my hike. The elevation gain today was not that tough. Only 1660ft / 505m in total on this 10 miles / 16km stretch.

At around 6 p.m. I arrived at Deadfall Lake and found the rent side where the PCT hikers stayed. Also here were a couple of families spending their weekend. But based on the amount of gear they brought, you could tell that they were no PCT hikers 🙂 Overall it had been a good day. My shoulders still stared hurting after some time hiking but with the breaks I had done during the day it had been ok.

For the first time on the trail, I pitched my tent and prepared everything for the night. Once finished I washed myself the dirt of my legs (water only) and prepared dinner. A hot meal, thanks to the fuel canister provided by Henk.

We PCT hikers talked for a bit and then we went to bed. „9 p.m. is hiker midnight“ as they say and it’s true. After a long hike you are so tired that you fall asleep latest by 9 p.m. I was curious how my first real night on the PCT might be.