April 10th, 2022 by Jon

Today we woke up in Lake Morena to a frozen ground and lots of condensation on our tent. Some of it had also even made its way inside! Our alarms went off around 5:30, and while I slept pretty well due to my earplugs, Ajia did not. Apparently, the rest of the campground (not the PCT section) was pretty loud. We had a quick breakfast of some bars since we didn’t want to wait until 8 for the restaurant to open, and we were off by 6:45

The trail started off with some flat sandy walking trails through a small manzanita forest. Even though we were relatively close to it, we couldn’t see the lake due to a huge cloud that covered it. Eventually, we hiked up onto a ridge and could see the next valley that lay beyond. We had great views, and without stopping, we continued down to the valley floor and walked through an oak-filled meadow. There was a lot of grass everywhere, and it looked like we were walking next to a seasonal creek bed.

Eventually, we walked through Boulder Oaks campground after walking 6 miles in about 2 and a half hours. When we got there, we saw a huge oak tree with a bunch of hiker stuff laid out everywhere. Everyone seemed to have the same idea, dry out everything that we had to pack up wet this morning. As we finished, we began to wonder where everyone was. Eventually, another hiker walked by and let us know there was trail magic at one of the campsites! It was fun to hang out and commiserate with other hikers. Talking about the death March out of Hauser Creek and the dumb mistakes we have all made so far made for excellent conversation.

For those who don’t know, trail magic is when a kind person goes and sets up food, a ride, or some other kindness for thru-hikers. This morning, they had apples, oranges, soda, Gatorade, and beer. It was so nice to sit around and see many of the same 15 people that we had been seeing since we started. It’s funny how you think someone is way ahead or behind you, and then they pop up somewhere you are. The kindness went a long way, and we were sure to thank them.

Eventually, we had to leave and we quickly crossed underneath I-80. From there, it was a steep climb out of that valley to get up on top of a ridge that we walked on for a long time. We had views in all directions of the mountains near Mt. Laguna and eventually headed into the end of one valley. Looking down a steep canyon, we could see a small creek flowing. We decided to take a break further up the trail, where we could get down to the water a little easier. There were a few hikers there already and 5 of us managed to cram into a small shaded area under the one tree that was available. It was around 11:30 when we arrived, so we had some lunch and ended up just relaxing for another hour and a half.

After a long, hot day yesterday, we were kind of aiming for a shorter day today. There was a tent site marked on our map near a creek that was already dried up this season, which was only a few miles away. We tentatively were shooting for that site and began our last climb out of the end of the valley, crossed a small highway, and then began a new section wrapping around some nameless large hill. It was cooler today, somewhere in the high 70s, and the breeze on that part made for some excellent hiking. It was a long, steady uphill before a short descent to the dry creek. It was easy to see why so many people liked the campsite; it was large, usually had water, and was well shaded. We took a stretch and snack break there, but since it was only 2:00, we decided to push another 3 miles or so to another campsite a little farther up. It will set us up for a quick 7 miles into town tomorrow so we can get some town food (I want a burger so bad) and pick up a box of food we had mailed to ourselves. We plan to hike a few miles out of town tomorrow,

Overall, we are doing well. A little sore, a little sunburned, but in good spirits and enjoying the start to our journey.

April 9th 2022 by Jon

Today we hiked 15 miles and made it all the way to Lake Morena State Park! The morning began slowly, and we watched a sunrise fill the valley that we camped above from our tent. After breakfast and coffee, we began our journey up the trail. As the sun rose higher, we meandered up a few switchbacks to get up on a ridge that we walked on for a few hours. We took a break in the shade around 8:30 after hitting 6 miles. During that stretch, we passed a few people who were packing up and getting ready to head out.

Sometime around 10:00 a.m., the sun started to get REAL intense. We hiked through scrubby bushes and trees, but for the most part, it was pretty exposed. The sweat was real people. The forecast for the day was low to mid-80s, and it certainly felt like it. After reaching the edge of a valley, we could look down and see the dried-up Houser Creek. Looking across the valley, we could see the steep 1100-foot climb out of the creek over 2.8 miles. We began our descent, and while there was a breeze, it felt like standing in front of an oven door. The trail gave way to an old dirt road that we walked along for a half mile before taking a steep chute down the side of the hill.

We found a small, shady spot by the creekbed and spent nearly an hour drinking water and eating lunch. During our time there, probably 10 other hikers showed up to do the same thing we were, and it was fun to hear where people were from. Plenty of various states represented, as well as a couple from Wales and a man from Germany. I think everyone enjoyed the camaraderie and the rest. Around 1:00 pm, we decided to leave our little oasis and brave the steep climb in the heat.

I’m just gonna tell you right now that hike was TOUGH. We had already gone 10 miles by lunch, and even though we rested up a little bit, the heat sapped the little strength we had managed to recover during our break. We, like everyone else, took frequent breaks in between rocks, literally in bushes, or anywhere else we could find shade. We got to the top and laid on the ground in the shade, wilting. The views were killer though.

The last 3 miles rolled on the crest of a beautiful ridge with views of Lake Morena to the northwest. The last mile dropped down off the mountain, and we arrived at a county park where we plan to spend the night. After setting up our stuff and paying the $5 hiker fee, we took the most glorious face rinse in a campground sink ever experienced by humankind. The amount of salt coming off my face was astounding.

Finally, we made our way 0.2 miles down the road to a little restaurant, and we are enjoying a huge milkshake, shade, and Gatorade. We will probably sit here and enjoy the Wi-Fi a little longer before heading back to the campground for some sleep. Our feet are sore, but otherwise we feel good! We might come back to this place in the morning for breakfast burritos, but they don’t open until 8, so we will see.

April 8th, 2022 by Jon

Well, today we started the PCT! What a feeling to finally be standing at the Southern Terminus. The monument itself is about 20 feet from the fence on the US/Mexico border, and it was a special moment to sign the book that signals your visit and the start of our hike. Ajia’s brother, Austen, and his wife, Ruth, were extremely kind and drove us out to the monument on Friday afternoon. It was a spectacularly hot day (~95 degrees), and we weren’t in a rush to begin our first day of hiking in such heat.

We got to the monument itself around 6:45 pm or so and began our hike around 7:00. We saw one other couple at the monument who will begin their hike tomorrow morning and are staying at a small campground about a quarter mile away. Photos taken, book signed, and a deep breath later, we were off! We walked along the road for the first mile or so, then wandered off through some rolling hills filled with desert plants. It was definitely greener than we expected.

After an hour of walking through golden light, the sun began to fall behind the hills, and soft oranges and pinks flowed across the sky. We took bets on when we would see our first snake while we meandered our way around small valleys and dried creek beds. As the light began to fade an hour after we started, we had more and more difficulty seeing the trail. Thankfully, we had thought ahead and stashed our headlamps in our hip belts. It was easy to switch over to walking with them.

As twilight gave way to darkness, I’ll admit I felt a bit unsettled. But as we walked, we began to enjoy the quiet of the mountain breeze, and the noises of creatures in the distance didn’t seem to startle us as badly. We quickly fell into a rhythm and reached the first source of water after 4.4 miles. The babbling creek would be the only source of water until Lake Morena at mile 20. We had enough water with us, so after a quick pause, we continued.

We passed a few tents that were camped just up the hill from the creek, and we did our best to turn our headlamps away to keep our disturbance to a minimum. 8:00 pm feels like midnight when you’re hiking, and the people we passed were already in their tents resting.

A mile later, we reached a small crest, and after climbing over it, we found a perfect little camp spot protected from the wind by some bushes on one side and looking out over a small valley. We had hiked 5.1 miles, and we didn’t feel like disturbing more people, so we called it a day, albeit a short one. Setting up camp was easy, and we stayed up for a while, giddy that we made it to this point. We could see lots of stars and a quarter moon sat high above us, filling the night sky with light.

Tomorrow we hope to hike 15 miles to Lake Morena Campground. We’re setting our alarm pretty early because we want to hike as much as we can before it gets too hot. The high is supposed to be in the mid 80s.

By Ajia

We start the Pacific Crest Trail today! Wow, the finality of that statement and the scope of what we are about to do sinks in every time I turn it over in my head. Our departure inches closer minute by minute, forcing me to leave behind every “what if” and “I should’ve” as time literally runs out.

For the last week, we’ve been in sunny (and very hot, re: heat warning) San Diego, staying with my brother Austen and sister-in-law Ruth, and celebrating my lil’ sister Jemima’s birthday. Being with family, seeing some friends, playing tourist, living with so few possessions has forced me to stop planning – to say “it’s good enough” – not easy for a perfectionist (me) and a maximizer (Jon). BUT! I’m learning to trust our plans and all the years of prep Jon has put into it.

The phrase “rest better to do better” has been reverberating in my head this week. We were so blessed by the most loving send-off in Seattle. A true going-away party with friends, family, tears, and prayers. In San Diego, we’ve been blessed by true rest. There’s something that epitomizes the word “chill” here. A slower pace, a relaxed vibe, and it’s just what I needed. After weeks of moving, working, planning, and getting peppered with loving questions by friends & family, I have exhaled. I feel ready for the simpler life on the trail, with simple objectives and simple names. Ready or not, here we go!

By Jon:

We only have one week left before we start! Ahhhhh!

Besides a bit of freaking out about what we are about to do, things are going pretty smoothly. Since our last post, we have been working hard to pack all of our belongings into an 8 x 10 storage unit and move out of our apartment. Shoutout to my dad and brother who helped us move everything!

We are staying with my parents until next Tuesday, when we fly down to San Diego. From here on out, it will be sending off some resupply boxes, last-minute gear checking, and soaking up as much time with family and friends as we can. Our dog Griff definitely knows something is up and has been noticeably more cuddly lately. We have been giving him lots of love and trying to find him good places to chill as we move things to keep him from getting too stressed out.

Some people have started asking us how they can help or if they can send something to us on the trail. Truthfully, it’s pretty challenging to send us anything since we have to know that it’s coming and find the time to get to a post office to pick something up. If you want to support us, kind words and encouragement are always appreciated!

Our next post will likely be from San Diego as we spend a few days with Ajia’s siblings there before starting our trek on Saturday, April 9th!

By Jon:

Well, Ajia and I have both quit our jobs at this point, and the prep is feeling very real. Turns out, there are quite a lot of things to figure out when you are about to put your life on hold for 6 months to peace out and go hiking.

At this point, we’re feeling really good about our planning so far. We had a few last-minute panic purchases at REI after wanting to make some gear changes. We also continue to overanalyze any part of our body that hurts, and have spent time convincing each other we haven’t had a season-ending injury before we even get started.

I’ve included a screenshot of our gear list below. Feel free to check out the link if you want more details: https://lighterpack.com/r/g207zo

Base weight is everything on your back in the pack and does not include food, water, or worn clothing. One thing to note is that we plan to add a few pounds of gear for the Sierra Nevada, including warmer clothes and a bear can. Overall, I’m happy to be starting around 15 lbs, and I hope once we actually get out there, I can send a few things home that we don’t end up needing.

We have continued training by loading our packs and going on training hikes around Seattle’s many parks and trails. Now that we aren’t working, we also plan to do one more backpacking trip later this month as a dry run before we leave. It’s hard to train for a hike that long, but we plan to start slow and ease into things to give our bodies time to adjust to a very different kind of living.

We have a few packages to put together and send to ourselves for a resupply stop early on in our hike, but for the most part, we plan to buy food as we go. In the meantime, we have begun packing our house and are trying to spend time with friends and family before we leave.

On that note, we only have three and a half weeks with our dog Griff before we leave, which is extremely difficult to comprehend. Rest assured, he is getting plenty of extra love in these last weeks together before he goes to stay with my parents during our hike.

That’s it for updates at this point. Thanks for following along!

It’s happening! We’re officially hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2022. Our start date is April 9th, and it’s all beginning to feel so real. Now that we are talking about it, sharing it, giving notice at our jobs, etc. here are a few frequently asked questions for all our friends and family:

1. How long will it take?
   • Around 5-6 months, we’re hoping to reach the Canadian border by the end of September.
2. Will you be on the trail the whole time?
   • Nope! We’ll occasionally take “zero days” (meaning 0 miles hiked) in towns to rest. We’ll also hitchhike into towns for resupplies, to pick up packages/replacement gear when needed, and snacks every so often.
3. What about your jobs?
   • We’re both quitting and taking a sabbatical for a time! While we’re not exactly sure what lies ahead of us post-trail we both love our careers and places of work.
4. Is Griff going to hike as well?
   • Sadly, no, it’s a long way for a dog + there are a couple of sections where dogs are not allowed. He’ll be in Seattle with a team of people who love him (huge thanks to Jon’s family and a few of our dear friends for watching him).
5. What will you do after?
   • We’re keeping an open mind. Once we’re done, we’ll be returning to Seattle to reunite with our dog and stuff and go from there!
6. How do you train for a thru-hike?
   • There are a lot of different opinions, but we’re of the stance that some weight + cardio training is best. We like following @trailsidefitness for tips.
7. How can we support you?
   • Thanks for asking! We’d love your encouragement and support along this journey! Here are a few ways you can help:
     • Send a card or care package to us on the trail, as many post offices/stores along the trail will hold mail for us
     • Come out to a PCT section near you and be a trail angel for a day
     • Pray for our health and safety, as overuse injuries are the most common reasons hikers get off trail early
     • Sign up to be a backup dog sitter for Griff (if you live in the Seattle area)

It’s a dog eat dog world out there. 

Late September, Jon took a mental and physical (albeit short) sabbatical to section hike the Pacific Crest Trail. On an early Thursday morning, Ajia dropped him off at the Soda Creek exit off I-5. She pushed aside a tinge of jealousy, breathed in the freshness of the forest, and waved goodbye. Feeling sentimental and with a hint of sadness, Jon hit the trail imagining what could’ve been if he used that PCT 2020 thru-hike permit. Day 1 meandered by in a green tunnel, reminiscent of the Appalachian Trail. Invigorated by the fresh air and freedom that comes with solo hiking Jon averaged 16 miles a day. As the days passed the weather took some turns, it was windy, it was cold, it was hot, and it was dusty. Night 3, tent tethered to Grizzly Mountain, it was really cold. It was dark, and let’s be real a little unnerving. Alone in the wild wild wilderness on one of the least maintained sections of Northern California’s PCT can get a bit eerie. Jon braved the wind chill to take a “leak” and just out of the corner of his eye something glittered in the dark. Yep, it was alive. Oh yep, it was moving. Oh gosh, it was a dog. Jon’s mind starts running a million miles a minute “Is someone nearby?” “Is there a hunter with a gun?” “Am I in danger?” He called out “Hello! Anybody there?” Nothing but his own voice echoes back. He dove back into his tent and waited… breathless… nothing happened… Okay, this is silly, he can hear the dog shivering in the cold. It’s 34 degrees and as his heart softened and the night time brain fog lifted. Still wary, Jon let the dog into the tent’s vestibule, offering some shelter from the whipping wind. But he can feel the dog still shivering and shaking, his heart softened more and next thing you know the two are sharing the tent and sleeping soundly. 

It’s the morning after, and the dog follows Jon on the trail. He debates what to do, he’s still about 34 miles out from his ending point. Jon runs into some hunters and asks their advice. “Man, that’s crazy! Oh he’s probably a dumped dog, if it’s trained to hunt it can totally hike!” Jon calls Ajia and makes plans to stick to the plan. She’ll reach out to Animal Control, Cody Alert, post on social media and pick them both up on Monday evening. 

The dog is almost afraid to lose Jon, it follows him on pee breaks off trail. They share jerky and a tent. To the dog’s credit it keeps up and is obviously trained. Finally they reach Burney (even hitched a ride from strangers, perks of a cute dog) and make it to the Vet just in time to get the dog checked. While his picture was shared hundreds of times, there are no bites on social media, and no luck at the Vet. He’s not microchipped, no tags, just a faded camo collar and a wariness of feet that hints at a history of abuse. Ajia picks them up from the Vet and they call the landlady, fingers crossed, and what a win! She says yes to letting the dog stay the night, but makes Jon promise to bring by this miracle PCT dog to the office tomorrow. He does. And next thing you know she’s convinced Jon (not that it took much) to keep the dog and not take him to the shelter, where he’ll “definitely” get kennel-cough. 

Here we are 3 months later and Griff is the best doggo we could’ve ever found. Or did he find us?

*Griff is mistakenly named for the mountain he met Jon on, which we first thought was Griffith Mountain but turned out to be Grizzly. Griffith, Grifter, Gryffindor, Griff – the name stuck  Currently recovering from heartworm, Griff still enjoys hiking long distances and looks forward to more days on the trail. 

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