Pacific Crest Quest

After I came over the top of Mt. Baden Powell (named for the intrepid founder of the Boy Scouts) I traversed a narrow ridge on my way to Dalton Saddle, where I would end my ride for the day. #2014PCT

As the storm clouds cleared, they left behind a beautiful view of the Angeles Forest. #2014PCT

I had been warned by many people about the dangerous conditions on Mt. Baden Powell, where snow was lingering at the high elevation (over 9000 ft.), especially on the north facing slopes. So my mom took advantage of the fact that I had a long ride before I got there to climb the mountain, taking a shovel to break a path in the snow if necessary. Most of the trail seemed clear, but it was just our luck that a freak storm blew in as I was headed up towards her. It started to

On the day that I rode up Mt. Baden Powell, a storm suddenly blew up the mountain with thunder and lightning and snow! #2014PCT

After a night at Silverwood Lake, where the rangers were very helpful in opening up a campground and making sure I had water for the horses (and a shower for me!), I headed down to the Cajon Pass and then toward Wrightwood. Meanwhile, Mom was meeting her friend Kim Williams' husband Larry Westrick and driving up to Big Bear to get the truck and trailer I left behind there (as well as picking up Shyla). When she got to Shay Meadow Stables, Jana, the wonderfully helpful woma

Thursday was a very long day's ride (over 30 miles) on Takoda as we went from Silverwood into the Wrightwood area, where my mom met us on a dirt road off the PCT and took us to Wendy's for the night. Takoda was very happy to see Shyla again, and he'll be even gladder when he figures out that he's going to get a rest, as I'll ride her the next couple of days until I take both of them together again when my mom goes back to work. #2014PCT

I saw this big guy along the trail on the way to Silverwood Lake on Wednesday. #2014PCT

On Monday I took a rest day--my first since starting the trail on the 4th! The horses have been able to trade off in terms of long days, with one or the other having a rest while the other one put in the miles, but I've been at it all day long each day, trying to take advantage of the time that Mom had to help me while she was on spring break. But on Sunday she went home, leaving me and the horses in Big Bear. She dropped the truck and trailer on a dirt road outside Fawnsk

A hiker on the PCT that I met asked me what I was liking most and least about my journey so far. My least favorite part was easy--it's all the downed trees that block the trail and make progress difficult. And my favorite . . . that was easy too; it's all the amazing reptiles that I see along the way, like this beautiful little rattlesnake. #rattlesnakealongthetrail #2014PCT

I climbed up out of Whitewater on Friday, after a two hour delay when I had to stop about three miles into the trail and re-pack Takoda's pack saddle; apparently I hadn't done quite as good of a job that morning as I thought, or needed a little more practice for "the real deal." But eventually I got things straightened out, and we proceeded to Mission Creek trail camp. We arrived after dark, due to that delay, so it was a little difficult to find the springs and the horse c