I began planning and physically training in the Fall of 2011. I made the decision not to buy new equipment until after completing the first section for two reasons - I would know if I wanted to continue and I would learn a lot and observe from the people I met along the way. Both my pack and sleeping bag were 30+ years old - a lot has changed, especially in lightweight hiking gear. The ideal on a long hike is to keep your base weight (gear minus food and water) to 15 pounds or less. One way to compensate for the weight of my sleeping bag was to not carry a stove or a tent. For cover at night, when needed, I would take the fly sheet on my tent (also 30+ years old!) and use my hiking poles as tent poles.

The one question I was asked most was "Are you taking a cell phone?" Call me old fashion but taking a cell phone/GPS just didn't fit with my style. Besides, I knew that there would be lots of hikers starting in early April and if I needed a cell phone, one would come along eventually.In addition, much of the trail is through very remote terrritory with little or no cell phone coverage. I had good maps and knew how to read them, a compass, and a very loud whistle if I fell off the trail.

The plan was to start at the Mexican Border and hike the first 210 miles, putting me at Interstate 10 at the base of Mt. San Jacinto, approximately 20 miles north of Palm Springs. As my departure date began to draw near, the big question began to be the condition of the trail around Mt. San Jacinto, as a series of late storms were dropping lots of snow. I felt that by late April the way would be clear.

On April 2nd I flew to Orange Co., spent a few days visiting with my mom in Laguna Beach, and on April 5th took the train to San Diego. My cousin Paul and his wife Adrienne, who live on Coronado Island, picked me up and took me to a wonderful Italian restaurant for my last real meal before hitting the trail. Early the next morning Adrienne (my Trail Angel!) drove me to the trail-head at Campo. I think Adrienne was more excited than I was. Thank you Adrienne for all your support! At 9:15 am I began the hike. Was I really doing this?!

I'm not going to give you a blow-by-blow description of my hike, but some random thoughts. My friend Larry told me I'd get blisters - I said no, I'm walking 6-8 miles a day training and haven't gotten any blisters - I had blisters by day 2! I spent the first week in pain. Of the group of people I met along the way I was the oldest female and hiking alone. I met several men 60+ but no women. At one point I hiked 4 days with three other people - a guy 27 years old. and two females, 30 and 23. They told me several times how I was an inspiration to them - putting in the same miles and not complaining. Most days I hiked 12 - 14 miles, and I'd say my pack was 30+ lbs. And don't forget those blisters. I totally blew it on food. Apparently, it's common not to eat much the first week or two. I was barely eating half my rations and I was sending most of my food back when I received my re-supplies. All the food I thought I'd need was unappealing. Luckily I was able to get junk food every 4-5 days at small stores. I learned a lot and should do a lot better next time.

Of the 15 nights I was on the trail, I spent 5 nights totally alone, otherwise I was camping with or close to someone else. Two storms came through while I was on the trail. During the first one I was on my own and knowing a storm was coming, found a spot out of the wind, though I didn't secure my stakes as well as I should have. By midnight I had stakes pull out, the fly sheet flapping and things starting to get wet. At 4:00 am I starting organizing for a quick departure as soon as it was daylight - I was huddled in the middle of my shelter trying not to get any more wet. At daylight it started raining harder so I decided to wait for a break, then leave. At 7:00 am. I was packing up my wet sleeping bag and fly sheet (luckily my pack stayed dry) when it started to snow! I knew I just had to get hiking and I'd be fine. It only snowed a few minutes but it was a wet and very windy day. Several times I thought I'd get completely blown over. I just kept hiking. My only concern was that I wouldn't get a chance to dry things out before it was time to make camp. By afternoon it was intermitent rain and sun breaks. Luckily I had descended enough that when I made camp the sun was out and I could dry out. I really did a good job securing my shelter that night and stayed warm and dry despite it being windy with rain showers all night. The next storm came in 2 days later, but I shared a room with two other hikers at an RV Park 4 miles off the trail.

Cell Phones with GPS - seemed to be more the norm than not. I have the same attitude with GPS tracking in vehicles - it's sometimes better just to look at a map! I didn't get lost once, yet those with devices did get lost now and then. I may not have been able to tell you exactly where I was but I wasn't far off.

Remember those late storms. Day eleven while, in the San Jacinto Mountains, I hit snow. Luckily I ran into a young couple I had encountered several times the previous 2 days. They had "yak trak" type traction aids but I had nothing - remember, I had assumed that there wasn't going to be any snow when I got there. Instead the trail was completely covered and we were following the tracks of others. At one point, one of my companions was trying to find the trail with his cell phone. I sat down, looked at the map and realized that all we had to do was follow the base of the ridge until we came to a stream, then head downstream to the area where hopefully we'd find a good place to camp. I was glad that I had fellow hikers with me as I was having a hard time making way. At one point I had slid downhill on my back and was stuck, like a turtle on it's back. Believe me, I didn't hesitate to play the old lady and ask for help whenever I needed an extra hand. That day ended with us meeting two guys from San Diego out for an adventure weekend. They invited us to share their camp, and when I noticed the snowshoes tied to their packs I asked nicely if I could use a pair. Our new companions were surpised when they noticed I was cowboy camping (not using my "tent"), but it was a nice night and I hadn't used my shelter for a week.

The hardest day was in the San Jacinto Mountains - 12 miles, very hot day, 2,000 ft. climb, then 1,000 ft descent, and finished with a 1,000 ft. climb. Even the youngsters I encountered were dragging their butts! The next day was the day in the snow. I was only 30 miles from my destination yet it wasn't meant to be. The trail at miles 188 - 191 was impassable, and the reroute through Idyllwild didn't appeal to me. And I wasn't looking forward to the last 20 miles, a 6,000 ft descent, in 100+ degree weather. Since my plan was to end up in Palm Springs the Tram down to the valley was the most direct option. As I headed for the Tram, I encountered 3 local day-hikers heading in the direction of the Tram and assuring me the trail was clear. I'll just have to do those 20 miles on another section hike. Yes, I was definitely going to continue the PCT.

A nice couple I meet at the Tram gave me a ride into Palm Springs and The Chase Hotel, owned by an old fishing buddy of Mark's. It was strange not having to think about where I would camp for the night and whether I'd have adequate water. Two days later I was back in Seattle and thinking about what section I'd hike next. Several people I met have trail journals posted on the internet and I've been keeping track of their process. It's strange to be sitting here and not on the trail making miles.