It’s been over a month since our journey began. We have been surprised how quickly this nomadic lifestyle has begun to feel normal and yet it is hard to believe we’ve been at it for over a month.  

Here’s a quick overview of the first 30+ days. 

Week One-

• Made our way to the Campo, CA and the southern terminus via San Diego public transportation.
• We then had to hike a mile just to get to the trailhead… we were tired before we even started. 
• Once on the trail we quickly learned between the heat, elevation change and rattle snakes this trail was no joke! 
• We got our first taste of the hiker community and the variety of personalities on the trail. We met “Glow Worm” on day two, so named because she moved like an inch worm and wore a neon pink shirt that seemed to glow. Met “The Sisters” Hattie and Maisey on day three who we became fast friends with. 
• Got our first shower at Mt. Laguna a long sweaty three days from Campo. 
• Filtered water from a horse trough full of stagnate greenish water… only to drink every last drop over the next 17 dry miles. 
• Had our first taste of trail magic in the form of Trail Angel George handing us watermelon and then “Brew Hiker” who appeared at just the right moment offering us soda and a ride into Julian, CA. 

Week Two-

• Fell in love with the town of Julian, CA and their hospitality to hikers. Got free pie at Mom’s. Spent some time at Carmen’s, cafe which is closed during hiker season to everyone but “Hiker Trash. 
• Slept in our first bed at the Julian Hotel where Mattea may or may not have taken three showers 😉 
• Hiked for the first time after dark. 
• Added tarantulas, chipmunks, rabbits, wild turkeys and more snakes to our wildlife sightings. 
• Began hiking with solo hikers Brian, 19 from Virginia and Cheryl “Not Strayed,” 49 from Chicago. 
• Brenda ate her first burger in five years at the trail famous “Paradise Cafe.” 
• Made it to Idyllwild, CA where we took our first zero day, a day without hiking. Enjoyed a movie at the “Rustic Theater,” ate so much food, met Sue, slept in a bed, showered and did laundry.  

Week Three

• Leaving  Idyllwild we hiked the Devils Slide Trail a difficult uphill 2.5 mile trail to get back on the PCT. (We are not fans of miles that are not PCT miles.)
• Enjoyed the views in the San Jacinto mountains. 
• Saw our first bits of snow! 
• Hit 200 miles. 
• Hiked our hardest 4 miles to date – a sandy desert stretch with no shade and loose sand underfoot. 
• Experienced some trail magic under the I-10 bridge in Cabazan, CA, local trail angels stock a cooler with cold sodas and water. 
• Received further trail magic from trail angels DNA, Ice and Hillbilly. (Full story to come) 
• Spent a few zero days in Palm Springs… no Palm Springs is not on the PCT. (Stay tuned for details) 

Week Four-

• Saw our seventh rattlesnake, (maybe a trail record) 
• Enjoyed a moonlit dinner by Silverwood Lake. 
• Rode in an uber on a drivers first day.
• Mattea ate three McDonalds Burgers in one sitting and wasn’t even full.
• After a zero day in Wrightwood we tested our hitch hiking skills and caught the fastest hitch ever! 
• Hiked above the clouds. 
• Took in the view from Baden Powell summit 9399ft, the highest point on the PCT south of the Sierras. 
• Had our first campfire of the trail. 
• Due to the high temps, heat rashes, blisters and hurting feet we made the decision we were done with the 

Prior to coming on the trail we knew we would skip the Sierras due to the snow and trail conditions, but we decided we would take some time off and make the jump a little earlier. So week five was spent eating too much, sleeping in beds and basically acting like slugs! 
Stay tuned for what’s been happening in month two! 
Happy Trails, 
M & B

Some hiker friends and our first Trail Angel- George! First burger in five years…. couldn’t finish the whole thing. Filtering some water. Hiking above the clouds. 

Home sweet tent!First fire complete with a private concert by Brian.