2020 – A Decade of Section Hiking Long Distance Trails . . . my podcast debut and resume

As I prepared for an interview with Jester on Section Hiker Radio, I took a trip down memory lane. I had many stories, tips, tricks, lessons to share, but 45 minutes just isn’t enough time. During a recent hike, I came up with this solution. Why not supplement the podcast with blog posts? So here is the interview, an introduction and the first of several posts to celebrate a decade of hiking (PODCAST LINK).

PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) Highlights:

Between 2010 and 2020, I’ve hiked about 1500 miles on the PCT.  Many of my stories and photos can be found on my PCT page (link).

• 2008 – After joining a local hiking group, I took my first steps on the PCT starting at Gumboot Lake in Section P and hiking through Seven Lakes Basin.
• 2010 – My real introduction to the thru hiking culture began when I joined a meetup event in Drakesbad, the official PCT halfway point.  There is where I got my trail name BeeKeeper, learned about trail magic and started being a trail angel myself. I wrote an article about this turning point in my life for Gossamer Gear titled Getting My Trail Angel Wings in Drakesbad (link). A similar article was published in the PCT Communicator magazine but sadly they don’t make those available digitally.
• 2012 – Section K (Tahoe) became my first full section. Not only did I meet the infamous Billy Goat but learned so much about group dynamics and hiking preferences.
• 2013 – Hiking through the Goat Rocks section in Washington became a life changer. It was my first solo experience which gave me the confidence to toss away the limitations of waiting for companions.  I wrote another article for Gossamer Gear titled, Courage to Go Backpacking Solo (link).
• 2015 – This was my year of retirement, and after hiking 300 miles on the Arizona Trail, I was excited to continue the momentum by hiking 300 miles on the PCT (from Burney Falls CA to Ashland OR). My biggest lessons were about early season challenges. My favorite memories were friends, families and strangers who helped me along the way. 
  • Section O . . . as in Off-Season Obstacle Course
  • Section P . . . as in Persistently Practicing Patience (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3)
  • Section Q . . . as in Quintessential Quagmire
  • Section R . . . as in Relishing the Rewards
• 2015 – I continued building on my solo section hiking experience by hiking a good chunk of the John Muir Trail (Tuolumne Meadows to Kearsarge Pass). Summer lightning storms humbled me, which ultimately led to an early bailout. I joined a group in 2016 to tackle part of the section I missed including Mount Whitney.
  • Section H . . . as in Happily Humbled
  • Section G/H – Mount Whitney – I’m Coming for YOU! (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4)
• 2016 – This was a fun summer, attempting to hike the last three sections of Washington, but my body thought otherwise and stopped me from reaching Canada. It was not only a memorable trip from the standpoint of weather (oh rain, rain, rain) but it wouldn’t have been nearly as much fun without my favorite adventure buddy Joan (aka Hemlock). 
  • Section J . . . as in Jan and Joan (together again)
  • Section K . . . as in Kaleidoscope (of weather)
  • Section K . . . as in Killer Klimbs
  • Section L . . . as in Lame (leg not landscape)
• 2017 – The Hat Creek Rim section is in my backyard. I’d hiked several pieces of the section and since it’s known to be hot as hell during thru hiker season, I always said Never! Well, since then Section N became my Never Say Never section. I joined my friend Mary (aka Monkey Bars) in late June. Yes it was hot, but we survived and made some great memories. It seems I never got to that post. I’ll add that to my to do list.
• 2018 – As I traveled through southern CA to experience early wildflower season, I had the opportunity to hike a few stretches as day hikes, and loved getting to spend some time with my friend Christie (aka Rockin’). Section F – Oak Creek Pass, Tehachapi
• 2018 – With a 3-week window and family/friends who made logistics easy, the plan was to hike from Crater Lake to Bridge of Gods. As I’ve learned prepare for the unexpected. An accident required use of my inReach for SAR assistance, but most memorable was hikers, Hot Lips and Caveman, who assisted during my evacuation.
  • Section C – Crater Lake to Highway 138C
  • Section D – Highway 138C to Highway 58B
  • Section E – Highway 58B to Hinton Creek 
  • Life Interrupted . . . Forever Grateful for the SOS Button
• 2019 – I found myself back in Washington where I not only got to rehike the Goat Rocks Section but also some of the Glacier Peak Section. Plus I got one step closer to completing Section L. One thing I really love about section hiking is getting to choose perfect weather windows, creating loop and out/back hikes.
  • Section H – Goat Ridge, Hawkeye Peak Goat Lake, Knife’s Edge, Snowgrass Flats Loop (part 1, part 2) 
  • Section K – Spider Gap / Buck Pass Loop (Part 1, Part 2)
  • Section L . . . as in Lots to Love (Harts Pass to Rock Pass)

AZT (Arizona Trail) Highlights:

Between 2010 and 2020, I’ve hiked about 500 miles on the AZT.  Many of my stories and photos can be found on my AZT page (link).

• 2015 – At a Gossamer Gear Ambassador event, I learned about the AZT, thanks to Sirena who at the time was a gateway community liaison and who is now writing a book on day hiking the trail. With Joan’s parents available as personal trail angels, and Joan’s experience previously hiking through the desert on the PCT, we decided to tackle the southern 300 miles. As my first long section hike, I LEARNED tons about resupply planning, crappy water, jumping cholla and social media stalkers. Just like the rain in Washington, this experience wouldn’t have been near as much fun without a fabulous hiking partner.
  • Passages 1-17 (Picket Post to Southern Terminus)
  • When Hikers Become Rock Stars (an article for Gossamer Gear)
  • Myths, Perceptions & Realities Unveiled
  • Skills and Techniques for the Arizona Trail (article for Gossamer Gear by Jan & Joan)
• 2016 – As an opportunist with flexible time, I connected with a gal interested in hiking some sections of the AZT in preparation for her Colorado Trail thru hike attempt. Although I consider myself pretty easy going, this wasn’t a good match and we dissolved our partnership after a couple weeks. I’d written this article previously and should have done a better job using these tips myself.
  • Partnership Commitments, Compatibilities & Compromises
• 2019 – I found myself in Arizona chasing wildflowers and took advantage of the time to hike a few more sections. 
  • Passage 13, Oracle
  • Passage 23, Mazatzal Divide
  • Passage 26, Pine to Mogollon Rim
  • Passage 38, North Grand Canyon Rim to Colorado River
  • Passage 41, Central Kaibab Plateau

CDT (Continental Divide Trail) Highlights:

My time on the CDT has been mostly unintentional. It’s been a mix of being invited by friends to join for sections or coincidental as I hiked other overlapping trails. Here’s a link to my CDT hikes.

• New Mexico
  • 2016 – I had the opportunity to join my friend Joan for a few jaunts in the El Malpais area. The biggest lessons I learned on my first CDT section was that when Guthook says gates, he really means fence crossing. This was indeed a new concept. Just like on the Arizona Trail, water sources were a lot more gross than I’d choose.
    • NM – El Malpais – Chain of Craters, Hello CDT
    • NM – El Malpais – Zuni-Acoma Trail
  • 2018 – Team J&J put a hike together through the San Pedro Parks, included as part of a loop backpack trip where we learned CDT trail maintenance is not equal to PCT trail maintenance.
    • NM – San Pedro Parks Wilderness
• Colorado
  • 2017 – I hiked several pieces of sections of the CDT shared with the Colorado Trail, including a snowshoe adventure.
    • CO – Crested Butte, Twin Lakes and Mt Elbert
    • CO – Wolf Creek Pass, Snowshoe to Lobo Overlook
    • CO – Highlands Mary Lakes Lollipop Loop – Weminuche Wilderness, San Juan NF
• Wyoming
  • 2017 –  I spent 6 weeks hiking from various trailheads in the Wind River Range. It was a great way to learn about an area and I can say my best summer ever! It was the summer of the solar eclipse and I had a basin to myself. That experience will forever be a HIGHLIGHT of my life!
    • WY – Lester Pass, Northern Wind River Mountains, Bridger Wilderness
    • WY – Jean Lakes Lollipop Loop, Northern Wind River Mountains, Bridger Wilderness
    • WY – Cirque of the Towers, Southern Wind River Mountains, Bridger and Popo Agie Wildernesses
    • WY – East Fork Lakes, Southern Wind River Mountains, Bridger Wilderness
  • 2017 – I hiked a bit of the Great Divide Basin with Team Buddy Backpacker over Buddy’s spring break. He was working on completing his triple crown, which he did thereby setting the youngest record at age 9. We even had an Easter egg hunt, I bet that’s a first!
    • WY – Hikin’ the CDT with Team Buddy Backpacker

PNT (Pacific Northwest Trail) Highlights:

Like the CDT, I didn’t make a plan to hike sections of the PNT. Sometimes I found myself on the trail and only realized by looking at the map. It’s rare to find a trail marker.

• Washington:
  • 2016 – While hiking a loop in northern Washington, I called Jack Mountain Circumnavigation aka Devil’s Dome Loop, I found myself sharing trail with the PNT. I knew a terminus for the PNT was along the shore in Olympic Peninsula, so I actually was a bit purposeful when sharing those footsteps.
    • WA – Jack Mountain Circumnavigation (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5)
    • WA – Olympics – Ozette Triangle
  • 2019 – I found myself sharing a bit of trail while hiking Section L of the PCT as well as while hiking in the North Cascades
    • WA – PCT Section L . . . as in Lots to Love (Harts Pass to Rock Pass)
    • WA – North Cascades National Park, Hannegan/Copper Ridge Trails

Wonderland Trail:

I can actually mark this one complete. It’s the only long trail I completed in one go. I’m not satisfied though as there are so many side trails I’d like to explore.

• WA – Wondrous Wonderland, Mt Rainier National Park (09/03/14-09/12/14)

What long trails await (map link)?

• The Colorado Trail (CT) has been on my list for the past 5 years. 2020 was intended to be my year. COVID-19 is making that highly unlikely. I’ve visited a few small sections. Will it become a section or full through hike?
  • CO – Crested Butte, Twin Lakes and Mt Elbert
  • CO – Highlands Mary Lakes Lollipop Loop – Weminuche Wilderness, San Juan NF
  • CO – Colorado Trail, Kenosha Pass
• Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT) – when hiking the PCT, I shared a few miles. It’s on my list, but not necessarily high.

So many trails, only so much time. I feel my personal timeclock ticking. Whether I’m section hiking a long trail or exploring trails with WOW per mile, I’m happy with that pack on my back moving my home each night while chasing sunsets, sunrises, wildflowers and so much more.