A wonderful hike in Anza Borrego State Park, gawking at all the flowers.

A wonderful (yet hot) day walking around the hanging valleys above Embd

A really great day walking from Zermatt to the Europabruecke

Wandering around the Mattertal

Mountain scooters!

Fantastic day walking off the beaten path

A lighter day, walking around the vineyards of Sierre.

A break from the weather and injury, bussing around to Zinal.

Toughest day yet ends painfully for me.

A fanstatic day in the high Alps under the glaciers

We skip the high pass and opt for a spa day.

A drizzly hike to Cabane Louvie, at first not fun then very enjoyable.

Definitely a rest day: a half day up to St Bernard Pass—more interesting than we expected!—then lazing around.

Another nearly-as-tough day up and down into Champex-Lac, then Orsières.

Today’s hike is over the border into Switzerland and the Col de Foclaz... 20.5km, with 1030m ascent and 830m decent.

A fairly hardcore and incredibly scenic 12km walk in the mountains just north of Chamonix, France.

Headed out to Mt San Jacinto for an alpine hike, hiking up to Tahquitz Lookout above Idyllwild on a pretty blue sky day!

A wonderful holiday hike in the mountains.

A weekend getaway to Coorg, west of Bangalore in the lush green Western Ghats

Second part of the day in Hampi

A fantastic day seeing the incredible rock city of Hampi in northwest Karnakata, India

Today was enjoyable and a bit random: Julian are I were invited to a wedding function! Of course, how could I say no?

After a long flights, some India. And Julian.

A few days of exploring Eastern Washington, hiking and peering at spring wildflowers

Around the loop on Stewart Island. Pleasant but muddy.

An OK time, let down a bit by the chilly freezing weather, the fog, with more than a few annoying characters too. My least favorite of the four tracks this trip.

Yes, I'd say it's the finest walk in the world. Or one of them.

A great three days of walking the Routeburn Track on the South Island of New Zealand

Another visit, with a mezcal tour, caves, and food of course

A short walk up Whale Peak

Running my first marathon in Portland

Last day. A pleasant start to a relaxed and hot day, finishing the GR20 in Conca.

A long and hot day; I cut it short when I see a spectacular mountain ridge.

A bright shiny day scares the grumpies away! Except for the tedious ridgeline, a good long day.

An early start, a soggy ending, a sad refuge

Back on the GR20 today--a half day from Vizzanova on the sourthern section of the GR20.

Four days of relaxation at a villa by the sea, and a couple of road trips to the rugged northwest coast of Corsica and a visit to Bonifacio.

I wanted a nice relaxing day, so I pushed it hard and combined two day's walking into one.

The tough day wasn't quite all that, and we enjoyed walking along the ridgeline in perfectly fine weather and the fantastic views.

Another fine day along the GR20 -- and the 'easest day' so far.

A much longer day than expected. More 'moderate" than "easy"

A wonderful and exhausting day up and over the high point of the GR20, through snow and scree, and a wonderful refuge at the end.

Sun came out! A great hike over to the Haut Asco ski area.

We climbed a mountain, scrambled along a crest, and then hated the downhill.

A hard half day walk to the Refuge

A very long transition day

A wonderfully sunny day for getting out and about, with a visit to Kew Gardens.

Off to London on the way to Corsica

I decide to start training for a marathon this summer.

A big charismatic megafauna day ends up meh, and onto Brunei.

A moderate hike in the morning. Afternoon flight to Sandakar.

A lazy day, yet full of things to do: a walk up a river to a waterfall, a walk along the treetops high above the ground. And butterflies.

A fun day of adventure: boat rides and cave tours and swimming in the clear water.

We're ready for adventure. Today is a visit to Deer Cave, which has the largest cave room in the world.

Finally, we arrive at Mulu National Park, and get on with the adventuring!

We head off past the typhoon to Kota Kinabalu, then onwards to wonderful Mulu National Park on the north of the island of Borneo.

A complicated series of moves from Los Angeles to Manila

Took a 4 mile walk through the undeveloped section of San Diego's Balboa Park, thinking I'd see maybe 20 native plants in flower. I saw 42 native species--and problably missed several too!

Today, our last real full day in Patagonia, is a biggie: we're doing a guided 4km hike on top of Perito Moreno Glacier. It was really unexpectedly excellent, and not just pretty good. The weather was clear and warm, the scenery great, and most of all walking on top of the glacier was unlike any place I'd been before.

A travel day from El Chaltén back to El Calafate. Walking in the morning, cake and coffee, bus ride, dinnner.

Another great hike today--this time it was from our B&B to Lago Torre, an easy 18km out-and-back to the lake at the foot of Torre Glacier, with the spire of Cerro Torre rising behind. The weather was sunny and warm, the wind subsided, and the trail was fast and flat--and uncrowded!

A wonderful day with a long hike to the Laguna de Los Tres, just below the spectacular Monte Fitz Roy.

A long long day of bussing from Chile to Argentina.

A zero Sunday in Puerto Natales

We're still undecided--do we go see the Torres del Paine or not?

Today we decide not to hike up the French Valley with the crowds, but just to have a leisurely day walking the 14km/9 miles to our cabin at Refugio Curenos.

Today was the start of some easy days--an 11km stroll down to Paine Grande was on the agenda, and the weather held. It was also the first section of the W circuit, which meant people people people, irritating and entertaining.

A fantastic and hard 13 mile day up and over Paso John Gardner to Refugio Grey

Today we lazily get up and get out and hike the eight miles through the cold snow pellets up to Camping Los Perros.

First day in Torres del Paine, a hot 19 mile walk from Torres Central to Refugio Dickson

Hello, Patagonia. We sleep in and bus-bus-shuttle to Torres del Paine. It's strongly different than the last time, so many more people, it's not any secret anymore.

Long travel days from San Diego to Punta Arenas to start a couple of weeks of travel around the end of the world.

Hiked around chilly Chiricahua National Monument in southern Arizona. A good day.

All the gear I ended up with on the PCT.

3 days on Oahu

A moderately tough scramble to a tall waterfall on the Na Pali coast of Kauai

A great hike on a clear day through the Alakai Swamp on Kauai island

A nice hike on a warm day.

Call this the awkward 'everything else' post: gear that I didn't need during the day when I was hiking, and too bulky for a stuff sack.

The long detailed list of everything I packed for camp--and the most overlooked camping item

Backpack, tent, sleeping bag, pad. The Big Four gear I took on the PCT. Plus a bonus.

A comprehensive table of my PCT hiking

A pleasant day for a ten mile hike up Monument Peak in the Laguna Mountains

Touring around Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Yet another transit day, this time to Almaty, Kazakhstan.

A transit through Abu Dhabi.

We're off; via San Francisco and Abu Dhabi to Almaty, a unlikely tripling of cities.

My gear for filtering and storing water.

My last day on the PCT, from Hopkins Lake into Manning Park, BC.

A great day of hiking through wonderful country, yet my thoughts are drifting towards home

Good day of hiking through great country, near Harts Pass

The unexpectedly hot smoky scenic country north of Rainy Pass.

Hot yet moderate day walking out of Stehekin to Rainy Pass

Today, like yesterday, is one of those travel days--the final part of the bus/bus/bus/shuttle/ferry segment.

A travel day from Seattle to Chelan via Wenatchee

The first gear post: clothing

Blog posting will be sporadic. (Uh, belay that.)

A hot hiking day into Stevens Pass.

Another great, warm day in the Alpine Lakes wilderness.

Having a great time. Scenic and just relaxed.

A stunningly scenic day, rejoining the PCT east of Seattle after breakfast with Eric, and walking along ridge lines in the warm sun. Plus huckleberries.

Hiked up Mt Ellinor in the Olympic Mountains and saw goats!

Crossing from California into Oregon on another uneventful and pleasant hiking day along the ridges south of Ashland.

A fast day to an omelette, then resting through the heat, until a 6 mile evening hike

A fantastically scenic day hiking through the Marble Mountains

Bright sunshiny happy hiking day! Lots of wildlife and flowers.

Short walk into town, seeing Junior off

A fast and quick day up and down ridgelines.

A pleasant day walking along the ridges

Another good day, an easy 22 miles

I get back on the trail, finding Junior, and we have a great day through wonderful scenery.

More on leaving the PCT, and getting back on it... and change a few things.

Relieved, and home.

Sick and tired.

A very long hike on a very long and waterless day

A superfast and hot day along downhill trail

A great lunch today at Drakesbad, best so far on the PCT, and easy and interesting hiking

Stay in motel until checkout. Walk 9 miles and call it a day.

Quick and dirty hike into Chester

Decent day of hiking for a burger and a beer near Bucks Lake, California

Yummy breakfast. Long hiking. Swimming in the river

Easy hiking along the ridgelines north of Sierra City

A day of resupply, bookended by hiking

So. Many. Wildflowers. A wonderful day walking along the ridgelines north of Donner Pass towards Sierra City. One of my favorite days so far on the trail.

Another fine day of hiking along the Tahoe high country, past Truckee and to the north of Interstate 80

A long yet moderate day cruising through the mountains west of Lake Tahoe

Half day in Tahoe, then back on the trail!

A fantastic bubbly double trail magic day walking along the scenic ridges south of Lake Tahoe

A wonderfully warm day through unexpected rugged and scenic volcanic terrain with heaps of spring wildflowers.

Making good time through varied volcanic and granitic terrain

A nero day--drying out in south Tahoe, then back on the trail for a wonderful evening hike five miles north of Sonora Pass.

Scooting through the cool rain up and over big misty mountains to Sonora Pass

Woo hoo. I've been feeling the trail rhythm today.

An unexpectedly strenuous day through the northern backcountry of Yosemite National Park.

A soggy start to a good day

i start late, and rush a bit too much, and hike a lot.

I linger perhaps a bit too long in Mammoth, then start walking towards Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park.

A moderate day of hiking, without much snow at all

A fantastic day over Muir Pass to Piaute Creek

Hiked over Mather Pass to the base of Muir Pass

Hiked with two others up and over easy Pinchot Pass through austere high mostly treeless country to the base of Mather Pass

I descend down kinda scary Glen Pass, then cruise along to Woods Creek for the night, camping with two other PCTers

I felt euphoric all day... until the end.

I'm sticking with the original plan, and walking to Canada from Independence and Kearsarge Pass.

I wrestle with where to start the PCT again.

The toughest day on the trail: up and down endless steps

To Hongu, then onwards to Koguchi with 8km of road walking (ugh) and 8km of trail walking (yay)

A long walk to the shrines

Hiking in the mist, then an pleasant afternoon. An enjoyable day.

A walk around Kyoto in the morning, then we start our hike on the Komodo Kodo trail.

Packing for two and a half trips at once: the Sierra, the rest of the PCT, and the Kumano Kodo

My workflow for uploading and editing photos while hiking

Once again, section D frustrates me with fickle weather. I'm heading back home.

A short day to traverse the south ridge above Wrightwood, then into town for the afternoon and night.

A hard days walk uphill from I-15 and the Cajon Pass.

A return to the PCT for a few days, to pick up Section D

Backing away from the trail for a few weeks.

Up and over Forester Pass, at 13,200' the highest elevation on the PCT

An excellent hiking day, with an exhausting finish over slushy snow

Arriving in the High Sierra on a warm spring day.

Cottonwood Pass panorama

Warm and sunny, pleasant day.

And then sunshine and warmth. A decision reversed.

Cold and snowy and overcast--a dreary march north into the unknown conditions of the High Sierra, and a decision is made.

FIndings, discoveries, and just plain old lessons in the first 702 miles of the PCT.

A big day of doing not much, plus some hikers!

A half-day walk to the Kennedy Meadows Store--the end of Southern California, and the start of the High Sierra.

Today is avoidance day--avoid the gnats and lightning and rain

A mighty fine day--sunny, warm but not too hot, lots of wildflowers, feeling fit.

A zero day in Lake Isabella

A pleasant mostly shady walk, with a motel at the end of the day

A grind of a day through the sand and shadeless desert

Section F is not to be feared. A pleasant day walking in the forest.

In contrast to yesterday, a pleasant ramble along a ridgeline

Challenging? Character building? Chilly? I think I'll just describe today as memorable.

Resting and planning and meeting up with the parents.

A varied day of desert and mountains and wind

A 'minimal' day turns into a very full day... and night

A quick 15 miles across yet more chaparral, with chairs and beer.

Back on the trail. A slow start through dry country, ending on a green mountain.

I'm itching to get back on the trail. I don't belong here at home.

I scoot back down the mountain, and shelter in San Diego at home

Trying to figure out what to do. Snow is expected on Tue and Wed for the mountains west beyond Wrightwood.

Back in the groove. Great day walking through unexpectedly green landscape, with a nice motel room at the end.

Almost all my days so far on the PCT have been great. This was not one of those days.

A quick cool sunny stroll downhill to Deep Creek Bridge, with no real agenda other than walking.

A kind of lazy day--resupply in the morning, walking in the afternoon to a great campsite.

Hopped for several miles across Mission Creek, then sharply uphill into the forest.

Hopped for several miles across Mission Creek, then sharply uphill into the forest.

Visited the beautiful Whitewater Preserve, then decide to really escape the heat and run for the hills.

I take a rest day in Palm Springs.

Down down down, dropping 6000 feet off Fuller Ridge into the heat of the desert. Spectacular views, and a bit arduous.

Really great day hiking. Until the snow traverses.

Short day, with afternoon idling in Idyllwild. Burger. Pizza.

Sluggish to start, then a day in the scrub. Not a particularly thrilling day

My favorite day of hiking so far, following a creek up a wooded canyon, then a high traverse across remote mountains, ending up at Trail Angel Mike's.

Some notes on this blog

A wonderfully scenic and easy downhill day, leaving the desert for the pretty oak grasslands around Warner Springs. And blisters :-(

A wonderful day. A visit from Chris and a friends family. A hearty meal in Julian. A great walk through a cactus garden. Plus a boa and a rattlesnake.

A long day of hiking down into the desert

A good walk today, putting the scenic in PCT. And my gear get shaken down by Pillsbury.

A pretty walk at first, than a climb up towards Mt Laguna.

Started the PCT today. A pleasant but long walk from the southern terminus at the Mexican border, north 20 miles to Lake Morena County Park (bonus: milkshake, hot showers)

I finish packing and wrap things up at home.

I spend a few hours mucking around and loading GPS waypoints onto my Garmin

The eating plan is coming together

A random smattering of preparation to-do-list

A quick look forward.

23000 calories in a can

It's two weeks before I start walking. What's my day-by-day to-do list look like?

Today I spent the morning making my final pack list--discarding the unnecessary items, eliminating all the alternatives, weighing the primary selections on the kitchen scale, then stuffing the Chosen Items in their colored stuff sacks or Ziploc bags.

Blogging on the PCT: what's the appropriate level?

I go 20th century and buy a phone card

A final rough plan for resupply

I changed out my tent today... for one that's heavier.

It's an incredibly poor snow year. I'm moving the start of my PCT walk up 13 days to March 17th.

Backpack, sleeping bag, tent: the old gear I used to use, and the new gear coming along with me this year

Curious about what agencies and jurisdictions the PCT passes through as it heads north from the Mexican border

We headed up to the west side of Joshua Tree yesterday--there's a nice 6 1/2 mile loop hike just out of the west entrance, winding through those odd rockpiles Joshua tree is known for, walking through some sandy washes, and shaking down some new gear for my PCT walk next month.

Went running for the first time in a week. Went well. No plantar fasciosis, yay!

Roughing out the days on the PCT from the Sierras to Canada

A tasty recipe from Momofuku Milk Bar

A brief review of what gear worked when camping in the snow, what didn't, and what just wasn't necessary.

Applied for my PCT permit today... and a twinge of plantar fasciitis.

How to get on and off the trail in the southern Sierra

Playing in the snow with an ice ax

A bit of snowshoeing and snow hiking in the mountains on a bright blue day.

Hitting the trail for two days of snow camping in the Sierra

Heading off to Tahoe to go camp in the snow... and learn a few things.

Meeting up with another thru-hiker for the first time

A run through of my gadgetry

My current biggest worries about hiking the PCT

There's a long ways to walk in the Sierras without resupply.

A brief overview of my PCT hiking plans.

Getting excited--and nervous--about a class next week to teach me how to camp and hike in the snow and cold.

A decent day hiking around San Miguel Mountain

Friends are very curious about my plan to hike the PCT. Here are three questions from David in London.

What happens when you don't specify a date in a post or filename??

Short version for index and feeds

Using the path to set metadata, rather than including it in a post's metadata header.

First Post to blog

Specifying metadata in an article (post) always takes precedence over filename or filepath.

How little metadata can an article get away with?

Sept 11, 2001. Is this a movie? Did it really happen?

A Big One