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?

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

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.

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.

Fantastic hike at Mt Field