Daniel Woods' 2009 PCT Hike - First Report

Hello All,

This is the first report on my son Daniel’s 2009 PCT hike. I will send a report to friends and family from time to time but currently have no plans to post a daily journal online.

Daniel started hiking at the Mexican border near Campo, CA, on May 30, 2009. His goal is to hike the entire 2650-mile trail in 90 days. As of last night, June 10, 2009, he had reached the I-15 in Cajon Pass not far from Victorville. He has hiked 340 miles in 12 days with one 1/2 day off.


Of note is the fact that I am accompanying him (in the car). This means that many days he is hiking with only water and food for the day while I have his heavy stuff in the car. This is known as "slack packing". Where is works out I meet him at night and we go to a campground and eat dinner and sleep. I have been able to spend 3-4 nights at 29 Palms and we have spent the last two nights at Suzanne’s home in Victorville (thanks Suzanne!).

Tonight I will meet him near Wrightwood which is about 25 trail miles and 5000 vertical feet from I-15 and from there on we will be on our own, staying at either campgrounds or the occasional motel. There will be several stretches where Dan will have to go on his own for several days (two 4-6 day legs in the Sierras amongst others). I will have plenty of time to fill since I can drive the distance it will take him 4-6 days to walk in a few hours.

So far the only unusual adventure we have had occurred this Monday when I discovered that all the roads into our meeting place near Big Bear lake, CA, were closed due to “fire damage”. After driving all over the woods and back on really crummy dirt roads looking for a way in I ended up walking in 3 miles to find him and we walked the 3 miles back to the car (he had been on his own for 2 1/2 days and was out of food). He was not happy with the extra 3 miles, as he had already walked 31 miles that day.

Dan is holding up well. He has some annoying foot problems but so far they are manageable. I am the one who has the more debilitation problems. In preparing for and walking the LA Marathon on May 25, I injured my back/left hip and sitting especially has been agonizing to one degree or another since we started this project. Fortunately it all seems to be resolving itself and I think I am almost out of the woods (so to speak).

As far as the car goes, it looks like Fibber McGee’s closet (this reference will be lost on you younger ones – try Google). Dan has all the hiking and camping gear and clothing he will need for 3 months along with food for several weeks. I have all my gear for the same time period and an ice chest, a week or two of food and cooking and eating utensils. We also try to keep 6-8 gallons of water on board. It is a challenge to open a door without a bunch of stuff falling out. We are gradually getting better at managing the whole mess.

For now we are enjoying ourselves. While Dan walks I drive to the next meeting place and sit and read, nap, listen to the radio, etc. It is a perfect trip for a lazy being such as I (I do plan to start taking daily walks when my back and/or hip calm down). The next 2 1Ž2 months will be a most interesting adventure for us both.

Dave