by Paty | Apr 2, 2020 | Hiking
It’s official. My 2020 hiking season is a wash. Unlike last year, my personal plans didn’t involve completing another thru-hike of one the big three trails (PCT, CDT, AT). I really hoped to tackle several medium-distance trails in the US and abroad instead. And the...
by Paty | Mar 13, 2020 | Trans-Catalina Trail, West Coast
How do I get to and from the trailhead? That’s often one of the very first questions hikers have to resolve when planning a thru-hike. Sometimes you get lucky. Perhaps there’s a trail organization operating a local shuttle service to/from the trail for a...
by Paty | Mar 9, 2020 | Southwest US, US High Points
Order of Visit: High Point #18 Date Visited: March 9, 2020 Route Taken: Guadalupe Peak Trail from Pine Springs Campground – 8.4 miles roundtrip Type of Terrain: A challenging, but well-defined trail that gains 3,000 feet in 4.2 miles. The...
by Paty | Feb 27, 2020 | Trans-Catalina Trail, West Coast
Let’s be real. I don’t particularly enjoy the challenges of hiking in snow, mud, or freezing cold temperatures. I have a hard enough time avoiding roots and rocks in the best conditions. And, I’m certainly not eager to slip off any wet or icy rocks...
by Paty | Feb 21, 2020 | Trans-Catalina Trail, West Coast
Looking for the best itinerary for your upcoming Trans-Catalina Trail (TCT) hike? Well look no further. I have plenty of great ideas that will let you see all that Catalina Island has to offer! Whether you want a longer family-friendly camping trip or you hope to...
by Paty | Feb 13, 2020 | Trans-Catalina Trail, West Coast
You can look at pretty pictures on Instagram. Or read a bunch of glossy articles in a hiking magazine. But few of these resources prepare you to hike a particular trail. They just whet your appetite to get outdoors. So if you’re planning to hike...
by Paty | Feb 11, 2020 | Trail Journals, Trans-Catalina Trail, West Coast
February 10, 2020 Travel Itinerary: Hike: 24.2 miles from Two Harbors to Avalon (mile 24.2 to mile 0) Ferry: Catalina Express from Avalon to San Pedro Harbor (~60 minutes) Drive: San Pedro Harbor to Mission Bay (110 miles) Overnight Rain I was glad I opted to spend...
by Paty | Feb 10, 2020 | Trail Journals, Trans-Catalina Trail, West Coast
February 9, 2020 Travel Itinerary: Drive: San Diego, CA to San Pedro Harbor (110 miles)Ferry: Catalina Express from San Pedro to Two Harbors, Santa Catalina Island (~95 minutes)Hike: 14.3 mile loop of Trans-Catalina Trail from Two Harbors (mile 38.5 back to mile...
by Paty | Feb 4, 2020 | Books
Welcome to 2020! Winter is in full force. The warm indoors are calling our names, and it’s hard avoid the gloomy blues while reminiscing about your last long hike or the feeling of the sun on your face. Of course, it’s easy to just want to wish this crummy...
by Paty | Feb 1, 2020 | Gear, Pacific Crest Trail, West Coast
As with most hikers, my gear list is constantly evolving. Sometimes you want to try to whittle down your base weight and try lighter pieces of gear. Other times you simply want to switch things up with a few new items. Hiking for 110 miles in California’s desert...
