Day One of the Pacific Crest Trail

Southern Terminus to Houser Creek ~ 15.3 miles Today I found myself actually HIKING the Pacific Crest Trail. The research was done. The training was done. The goodbyes were done. Now it was just me, my backpack and the trail. It was an unbelievably surreal feeling.

The day started off with a quiet car ride with my parents. I could tell they were nervous for me, while at the same time very sad I was not going to be around for the next 5 months. We finally arrived at the starting point of the trail, we said a prayer in the car and hopped out to take some pictures by the southern monument. This monument is a very famous landmark for PCT hikers and it must be greeted by taking a picture with it! So I obliged. After hugs from my mom and dad I was off! Suddenly it hit me that I was actually living my dream... I was actually finally making my hike towards Canada! I was on cloud nine for about the first 5 miles. The weather was mild, my feet felt great and I was cruising along!

Along the way I was crossing people who were on the same journey I was! I stopped and said hello to numerous PCT hikers. It kind of felt like the first day of school. You know that feeling of knowing you’re going to be with people for the next 5 months so you are trying to get to know them and size them up at the same time? Yeah that’s how it felt for me. Everyone was so friendly and kind though. It made me feel and excited to get to know these people more!

After about mile 8 things started to feel a little different. I was hungry, my feet started to feel some pain, it was getting hot and I had to take a poop. I told myself, “Cory now the PCT has really begun”. So I managed to find a wonderful spot off the trail next to a small cactus to handle some business, then proceeded to hunt for a shady spot to eat lunch. I kicked my shoes off at my shady lunch spot and enjoyed some beef jerky, Fritos and a packet of bacon ranch tuna (surprisingly tasty). After lunch I was feeling much better!

I have been telling myself prior to this journey that I am going to start slow and stop when my body tells me to stop. My body is just not used to hiking consecutive big mile days. So at about mile 12 my feet were barking, and my right lat was getting sore from the pressure of my pack. There was no realistic camping area until I got to mile 15.3, Houser Creek. So at about 4pm I called it a day and set up my camp. There were several people who had the same idea and camped along side of me.

Overall I had a wonderful day 1 on the PCT!