Tag: PCT Section Hike

Permits and New Gear!

Ian

June 6, 2026

Everything is locked in! I got my PCT long distance permit starting July 1st. I am flying into Reno/Tahoe a couple of days early to adjust to the altitude and staying with Buffer and Shawn. Buffer and I will start at Sonora Pass and head northbound. Shawn is going to be our resupply and transportation trail angel. Another hiking buddy of hers (and now mine as well), Sluggy, is going to meet us a couple of days in. He is from England and is going to be on trail for about 45 days, so he’s going to continue going nobo when we get off.

I am planning on getting off at Echo Summit, 75 miles in, or if I’m feeling good, maybe continuing all the way up to Donner Ski Ranch, redoing the section I did in 2024 sobo. I am in the middle of training and trying to find the balance between over-prepping and under-prepping. My left hip was acting up again on a training hike the other day, so I’m going to really focus these next 3 weeks on stretching and proper exercises to strengthen my hip flexors. I think it is more the hip flexor than the IT band.

Also, new gear! We are going to take bear cans the whole way, though I don’t think it’s actually required until the Desolation Wilderness past Echo Summit. Will just be easier logistically and safer for the bears if we have our canisters the whole time. I have my bear can that I used in 2024, but Bear Vault has come out with a new ADJUSTABLE canister that I’m going to try out. It shrinks down when you have extra space so it takes up less room in your pack, which is the hardest part of hiking with a bear can.

Very excited this is all coming together and happy I get to hike with friends, old and new. I will post a couple of more times leading up to the hike and then have a day by day recap when it is all done.

Also, quick reminder that today is D-Day. 82 years ago, our forefathers stormed the beaches and skies over Normandy to start the liberation of Europe and fight the fascist forces that had taken hold. We would do good to remember those brave men and the reason they were fighting when we look at our current world today.

PIVOT

Ian

One of the main things you have to learn when joining the hiking community is that you have to roll with the punches. Unfortunately, my hiking buddy Stix decided the AT wasn’t for him this year, so he got off early and I’m not going to meet him up in Virginia anymore.

That’s ok. Plans change, people change, and you have to adjust. So I am now pushing my hike back this year to July and planning to meet up with another buddy from my 2024 PCT section hike on the west side of Lake Tahoe. I met Buffer in my trail maintenance class prior to my hike and she then picked me up at the other end at Echo Summit and I stayed in her spare room that she outfits specifically for hikers. Her and her boyfriend (fiancee?) Shawn are great people and I would love to see them again.

As of now, they are planning on starting at Sonora Pass on the PCT (just north of Yosemite) and going Nobo for a week or so, which would put me in perfect position to do about 75 miles and link up with my 2024 section, near South Lake Tahoe.

Let the chips fall where they may and let’s do another round of the PCT!

Packing Up For Tahoe

Ian

July 11, 2024

I spent today packing up my gear and laying out my food for the next week that I will be spending in the Lake Tahoe area. My plan is to take two days on Friday and Saturday participating in a Trail Maintenance course near Truckee, put on by the Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA), and then hike Section K of the PCT starting on Monday morning.

For those who don’t know, the PCT is divided into sections in each state. A, B, C, etc, going from south to north. I am going southbound (Sobo) this time, but I incidentally picked a start and end point that are exactly the boundaries of Section K in California. For me, that means Donner Peak (Interstate 80) near Truckee down to Echo Summit (near South Lake Tahoe). Total mileage is right at about 65 miles.

There is a fire about 12 miles to the west of the beginning of my trail right now (Royal Fire), but the US Forest Service and firefighters have done a phenomenal job so far of keeping it contained to only a couple of hundred acres. Hoping that the wind and weather cooperate over the weekend and the PCT stays unaffected. Worst case scenario, I could probably pivot and hike part of the Tahoe Rim Trail going east, but we’ll get to that if need be.

As I said, I went over inventory and laid out my food plans today. This section of the trail requires a bear canister, by law. Basically, it’s a big plastic can filled with your food that you place a couple hundred yards from your tent when you sleep at night, instead of keeping it all in your tent like in non-bear country (debateable).

Ubiquitous hiker food layout shot

I’m guessing it’s actually a bit too much food, but we shall see. Very excited about those Walking Tamales. It’s a different thing having to fit everything into a bear canister at night and you also have to put in any toiletries, sunblock, lip balm, etc. Anything that has a scent.

So here’s my bear canister, minus a couple of items I will buy in Truckee that will make up most of my dinners (tortillas, salami, and cheese). 8.13 pounds, so far. I’m going stove-less this hike and am very excited to not have to worry about the excruciating minutiae of dealing with cooking at the end of a long day. I will eat my bars and tortillas and trail mix and be very happy.

I am typing this as I wait for my final load of laundry to be done (I won’t have a shower for 7 days after tomorrow morning) and then it’s into the mountains! It will be interesting going solo, knowing it’s only going to be for 5 days this time. I am looking forward to seeing how I react mentally. I’m going to try and only average 10-13 miles a day, so I should be able to take my time.

I will do my best to blog from the trail, but if nothing else, I will get everything up when I get back next weekend. I’m also going to try and video a lot.

Hike on!