From the NYTimes: A Clarion Call for Action USAToday calls it the largest climate march ever. MSNBC said hundreds of thousands in NYC. To be followed by a mass demonstration at Wall Street tomorrow — now that should be interesting. Flood Wall Street. Bringing the experience so many people around the globe have lived throughContinue reading “Huge climate march in NYC: “There is no Planet B.””
Tag Archives: PCT
To be young (and old) in the wild: This Feeling
Last week, in his un-ostentacious but no bullshit way, Nicholas Kristof of the NYTimes wrote a great column on the joys of being on the PCT. I'm not going to quote it, because it's hard to know which bit to choose, but encourage you all to take a look. Today, in a similar vein, butContinue reading “To be young (and old) in the wild: This Feeling”
Doodles does the PCT
In Backpacker this month can be found a funny and warm set of sketches on the similiarity between PCT hikers and toddlers by a young artist named Katie Lei. (Her trailname? Doodles.) For the life of me I cannot find any trace of this work on the magazine's website, but here's what's available from herContinue reading “Doodles does the PCT”
Between every two tall cacti is a door to a new way of life
On the PCT, in the Anza-Borrego desert, seeing two ocotillo beside the trail like gate posts reminded me of a famous quote of John Muir's. (Okay, I'm a nerd, I admit it.) The quote, from a note Muir made in a margin, goes something like this: Between every two pine trees is a door leadingContinue reading “Between every two tall cacti is a door to a new way of life”
PCT section A: Pioneer Mail to Warner Springs
Last week I completed the second half of the first section of the Pacific Crest Trail, through the Anza-Borrego Desert, which turned out to be a good little adventure. Pics and comments below for anyone who might wonder — what's it like to walk the PCT in SoCal just 50-100 miles north of the border?
Let me start with a moment of mild drama…ran into this fellow hanging out in the trail:
Fortunately he was very mellow, and hardly seemed to notice as I skirted him and the trail to pass, (after trying to move him on with a couple of chucked rocks).
Walking with Cheryl Strayed on the Pacific Crest Trail
..because Strayed didn’t know what the hell she was doing, as she freely admits, she was kind of wonderfully dumb about it. To be blunt. This gives her story the drama of the sincere naif — in some glorious/awful sense, the story of youth versus experience.
The trail that goes under the freeway: Section D of the PCT
The fourth section of the Pacific Crest Trail, Section D, which I walked this past week, begins by passing under Interstate 15 (which goes from Los Angeles to Las Vegas), then turning north along a major rail arterial. It crosses the San Andreas Fault and then (literally) turns and heads for the hills. It's aContinue reading “The trail that goes under the freeway: Section D of the PCT”
Alice Eastwood: I only go to the mountains for the flowers
Alice Eastwood, who wrote the first guidebook to the flowers of the Sierra Nevada, and was president of the Tamalpais Conservation Club, campaigned for the state park known in my home town of Mill Valley as Mt. Tam. "I am not a true mountain climber as I go only for the flowers and forContinue reading “Alice Eastwood: I only go to the mountains for the flowers”
Back on the PCT — ahead of the Mountain Fire
Yep, time to get back on the trail. Fortunately I have completed section B, from Warner Springs to i-10 at the San Gorgoinio Pass, so the Mountain Fire in the San Jacinto range is behind me. NASA can see this fire from space: I'll be mostly in the San Bernardino mountains, but descending to theContinue reading “Back on the PCT — ahead of the Mountain Fire”
Shepherd’s Pie: Two variations for the trail
The all-time best cookbook for backpackers, sez me, is a long out of print paperback called The Hungry Hiker's Book of Good Cooking, by Gretchen McHugh. Though it dates from l982, it's really from the l970's, complete with vaguely "Joy of Sex" illustrations, on brown paper. But my copy is dog-eared, written up, torn —Continue reading “Shepherd’s Pie: Two variations for the trail”
Kit Stolz 