After our Greece/Turkey trip in May, we left on a long road trip later in June to escape the desert heat and re-visit some old haunts and explore some new areas. Our first stop was Durango where we took some long bike rides, kayaked and fished in Vallecito Lake and got some good hikes in on Lime Mesa in the Weminuche Wilderness and Bear Creek near Ouray. Salida, Colorado was our next stop, originally on my “places to retire to”…
As mentioned in my Pacific Northwest Trail – 2026 introduction, I plan to start the trail (PNT) this year, in fact, I am leaving this weekend! Not only has the PNT been on my list for many years, it is also my last “piece” to finish the 7,000-mile Great Western Loop. I’ll start at Chief Mountain/Belly River Trail in Glacier National Park where I finished the Continental Divide Trail in 2017. I only have time this year to knock out…
I meant to provide a wrap-up to my Desert Winter Thru-Hike adventure a bit sooner but I just wasn’t up to it. Ellie, our nearly 11-year-old black lab passed away nearly three weeks ago from a rare rapid-onset cancer. I fortunately was able to spend some real quality time with her after my return. She was the sweetest lab we’ve ever had – she never met a dog or person she didn’t immediately want to be best friends with. She…
Daily Miles: 24.1, Total Miles: 793.1 After completing the DWTH and strolling into Yucca Valley, I had a rest and some good meals before hiking the connector piece to the PCT. As a movie theater was right next door to the hotel, I even saw a movie although my primary interest was heavily buttered popcorn. Weird and kind of spooky, I was the only person in the theater for the entire movie. I was confused by the ending of the…
Daily Miles: 22.0, Total Miles: 769.1 I woke up about 2am to something walking by my tent. With good moonlight, I could see an animal slowly making its way along, I’m thinking a bighorn or maybe a deer. Wow, what a gorgeous morning and sunrise over the rocks and Joshua trees! I continued up the scenic Boy Scout Trail and exited JTNP at Indian Cove. The Desert Winter Thru-Hike is officially done! But my hike continues because of my intent…
Daily Miles: 18.0, Total Miles: 747.1 Another early start on what was expected to be a long, warm day hiking west and then north through Joshua Tree National Park. My first observations were many more footprints on the trail and then the very impressive, tall Joshua trees, so much larger than the yucca plants I have been seeing for a few hundred miles. I made my way to Park Road and retrieved my last water cache, before once again setting…
Daily Miles: 17.0, Total Miles: 729.1 A still, quiet night and I was up early to take advantage of cooler temperatures – didn’t think that would be much of an issue in February. A lot of walking up and down washes today through the Pinto Mountains. I found another guzzler and enjoyed lunch while filtering water in the shade of a large creosote bush. Late in the afternoon, a climb up an old mining road got me to a ridge…
Daily Miles: 22.0, Total Miles: 712.1 I got an Uber out to where I left off on Amboy Road. The first order of business was retrieving my food cache that I buried near a wash just up Ironage Road from Hwy 62. I must say that burying my food caches in Opsaks has worked very well except for momentary panic when I don’t find it right away. I have had no damage and it really beats having to return to…
Daily Miles: 0.0, Total Miles: 690.1 I had a nice rest in 29 Palms and a positive physical and mental re-set before this last section. Despite 29 Palms being so spread out and only a few things close to the Holiday Inn Express, I found another good restaurant, the Rib Co., within walking distance and stuffed myself with a half rack of baby back ribs, cornbread, potato salad and an IPA. I did regret not getting the peach cobbler. I…
Daily Miles: 19.0, Total Miles: 690.1 Still concerned about a fixed end date and wanting a continuous footpath, I decided to proceed south on or near the Amboy Road on a more direct route through the Sheephole Mountains. Near where Amboy Road swings west, I stuck my thumb out and was surprisingly picked up by the 4th vehicle to come by. Michelle (Jitterbug) and Jeremy had hiked the AT last year and said they stopped because I had “the look”…
