Author Archives: Deserrae Potts

Miles Hiked: 22.4 I woke up at 5am under the massive tree where I cowboy camped with Angus and Rainbow. 23 miles to Highway 18. I wanted to get there as early as reasonably possible just so my feet could have a long recovery time in town. I left camp first and hiked for 9.5ContinueContinue reading “PCT Day 14: Kenny’s Place”

Miles Hiked: 25.6 Total Mileage: 245.2 This morning I got out of camp so late. I didn’t start hiking until 7am. The preserve was so nice that I didn’t want to leave it. I was feeling really sore from the day before so I wanted to take it slow this morning. Getting out of campContinueContinue reading “PCT Day 13: Mission Creek”

Miles Hiked: 21.8 Total Mileage: 219.6 Once again I didn’t sleep the best last night. I was awake at 5am and on the trail by 5:30. The sun rose as I descended. The view of San Jacinto was majestic in the morning light. It’s crazy that the peak of the mountain is at 10,800 feetContinueContinue reading “PCT Day 12: White Water Preserve /Oasis Hopping”

Miles Hiked: 20 Total Milage: 197.8 I didn’t sleep super well last night and I’m not sure why. Regardless I packed up all of my things and hit the trail by 6am. Today is the day I would climb San Jacinto! It’s the first major peak that PCT hikers have the option to add asContinueContinue reading “PCT Day 11: San Jacinto”

Miles Hiked: 21.9 Total Miles: 177.8 I walked out of camp at 5:40 this morning. I wasn’t remotely cold but I had my puffy on anyways. Less than a mile in I got so hot I had to change into my shorts and sun hoodie. When it’s hot this early in the morning you knowContinueContinue reading “PCT Day 10: The First Hard Day”

Miles Hiked: 4.1 Total Mileage: 155.9 I woke up in bed around 7am after a great night of sleep. I spent the morning catching up on writing my blog since I have been too tired to do it at camp. For me it’s pretty difficult to sit down all at once and recall the pastContinueContinue reading “PCT Day 9: Rest Day”

Miles Hiked: 14.8 Total Mileage: 151.8 I woke up to sunrise this morning. By 5:45 I was packed up and hiking. Last night I cowboy camped for the first time on this trail. It ended up being pleasant. I really like cowboy camping but the California desert has been creeping me out with all theContinueContinue reading “Day 8: Idylwild”

Miles Hiked: 24.5 Total Milage: 137 Campsite: Thule Spring It was 6am when I finally walked out of camp after packing up all my things. I stopped to fill up all my water bottles at a creek three miles from camp because I wasn’t planning on getting any more water until Mike’s Place about 12ContinueContinue reading “Day 7: Mike’s Place”

Miles Hiked: 11.3 Total Milage: 112.5 Campsite: Augua Calliente This morning I didn’t open my eyes until 7am. It was nice to sleep in and not worry about hiking for once. I planned on taking a rest day today and I was so excited about it. Luke packed up his things and got ready toContinueContinue reading “PCT Day 6: Eagle Rock”

Miles Hiked: 20.8 Total Milage: 101.2 Last night I didn’t sleep well at all. Despite our campsite being tucked away in a perfect semi sheltered nook it still got really windy. When it’s really windy at night my non free standing tent flaps in the wind like crazy. It’s very loud and on top ofContinueContinue reading “PCT Day 5: Ranchita”

Miles Hiked: 16.6 Total Mileage: 80.4 When I woke up at 5am I could barely move. I had a really hard time waking up for some reason but by 5:30 I had my stove on to make some Hot Chocolate. It wasn’t cold at all but it was a nice morning treat. By 6:15am weContinueContinue reading “PCT Day 4: Julian”

Miles Hiked: 21.6 Total Milage: 63.7 Luke and I left the hostel around 6am this morning. The morning air was very cool and “town” was completely quiet as we walked thru it to get back on the trail. According to Guthook, the population of Mt. Laguna is 60 people. As we passed through a campgroundContinueContinue reading “PCT Day 3: The giant pine cones”

Miles Hiked: 21.9 Total Milage: 42.1 Luke and I walked out of camp in the morning twilight. It was a pleasantly cool morning. I kept my puffy on for the entire first five miles without getting hot. We walked down a sandy trail with a nice constant breeze that reminded me of being next toContinueContinue reading “PCT Day 2: Mt. Laugna”

Miles Hiked: 20.2 Total Milage 20.2 This morning I woke up at 5am in a massive tent at Scout and Frodo’s house. They are two legendary trail angels who live in San Diego and host hikers at their home before dropping them off at the Mexico Border to start their hikes. Scout wrote a bookContinueContinue reading “PCT Day 1: Objectively Pleasant”