Ok, so I have been preparing for this trip for ages, but now at last minute I’m actually going to start the blog!

I am flying out on the 26th March to LA and then by Amtrak on to San Diego – my permit is for 30th March. For those who don’t know, there is a limit of 50 through-hike (from Mexico to Canada) permits each day, and these are allocated randomly. In  November 35 permits per day are released, and in January a further 15. Each time, you log on to the  PCTA website and are allocated a random place in the queue. Once at the front of the queue you are allowed to pick any date still available. I was lucky(ish), from my position of 2500 I was able to grab a permit only a few days from my preferred starting date.

In San Diego I will be staying with two of the best known Trail Angels, Scout and Frodo, a wonderful pair who have hosted, fed and advised hundreds of PCT hikers every year for over a decade. Next year will be their final year and I feel lucky to have the chance to meet them.