Picked up from the hostel by Scout himself. Great chat while picking up others and back to the house for an orientation.

Unpacked the packages I had sent here (a few bits and pieces that were cheaper to send here).

Pretty jetlagged still, but stayed up for a fantastic meal by ‘Nom Nom’ (Everyone has trail names; I haven’t earned mine yet). After some washing up retired to bed.

22 hours later and I arrived in San Diego. Given my experiences clearing passport control in New York I booked a 7.30pm (ish) train from LA to San Diego. As it happened, I got through in about 5 minutes! So a quick hop on the coach to Union Station and a quick change of ticket had me hurtling towards the Pacific Surfliner 4.08pm departure.

Staff on the train were great, plied me with snacks and wine, and there was coffee on tap! I could have listened to the train announcer for days, lovely accent.

Lucky D’s hostel was my destination, cheap and friendly.

Today, getting picked up for a drive to Scout & Frodo’s, and trying to stay awake at the correct times …

Thanks everyone for the good wishes!

The sheep, not the beer!

Well, packed up and on the train to London tomorrow. Nervous and sad to be leaving Fleur but sort of excited….

Kit ready to be packed, minus a few odds and ends mailed directly to Scout and Frodo’s.

Anticipating plenty of snow this year on the PCT, I enrolled on a short Winter Skills course at Glenmore Lodge in the Cairngorms. It is a two day course and, as luck would have it, I chose the two warmest February days in recorded history to do it!

I was very nervous but the whole place had a great atmosphere. The participants were great and the instructors excellent. We practiced step kicking and cutting, self belay, crampon use, daggering and self-arrest – and probably more I can’t remember. It was so good I plan to go back next year for the 5 day version.

I am hoping to raise some money for two charities while I hike. Now, to be honest, I would have gone anyway for my own reasons, but I don’t want to miss the chance to help if I can.

Details here, including why I chose the charities I did: Donate Here!

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.