Several years ago my wife, my kids & I were working with the Sierra Club doing trail maintenance near Donner Pass in Northern California. This was my introduction to the Pacific Crest Trail. I was amazed to find that in today's paved world, there still exists a footpath from Mexico to Canada. I just got a new camera, so I'll be taking it on my PCT hike this spring. Click here to see my 2002 PCT Pictures, or here for my 2003 pictures. My 2003 journal is here.

I've lived in Southern California my whole life, and really got into California's "wild west" history as a kid. Walking California's trails now as an adult has rekindled that interest, and I've put some related links and such here. Now I've moved to Oregon, so I've started hiking and photographing here as well.

A big part of long distance hiking is choosing the right gear and paring down your essentials. Summer in Southern California can be very hot and dry, meaning you carry a lot of water. When you add six or eight liters at over 2 lbs. each, pack weight increases pretty quickly. Click here to see the gear I use and what I'm doing for food and water during my hike. 

My hiking pictures (away from the PCT) are below...