2 March 2023
PCT Mile 0 to 23

Today was the day!

Double Down drove me to the terminus to start my 2023 PCT thru-hike attempt this morning. Living in San Diego, I’ve been here before, but I’ve never seen snow at the border.

Double Down said “Look! Snow in Mexico!”

And I said “Hey! That’s one of my favorite bands!”

I played some for him the last 10 minutes of the ride.

When we got out of the car it was a balmy 25 degrees.

I bundled up and said farewell to Double Down. I’ll see him tomorrow – he’s going to hike with me to Scissors Crossing!

From Mile 1 to the railroad tracks I hiked with a computer programmer who did the AT 10 years ago. His name was Howdy!

I asked him all about a solo trip he did in the Brooks Range in Alaska. Sounded awesome!

I said bye to Howdy and moved ahead solo for the rest of the day, passing just one other hiker named Monica.

In a normal year there is only one reliable water source before Hauser Canyon at Mile 4. This year water is EVERYWHERE! And the rock hop at Mile 4 was submerged, forcing me to bushwhack to a log crossing up stream.

I brought my microspikes today but didn’t use them. Looks like I’ll need them tomorrow though!

By 3pm I was eating dinner at the Oak Shores Malt Shop near Lake Morena. Yum!

After food and a good break I walked another hour and a half to about mile 23.

My campsite view of Lake Morena was sublime!