Risk / Danger / Safety
Rest In Peace: Maddie / Learn About: AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness)
Notes: When word got out that someone on the PCT in this year’s class passed away on trail, I posted on our Instagram. While the official cause of death was not published… there were signs about how Maddie was suffering from Altitude Sickness to some degree after entering the Sierras. With that being said, sometimes…
Dangers | The Heat Is Scary
The heat is no joke and also keeping hydrated is also important. Proper rest and breaks. Listening to your body. Maybe a sun umbrella is worth it to take… especially to have breaks in the shade under it. I (Dan) sweat so much in the summer. It just pours off me, and when I’m active……
Poodle-Dog Bush | This Will F You Up
Here is the link to the PCTA Warning about this little bush. Poodle-Dog Bush, Eriodictyon parryi, is common in parts of Southern California. Touching it can cause a significant allergic reaction. This pretty purple-flowered plant has been rearing its ugly head in the San Gabriel Mountains. Reports from the PCT are that the plant is widespread…
Ice Axe | Self Arresting | We Will Learn
This is something that Chantal and I will learn how to do and we will get out in the snow to practise Self-Arresting with an Ice Axe. Dave Collins from CleverHiker.com has a channel with some great content to learn from. His video is above. With the accident on the PCT with Trevor in March…
Snow Snow Snow
Someone posted a photo from the Peter Grubb Hut that was built in 1938-39 by friends and family as a memorial to Peter Grubb, who had just graduated from Galileo High School in San Francisco and was on a bicycling tour of Europe when he died at the age of 18. Lots of hikers will…
Summit Mount Baden-Powell
We would love to have good weather to try and summit. This would be our second mountain along the trail. Another Summit We Would Love To Bag: Mount Baden-Powell: Baden-Powell is located in the San Gabriel Mountains of California. It was named for founder Robert Baden-Powell of the Scouts. It is 9,407 feet tall (2,867…
Hiker Struck, Killed By Lightning Near JMT in Sierra Wilderness
First came an immense flash of bright white light, then a sound like a cannon exploding feet away. Four backpackers’ thoughts quickly turned to the youngest member of their group, Nicholas Torchia, who was just behind them on their high Sierra backpack trip through the John Muir Wilderness of eastern Fresno County. “He’s been hit,”…
Night Hiking To Beat The Heat
The heat of the desert can slow you down and it can rob your body of hydration that it needs desperately to function. Also with starting the desert section as early as we can to the beginning of April will make some nights really cold… making us open our eyes at 4:30 AM and if…
In Memory of Trevor Laher
Written by Doug Laher, the Father of Trevor, and posted on the Trek. This post really moved me and I wanted to share. Please take the time to listen to Back Packer Radio Podcast with Doug talking about Trevor and his legacy towards tail safety. You can listen to it here. On Halfway Anywhere, there…