Hello, My Name Is Pooparazzi

2017 PCT Journal

May 13

“The timing was perfect and about a day later they picked me up on the side of the highway. ”

— Pooparazzi

May 13, 2017

You take hundreds of photos of landscapes and people over a few hundred miles, but you play ONE joke and snap a picture of a friend offloading some excess baggage (...yeah...you know what I mean), and all of the sudden you're known as "Pooparazzi." So, apparently, that's now my trail name and it's about as awkward for me to say it as it is to describe how I got it. Hahaha! Ohhhh the fun of the trail!

We deserved break along the Pacific Crest Trail — Break where you need to break.

My body is officially owning this trail. When I arrive at camp after 15-17 miles I still have gas in the tank. I know I can easily hike over 20 miles in a day, but I'm holding back for a couple more weeks to give my body more time to adjust to the impact of the trail. This alone is motivation to keep going. My biggest fear going into the PCT was whether or not my body would react well to it. So far the key is to protect your body, feed it, hydrate it, and don't get cocky. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

Coming out of Wrightwood was a slog. We hiked up Baden Powell at about 9500 feet at times in knee-deep snow and down the backside in slush. By the time I got to camp, my feet were soaked.

Putting wet shoes on the next morning was soooo fun...

Looking back along the Pacific Crest Trail. — Looking back to where we came.

Snow along the Pacific Crest Trail. — Windswept ridges on our way to Baden Powell

400 Miles

This past week I crossed the 400-mile mark and in a few days, I'll cross 500 miles. How weird is that? So far, yet so many more miles to go. I'm enjoying the trail more and more and the feel of the grind. It takes a mile or so to warm up, but once I do, it's amazing. You get into a groove and almost zone out. You just hike until you're hungry. Sometimes it's an hour and sometimes it's 2 hours.

As I made my way down to the valley floor into Agua Dulce, I received a text from my Dad saying he and my Mom were near my location on a road trip. The timing was perfect and about a day later they picked me up on the side of the highway. This trail is a trip! Haha! Seeing them was so strange.

This entire adventure is strange and full of surprises. They dropped me at a hotel after having lunch and driving me around.

Saying goodbye was again surreal. We all just sat there like "...well, this is weird...".

Nearing the End of the Desert

Just a few more hundred miles of desert and we will have to make a decision about the Sierra range. I'm hoping it's doable, but the snow reports are looking as if I'll have to go around them. I'm not out here to risk my life, so I'll likely have to come back and do the Sierra section another time when it's safe. Mother Nature wins in the end, but for now it's too early to say what will happen.

Thank you so much for those following my journey. Your support is motivating me to keep pushing each day and I can't express to you enough how much you all mean to me. Whether I know you personally or not, I feel like we are in this together.

Until next time!!

Meeting my parents on the Pacific Crest Trail — A cherished memory of my parents. RIP.

450 miles, By Land

Thanks for checking out these posts about my hike up the Pacific Crest Trail! If you have any questions for me or want to connect, you can leave a comment below or shoot me a personal message at emory@byland.co.

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