Day 1 AND SO IT BEGINS

 

I arrived back to the southern terminus at noon after my REI run. Much later start than I had anticipated, but I was able to exchange my sleeping pad and I’m good to go.

The PCT, southern terminus is located on the Mexican border. It is a monument with a different height pillars that you can stand on for pitchers.

Between the monument and the border wall is a road used by border patrol. The fence is enormous. Until you are there looking at it you just cannot comprehend its height and size.

After sticking my foot and hand into Mexico, I signed the official trail register climbed on the monument for a few photos, and took a group photo with the group, that I rode in the shuttle with today.

I’ve already made a few like hiker friends from yesterday’s shuttle and CLEEF stay, Traci, Grahm, and Cali. All three are from Ontario. Today we gave a toast for St. Patrick’s Day with a couple of Irish stouts that Graham and Cali shared.

It was time! I tagged the terminus and started walking.

The views and the scenery along the trail are incredible and it just started.

If you look closely off in the distance, you can see the border wall where I started in some of these pictures.

I had a late lunch at mile six which is the last scene of the video in the above link. 

I continued on for another 5.4 miles. I briefly stopped and snapped a picture at the 10 mile mark then reached my goal today at mile 11.4. 

 I quickly set up my tent, in a pretty tight spot, heated some water for my mashed potatoes and chipped beef, finished it off with a freeze dried ice cream sandwich and climbed in bed to write this and I’m going to sleep at 8 PM.  I was able to snap a picture of the sunset, although it isn’t the greatest view from this location.

These are my daily stats mile 0 to 11.4.