PCT kick off 2013

PCT kickoff 2013

Brad and Yessi with packs on trusty BMW R1100RSL

Yessi and I are off to hike in the Big Sur, Los Podres National forest and in the Ventana wilderness area, just south of Montery.  While last year I hiked 20 miles a day for what reason I cant quite recall, other than to finish the PCT in 6 months, this year I'm getting paid to hike.  Yippie!!

From L 2 R, Kristo, Knees, Yessi (shirpa) and Freestyle (dbBrad) at PCT 2013 kickoff

This year I'm hiking professionally, recording and assessing  trails for a new map published by GreenTrails Maps.   I've used GreenTrails maps for years in Washington.  They have the best hiking level detail maps available for Washington and Oregon and are expanding to California and Arizona.

Vendors at PCT 2013 kickoff

But first, a road trip to PCT kickoff 2013 with Knees, Kristo, Yessi and me, Freestyle. I missed the Kickoff last year since I was still on the Te Araroa trail in New Zealand and am excited to see what the buzz is all about.

Cariunoso Taco Bell jams!
The Best Taco Bell ever, right on the Ocean!
On the way but out of the Way, headed to PCT kickoff 2013

As it turns out, it was just about what I expected and not much more.  A bunch of vendors showing off new gear, a bunch of new hikers running around making last minute changes to gear, and a bunch of seasoned hikers sitting around watching and drinking beer!

PCT kickoff 2013

Probably the most exciting thing to happen was a very large oak tree falling in the campground.  It happened to be near the Andersons (trail angels extraordinaire) where many Pct'ers from 2012 were camped out.

The miracle of 2013 kickoff-this huge oak tree fell amongst several tents in the middle of the night.  It sounded like a giant bucket of ice being dumped.  Remarkably, no one was seriously hurt though Viro, PCT 2012 class videographer and hiker got an unexpected ambulance ride and a crappy breakfast at the hospital

As it turns out, about 6 tents were close enough to be touched by leaves and two tents were torn from branches.  But there were no tents, thank god, under the larger branches and trunk which would have killed anyone underneath them.

Shasta as we head south to PCT kickoff '13 from Seattle

So while all the new hikers are frantic with questions of bears, mountain lions, scorpions, tarantulas, heat, exhaustion, sun stroke, rattle snakes, dehydration---all the things you read about in blogs which make a new hiker fear for his life---I have some real safety advice for PCT'ers.  Watch out for falling trees and don't sleep in campgrounds!!

Yessi at PCT kickoff 2013, Lake Marino

Probably the largest risk for a PCT hikers is getting hit by a car while walking along a road.

Above Lake Marino during PCT kickoff 2013

It was a long ways to travel for a weekend, but the nostalgia of seeing the new and old hikers, hearing stories of last year and re-living a bit of the excitement one feels when they head off for their first day on a 6 month journey, as well as reconnecting with old friends, made it very worth wile.

Knees, Yessi and Kristo at reststop during PCT 2013 kickoff roadtrip