Start of my Big PCT Year: Early Season Hike in the SoCal Section (Days 1-3)

I’m so excited to start my big PCT year with my first section hike of the year! I recently finished walking about 150 miles from the Mexican border to Paradise Valley Cafe from late February to early March, which took me just under a week. I wanted to summarize what my first week on the trail was like, with notes on conditions and logistics that may be helpful to others who will soon be hitting the trail.

February 27: Travel Day

After finishing a full day of work, I took a red-eye flight to San Diego to begin my section hike. Since I fly to and from the PCT instead of driving to trailheads like I did for the Appalachian Trail, figuring out how to check hiking gear has been a new logistical puzzle. To minimize the risk of lost or delayed luggage, I only checked what was absolutely necessary: ​​my trekking poles and my tent stakes. I packed them inside a cardboard tube, added an Apple AirTag for tracking, taped everything securely, and labeled the box everywhere with my name and number. I took the rest of the equipment with me on the plane as carry-on and personal luggage. This setup has worked well for me so far.

My carry-on and personal luggage to take with me on the plane.

I’m always a little nervous at the start of a section hike as there are so many things that can go wrong. Fortunately everything went well. My flight arrived early and my team arrived. Once I got to my hotel, I opened the box with a key, recycled it, and then repacked my gear. Now all that was left was to get a good night’s rest before starting my hike the next morning!

Day 1 (February 28): South Terminal to Lake Morena— 20.5 miles

Off to a good start!

I knew day 1 was going to be hot with limited water sources, so I started hydrating from the moment I woke up. I had breakfast at my hotel before taking the trip to Southern Terminus.

Many NOBO hikers use the PCT Southern Terminus shuttle from San Diego and stay at CLEEF before beginning their hike. That option didn’t quite fit my schedule, as I had limited time and the ferry only operated in the afternoon on its opening day. Instead, I was lucky enough to connect with and receive transportation from a hiker who had completed the PCT last year. It was actually the first time he served as a follow-up angel. We spent the trip swapping trail stories, and he even sent me off with extra food and his umbrella.

When we arrived at the Southern Terminus monument, another former PCT hiker was there and offered me a drink and ice cream. I can’t believe the generosity and kindness of the people along the way! After a few photos at the monument, I left: a Klondike stick in one hand and a can of sparkling water in the other.

At eight in the morning it was already hot. I knew it would only get hotter, so I took advantage of the first 4.4 miles being mostly downhill to pick up the pace. Along the way, I passed a group of enthusiastic hikers who were thrilled to see someone starting on the PCT and took pictures with me like I was a celebrity. Southern California hospitality is off to a good start!

Shortly after starting I passed by CLEEF, where many hikers stay before their first day on the trail.

The only water source for the day was a stream at mile 4.4, which took me a little over an hour to reach. The stream flowed well and was refreshingly cold. I stopped to filter water, drank a liter, and then packed 2.5 liters more.

Beyond that point, the trail became rockier and slightly overgrown as I began a gradual ascent. Despite being part of the “desert section”, the landscape was very green. I took a lunch break in the shade of a large rock around mile 8, enjoying views that were very different from anything I had seen before. The heat made the rest of the climb a challenge, but once I reached the top, I found my rhythm again and started cruising.

As I took the steep descent toward Hauser Creek and passed a hiker napping in the shade, I mentally prepared myself for the infamous climb to the other side of the dry creek bed. At that point, it had reached 85 degrees Fahrenheit and the climb was completely exposed. I used the umbrella, told myself not to overexert myself, and took breaks the few times there was shade. On paper, the climb seemed easy. In the hottest part of the day, it was a little harder than I wanted to admit.

Looking at the infamous Hauser Creek climb

Fortunately, about halfway up the climb, there was a brief respite from the elevation gain and the trail became shadier. I was able to make it to the top, although I was starting to feel like a zombie because I was running out of water. I was very grateful to have made it to the top and was rewarded with some nice views of Lake Morena before descending into town.

Views of Lake Morena

The ¼ mile hike to Oak Shores Malt Store seemed like an eternity because I was so exhausted from the heat and the climb from Hauser Creek, but it was worth it. The staff were very lovely and honestly the burger tasted like the best burger I have ever had. I did a little resupply and then headed to Lake Morena County Park where I had reserved a cabin for the night.

At first, I found the check-in process for my cabin a little confusing. The email I received after booking the cabin said I had to check in by 9:00 pm, and I had read on FarOut that the rangers left at 6:30 pm. When I arrived at 4:00 pm, the check-in booth was closed, and although the ranger station had an “open” sign out front, it was locked. Luckily, a nearby ranger was able to check me in and even offered me a ride to my cabin, which I happily accepted since my feet were tired.

When I booked the cabin, I didn’t know what the weather would be like in early March and had read that it could rain or even snow. In retrospect, I’m not sure it was worth the splurge instead of just staying at the campground. The cabin was almost a mile off the road, the nearby bathroom had no showers (the bathroom with showers was next to the campground), and the beds have no mattresses. However, it had electricity and a beautiful sunset view on the lake, so it was still a nice way to end a long, hot first day.

The view from my cabin on Lake Morena.

Day 2 (March 1): Morena Lake to Laguna Mountain: 22.5 miles

From palm trees to pine trees

The morning was cool when I left my cabin at dawn, but I was grateful. The first few miles were sandy and mostly flat, so I took advantage of the cooler weather and easier terrain to push through the first 6 miles before stopping at Boulder Oaks Campground. I rested on a picnic table, filled up drinking water at the tap, and threw out some of my trash before beginning the 12-mile climb up Mount Laguna.

As the day warmed, I was glad to head towards a higher elevation where it would be cooler. I was so proud to complete my first “10 by 10” challenge (10 miles before 10am)! I stopped at Kitchen Creek for lunch and a quick dip in the water. It was literally an oasis in the desert!

Enjoying lunch and swimming in Kitchen Creek

Then I continued onwards and upwards, which started to get a little difficult as the sun intensified. I was very happy to finally reach the top of Mount Laguna, where the landscape turned into a beautiful pine forest.

There he had reserved a small house at the Tiny House Block hostel. It was cozy, clean and comfortable, and I appreciated the opportunity to do laundry. I also had dinner at Pine House Tavern, mainly because my feet were too tired to walk any further. It was a French restaurant and was a little expensive, but the food was delicious. Since the hostel didn’t offer breakfast, I also ordered a burger and fries to keep in the refrigerator for breakfast.

The tiny house I booked at the Tiny House Block hostel

Dinner at Pine House Tavern

Day 3 (March 2): Mount Laguna to camp near mile 65.7 – 24 miles

Views, wind and blisters, oh my!

I woke up early to enjoy my burger and fries for breakfast before starting the day with a short hike up Sunrise Highway to get back to the trail. The road was aptly named as I enjoyed an incredible sunrise to start a day full of beautiful views. After spending most of day 2 climbing Mount Laguna, day 3 was spent primarily descending from it. Lihat juga msdi. I left the forest behind and enjoyed incredible views all day, starting at Foster Point. It was worth the short trip!

The view from the trail right where it meets the aptly named Sunrise Highway.

The view from Foster Point

It was also very windy, with gusts of up to 50 kilometers per hour. I didn’t mind the wind most of the time as it kept the heat and bugs at bay. Other than a few blisters on my feet, I felt great. Typically on section hikes, I’m most sore on days 2 and 3, so I was hoping to have my trail legs by now.

I stopped to take a break at a picnic spot to eat lunch, heal my blisters, and put on my hoodie as the sun rose. Around mile 17, I started to weaken from the heat. I stopped at the water tank at mile 62.3 to fill up on water and load up on what I needed for the last 3.5 miles. While descending a steep, rocky section, I developed a huge blister on my toe and had to limp the last 3 miles to my campsite. But I did it!

Looking to the future

After my first three days, my PCT year is officially underway! These first few days have set the tone for this coming year: challenging, beautiful, and already full of lessons. Stay tuned for my next post on the second half of this section of hike to Paradise Valley Cafe.