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Robb 😎

@robb.dog

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After 2150 miles on the PCT (plus about 750 on the bike to get to the southern terminus), I've decided to cut my journey a little bit short and head home for the year.

If you know me, you know this was a tough decision. I'm not someone who likes to give up on what I've committed to. To say I'm going to do something and not do that thing is incredibly difficult for me, but there just became too many reasons to leave and not enough to stay on the trail. Fires raged on in Washington, effectively closing 250 miles of trail (including the northern terminus). My body didn't agree with the big days and miles in the way that it used to. And most importantly, I realized that time with the people I love is just more precious than an extra 10 or so days on the PCT.

All of this said, the hike was everything I wanted and more. It showed me the importance of contrast, the inherent balance of the universe, the raw generosity of people that easily eroded my cynicism. It allowed me to break beyond the boundaries of what I felt physically and mentally capable of. It introduced me to dozens and dozens of inspiring, hilarious, intelligent hikers, all on a modern pilgrimage of their own. I became closer to the natural world in a way that I can't describe. I will always look back on those five months as a way of learning about life that's really hard to achieve otherwise.

I'm leaving the 500 miles in Washington open to come back to when I'm ready. Whether that's next year or 20 years from now, I don't know, but I do know that this trail has an unavoidable magnetism to it now, and that I will be back eventually.

To everyone I've met on the trail this year: thank you for making it worth it. To everyone who donated to the fundraiser: thank you for your kindness and generosity. And to all the trail angels, everyone who gave me a cold soda or cantaloupe or a ride into town: you keep this whole wild experience and community alive, thank you. To anyone reading this: never stop! Do the thing, don't wait, because life will move on whether you do it or not.

'til next time.

-Pack Rat by @robb.dog

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a month ago

PCT Days 115-135 (Miles 1719.2-2150)

Oregon, you have my heart! In about three weeks, I walked through this beautiful state and got to know it intimately. The myth surrounding this section of trail is that it's flat and easy. On finishing, I was still looking for that easy section of trail, but nonetheless happy about what I found: some of the best sunsets I've ever seen, crystal clear blue lakes, lonesome cabins tucked between firs, jagged, volcanic peaks, mysterious fog, dense smoke, and lots of mushrooms I've never seen in my life.

It was easy to feel a bit jaded after walking more than 2000 miles, but I was still surprised at all the beauty I traveled through. It honestly left me wanting to go back to really appreciate it instead of grinding miles out day after day. Landscapes shifted subtly over time -- the seasons, too, as cold filled the air in late August and rain started to come down again. I'd walked long enough to let the summer come and go, welcoming an escape from the heat, and happy to let the rain quench the earth, helping the firefighters all over the PNW drown the wildfires that are sadly but predictably razing huge sections of forest right now. What comes next, I have no idea, but I'm simply grateful for the time I've had on trail this year.

'til next time. by @robb.dog

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a month ago

PCT Days 101-114 (Miles 1502.7-1719.2)

This post is dedicated to every critter I had the pleasure of seeing hiking 1700 miles through California. Every bear, snake, marmot, deer, bird, bee, butterfly, and ant deserves a shout out. I've gradually felt more at home, more at peace, more of a friend with all of the animals and insects I see on a daily basis.

It's easy to forget just how many and how diverse life on earth is until you immerse yourself completely in it.

Next up: Oregon!

'til next time. by @robb.dog

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2 months ago

PCT Days 86-101 (Miles 1158.1-1502.7)

Facing devastation is not something you wish to do on a regular basis, but it can make you appreciate what you take for granted.

Norcal is a famously disliked section of the PCT. After experiencing the literal and metaphorical high of the Sierra, the endless conifer forest can feel like a place to lose yourself completely. Plenty of hikers quit at Truckee outright or skip huge sections of trail, and understandably so. About a hundred miles of trail were burned to the ground in the 2021 Dixie fire, which annihilated nearly a million acres of land. Five years later, the scar still shows deep evidence of what happened. Giant, dead husks of wood loom over limited campsites. I quickly found myself hoping for windless, calm nights, understanding that it was only luck keeping the massive widowmakers from collapsing.

Despite this, I found an intense beauty in the last 400 miles of trail. A common experience emerged: finding life in the ashes. A sea of young firs grew at the base of the dead. Thousands of butterflies blew in the wind. Aggressive, thorned brush in the understory took over the soil. Personally, I was happy. The simplicity of it all captivated me as my immersion in the trail grew deeper. I welcomed it all, and took in everything as if it were new. 1500 miles have passed beneath my feet, and while I'm far from finished, I feel like I am slowly becoming at peace with everything.

'til next time. by @robb.dog

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3 months ago

PCT Days 69-85 (Miles 904.4-1158.1)

The best part about a broken spirit is that you can mend it back together whichever way you want.

In Yosemite, I hit my lowest point on the trail so far. I wanted nothing more than to quit on the spot, drop my shit, and go home. I decided to hike to Tahoe, and if I was still feeling the same way, I'd end my hike. It felt like the weight of accumulating factors was too much to bear, and I'd be better off spending my time doing anything other than walking. I started to have doubts. Moments where I'd ask myself, "What on earth am I doing out here?"

But I let the next day come, and the next day, and the next day. I was able to find the beauty in hiking again amongst the lupine, deer, and lichen-covered fir in Tahoe. Being back on familiar ground gave me a sense of confidence and comfort. It made me feel like I was home again - and I was, spiritually, and (almost) physically. The feeling of home is an odd thing, but seeing dozens of miles of different landscapes every day can make it elusive.

I slowly came back around to baseline, remembering something a trail angel told me hundreds of miles ago:

"You'll experience a lot of pain and joy on the trail, but both are temporary. So when you experience pain, remember that it will pass, and when you experience joy, try to cling onto it."

Pass it did, and in the process I gained a newfound appreciation for the routine, the simplicity, and the barebones nature of hiking every day. I looked at the flowers and the rodents. A thunderstorm raged and slammed down on my tent. I tripped and fell, and recovered.

And when I got to Truckee, I found this cool Hawaiian shirt to wear around town!

Over a thousand miles down, well over a thousand to go. 'til next time... by @robb.dog

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3 months ago

PCT Days 51-68 (Miles 703.4-904.4)

After spending enough time between giant masses of granite, foxtail pine, grassy, lush meadows, and raging snowmelt creeks, I'm to come to the conclusion that this piece of earth is probably too powerful and magical for me to fully understand. Instead of intellectualizing it, I've tried to gain the ability to appreciate and respect the incomprehensible beauty of the Sierra. The healing power of the mountains is not to be understated. It reminds me of how to keep balance in my own life, how to let everything unfold on its own, and how to move through the world with grace when things get really, really hard.

I still have plenty of walking to do, at whatever pace and for however long makes sense for me. I'll do my best to take you on that journey with me.

'til next time. by @robb.dog

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4 months ago

PCT Days 33-50 (Miles 444.3-703.4)

The last 250 miles of trail have been marked by a transition I don't exactly know how to define. On paper, this is when we start seeing more granite outcrops, jagged peaks, and alpine forest as we approach the Sierra. Yet, I've seen a mix of oak woodland, windy, raw desert washes dotted with joshua trees, and scrubby streams where sheep go to graze. It began with a mobile rave across the infamous and exposed LA aqueduct, an absurd section filled with lights of windmills synchronized on the horizon and glow sticks in a giant group of hikers. It ended at Kennedy Meadows South, a giant, chaotic launchpad for hikers to eat impossibly large pancakes and nervously talk about the 400 miles of beautiful trail ahead.

I feel excited for what's to come, extraordinarily lucky for what's passed, and present in my simple life on the trail. I hope you're enjoying what I'm sharing with you.

'til next time! by @robb.dog

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4 months ago

PCT Days 17-32 (Miles 181.2-444.3)

Nature doesn't chase perfection, but it sometimes unintentionally comes close. The last few weeks have been filled with unreal desert views, subtle transitions into alpine forest, and some unique and unexpected wildlife encounters. I've also walked through miles and miles of burn areas with deadfall blocking the path, clouds of fine ashy soil getting kicked up with every step. I've been surprised by groups of trail angels giving out free food and drinks just when I feel I need it most. I've met some incredible, bright, goofy, passionate people. The balance of highs and lows feels more alive than normal, and I'm embracing every minute. The Sierra lurks around the corner, its massive peaks and alpine lakes unfreezing slowly as the Spring wears on, waiting for eager hikers to push through the most coveted section of the PCT... by @robb.dog

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5 months ago

PCT Days 1-16 (Miles 0-181.2)

Wanted to pick a few landscapes to show from my first few days on the trail. We've already encountered intense winds and freezing rain, the "death star" (a friend's phrase) of the high desert sun, dry conditions, wet conditions, cloudy conditions, and quite a bit in between. There is a lesson to be had in every sunburn, every viewpoint, every snake encounter, and I'm here for all of it. It's so easy to learn out here. You just have to keep walking.

What I haven't shown here is the insane number of unique, wild, intelligent, hilarious individuals I've met since stepping foot on trail. Shout out to all of you. As some guy yelled out the window of his truck in Julian: "Keep on truckin!"

@pctassociation by @robb.dog

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5 months ago

@unsettledjimmies and I rode our bikes from SF to the Mexican border. It was beautiful, goofy, and terrifying.

Daily trip reports are on my blog, link in bio. by @robb.dog

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5 months ago

Quick update: taking off on April 5. Fundraiser and blog link in bio. Wish me luck!

#pct #bikepacking #biketouring #pcbr #thruhiking by @robb.dog

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7 months ago

Portra 400 // 28mm // AE-1

Shots from J Tree. Magic in the air! by @robb.dog

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10 months ago