Category Archives: 2025 Posts

Week 1: Southern Terminus PCT, CA to Outside of Big Bear, CA

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Week 1 Mileage: 249.3

“No TP”

Back for another fun-filled year of hiking, where my weekly posts provide good toilet reading and bar talk. This week’s topic: *”Let’s see how far Chezwick goes before he messes himself up again!”*

Let me clear the air on my shoulder injury from last year, since I’m always asked about it. I tore one of the skin grafts that had been repaired five years ago. That tendon held down my clavicle, which then popped out, resulting in my shoulder being separated—painful enough to warrant a quick helicopter ride out of the woods.

Moving forward: no surgery. I figured, *Well, it’s already popped out, it’s already torn—load me up with a cortisone shot and let’s get this hike done!* So that’s what we did. Dr. Chen shot me up a day before I left, and we’ll see how long it lasts. Yes, it’s uncomfortable.

The first day went fairly smoothly. I forgot my credit card at the post office, never sent my charging block to power my stuff in towns, and—worst of all—forgot toilet paper! The first two things? Stupid. The last? Unforgivable. Luckily, I had a brand-new China-made handkerchief, so I was able to sacrifice that.

The first three nights were windy and slightly rainy, each day requiring an extended break to dry out my tent. The water carries through this section are interesting. As you approach Mt. San Jacinto, your only water options are springs a mile off-trail, down a ravine. Not wanting to waste that time, I carried 37 miles’ worth of water to the first fresh, flowing mountain river—cold and delicious (no filter needed).

My right Achilles is inflamed and painful. My ankle swelled up, so I stuffed some snow from the high mountain into a ziplock and did the ICE treatment at about 9,000 feet the other night. Off San Jacinto, halfway through day five, I hit the low desert in the afternoon and was completely cooked by the exposed trail and afternoon sun. I pulled a 41-mile day to put myself in a good position for the next day’s trek: Mission Creek.

A massive flood washed this section of trail out three years ago. It’s essentially 14 miles of walking on a rocky beach, crisscrossing a small river in the middle. Precarious and annoying, it took a while. I started the day at 4:30 a.m. and was out of that canyon by 11. From there, cruising.

The first week shows an average of over 35 miles per day—more than I usually want to do in my first week, but that credit card I left at the post office is waiting for me in Big Bear.

✌️🥾🥾

 

 

Day 1

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Late start at 2:06 PM PST. Stay tuned for posts from the trail and you can see my last updated position on the map.

 

Let’s Do This

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Here I go again! After a disappointing injury 3,000 miles in and a helicopter ride to the hospital, I’m back for redemption. Starting the Pacific Crest Trail exactly a year after my failed attempt on May 2nd.

The Calendar Year Triple Crown (CYTC) encompasses all 3 of the longest trails in the U.S. Pacific Crest, Continental Divide and Appalachian Trails. I will do each one completely before moving on to the next one.

I will be SELF-SUPPORTED which means I cannot get any help from friends or family, no personal help to me. No rides from people I know into towns or staying at homes of people I know. I cannot receive any mail drop boxes from anyone. All the help I receive on the trail must also be available to all hikers. I can hitch a ride, accept trail magic, etc.

This is the most difficult Fastest Known Time (FKT) style. It’s a true separator, adding another depth of difficulty with a logistical challenge. A challenge I’m ready for! 7,500 plus miles and over 7 months. CYTC FKT, I’m coming for ya!

 

Self-Supported FKT Guidelines (from FastestKnownTime.com)

Self-Supported means you may have as much support as you can manage or find along the way, but not from any thing or person just for you; any support you employ must be equally available to anyone else. This can include caching supplies in advance, purchasing supplies along the way, staying at motels, and finding or requesting food or water. Camping in a friend’s yard would be supported, because it is not available to the public. Except at the start and finish, spectating pre-arranged by an athlete is considered support. Many long thru-hiking routes are done self-supported. To get a self-supported FKT you must also beat the fastest unsupported time.