I started an email list of family and friends originally to keep everyone updated on my sister, K'lena's PCT Hike in 2025. The first update that was sent included 57 people on the list. By the 2nd update I was close to 70 people. As I was updating and attaching photos in both of the emails I found myself wanting to share more of the photos my sister was sending or uploading to our family photo album. This started the journey to look for a Blog. I'm giving this a test run so we will see how we like it and go from there.....
Original email that was sent:
If you are receiving this email then you signed up to receive updates on K'lena's Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Trip. In this group so far we have 57 people including K'lena herself so she can read and save these for future, Family, Kiwanis Members, and Friends from all over that want to receive the updates! (I'm guessing this group will grow as she continues on the journey)
I can't guarantee when I will update you next because I don't know when I will get any photos, updates, or a phone call from her. This one will probably be the most lengthy because we have some people who don't even know what she is doing so I want to be able to explain this as best as I can to you. For our Kiwanis members and family members who were able to attend her presentation in April, the information directly below is a recap of the trip presentation. The actual update is further down the email.
Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is 2,650 miles of continuous hiking. She will cross 26 National Forests, 7 National Parks, 5 State Parks, & 4 National Monuments. On average this takes hikers 5 months to complete. This starts at the US-Mexico border and ends at the US-Canada border traveling through California, Oregon, & Washington. Now you are probably asking WHY? K'lena why's: "If not now, when" "To prove to myself I can" "Be an adventure role model-- show Creighton & Lenny they could too" "To put my dreams into action--making it happen & not just saying, 'I want to do...'" "What lessons will I learn?" She also had an initial interest in seeing the Bridge of the Gods and she had worked with a couple who hiked the PCT in 2022.
There are 5 Main Sections of the PCT: The Desert (Southern California), Sierra Nevada, Northern California, Oregon, & Washington.
She applied for an overall permit instead of individual permits. This process also works like a lottery system so it did take a couple of times for her to get selected to go on this trail on the specific date range she wanted.
During this trip there are also what is known as "Trail Angels" or "Trail Magic"- they offer rides into town, or places to stay, food, and support. Several of them are past PCT hikers themselves. K'lena has an app that she is able to locate them/get those details/etc. I reference them below in the update as well. They will be present throughout this trip.
For a reference of photo- I found this on the PCT website: https://www.pcta.org/
(if you want to make it larger visit the site). I'll reference some of the locations further down in this email.
4/22/2025 Update/Information:
- Thursday 4/17 made it to her starting point. Camped in a campground- details unknown to me. Her friend Jenna is hiking with her. (You will see her in some of the photos going forward).
- That night she texted and said "I am so exhausted and my cold has progressed throughout the day :( on the last stop of the shuttle, 1 mile away from the campground!"
- Started the PCT on 4/18 (photo of her and her friend Jenna starting- attached)
- Received a 1 mile photo (attached)
**In the 2 photos attached you can see the gear they are carrying on their backs. This is the only gear they have with them. They will stop for additional food and supplies along the way.
- Each day when she starts her trip- my dad and I get an alert from her GPS tracker. Then when she ends her trip for that day we get an alert.It shows a very basic map of location. For time references of when she's started/ended on some of the days:
Start 10:45am End 6:30 pm
Start 9:15am End 5:30pm
Start 10am End 8pm
**These are coming in Central time. She is 2 hours behind us.
- I texted her Happy Easter on 4/20 but she didn't respond until 4/21 with "Thank you!!!" around 11am. I didn't ask if she was doing this but originally when she gave her presentation- she talked about conserving her phone battery so the majority of the time her phone is either off or in airplane mode. I asked for a photo and heard nothing until around 3pm she tried to call me but I was on the phone at work. I tried to call her back shortly after that and we talked for 30 seconds when she said I'll call you back. (Found out they had met some friends a day or so prior and they had met up again just at that time we were on the phone so she was getting an update and information from them) Then she didn't call me back until around 8pm and we were able to talk for 15 minutes. She asked the kids what they got for Easter and Lenny asked if the Easter Bunny brought her anything and she said a butterscotch candy and a peep. :)
- They are hiking 9-12 miles per day.
- 4/21/25 they went into town, but not much of a town, but it was chaotic because of all the hikers that do go into this town. It had a Post Office and a place to get some food. (here is the menu for the next couple of days: Tuna packets, Skittles, Pop Tarts, & Gummy Candy. This is real Hiker food!) The town only had food for hikers. There were cabins you could rent like a hostile situation. But they chose to camp in the campground called Mt Laguna- for reference on the map above it looks like that's about 42.8 miles from the start. As I was typing this update earlier my dad said he has an app he is following along with her trip- I'm going to try that as well and might be able to give you a better idea down the road.
- The next 2 days they will need to go 12 miles each day. Then the 2nd day they will have an additional 6 miles into town. They will need to refill on food and supplies again. For reference on the map again looks like Julian is the goal (reference this at the end of the email update as well)
- Like mentioned K'lena has a cold. She also mentioned she had body aches, but she is still hiking and feeling ok to keep going on.
- They met a lady named Noami on the first day and have been hiking with her. She's from Sacramento. Sounds like Noami and Jenna have a similar hiking pace and K'lena hikes a little ways ahead of them, but still within distance to be able to see each other.
- Things she has eaten: Knorr pasta/rice sides, Pesto Mac N Cheese, regular Mac N Cheese, Taco/Rice/Beans/Fritos for suppers. I'm sure there are snicker bars and more candy in there as well. (She mentioned she's brushing her teeth and flossing twice a day because of all the sugars she's consuming). The Trail magic folks have made them quesadillas, provided carrots, oranges, pop, & beer.
- K'lena called my dad on the morning of 4/22/25. Her sleeping quilt & pad are NOT keeping her warm at night. He's sending her sleeping bag to Warner Springs (reference on the map again looks to be about the 109.5 mile mark on the map. She will be there early next week. It would have cost nearly $200 to get it to Julien, CA by Friday 4/25. Instead she opted for the Warner Springs location. A box with the sleeping bag and some snacks costs roughly $25 and she will pick it up in Warner Springs on 4/28.
Something in the works....
I am working on getting a mailing address for an upcoming stay/stop (places that were mentioned: Idylwild by mid week next week (not enough time to get this going), Big Bear, or Kennedy Meadows (slated to be there next month)- opting for Kennedy Meadows at this time. Since the mail system takes a little while and I want to guarantee her to be in this location and give myself enough time to get this completed and sent off. I am thinking of putting together an encouraging card and a few small things for food/snacks. If you would like to sign it or leave a note, please let me know and I'll connect with you. ***- ( I don't want to send too many pieces of mail or heavy items as she will want the least amount of weight possible.) If you aren't local, but still want to send an encouraging note, please email me and I will include your encouragement in the card. I am saying I will need this information by 5/5/25 to ensure delivery in time. (this could change depending on her pace of the trip).
Phew....thanks for reading this far along! Please continue to lift K'lena, Jenna, and their new friend Noami up in your thoughts & prayers. Give them the strength to keep going and keep them safe.
Have a great day!
Jenna & K'lena starting on the PCT Trail!
Phew! Made it 1 mile....
