Get Outside and Explore
My First Ever Thru-Hike The TCT was my first ever thru-hike, which I completed solo in April of 2021. I had known about thru-hiking for years, on long trails such as the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), the Appalachian Trail (AT), and several other beautiful long trails throughout the US. But I did not know until… Continue reading Trans Catalina Trail: Planning a Thru Hike on the TCT
With spring in full swing, the hills are alive, simply bursting with wildflowers at every turn. Invasive Wild Mustard is here to stay, turning everything golden. I love nature hikes, and fortunately some of the best trails, are in my backyard, in South Orange County. The Cerro Rebal Trail, also called the Rollercoaster, begins just off Camino De Los Mares in San Clemente. I took the trail up a somewhat steep incline to the ridge, and along the way was surrounded by wildflowers. This is one of the best wildflower hikes in South Orange County, sandwiched between Dana Point, and San Clemente.
I have thought and wondered about hiking the PCT a lot of the years. Living in Southern California, not far from the trail, I had hiked on short sections of it, out and back. I had not yet backpacked or thru hiked an entire section before. Section A starts in Campo, CA and is 107.1 miles long, ending in Warner Springs, CA. The prospect of hiking 100 miles was exciting to me. I knew the time to do it was in spring, after the nights warmed above freezing, and preferably after the winter time rains ended.
It was a beautiful day for a 6 mile hike to Los Pinos Peak. I decided to head off into the Santa Ana Mountains. Heading north on Main Divide Road from Ortega Highway, there were two water crossings we had to make, which was not expected.
I section hiked PCT Section A, starting in Scissors Crossing, as a solo female backpacker. I planned to hike to Warner Springs, and flip back to Campo, when I had a permit, which would be April.
Serafina Hikes 