Mile #15 and Counting! Custom-Designed Pacific Crest Trail Update

After an especially cold harsh February this winter, I felt almost giddy walking with my dachshunds at a local park in 80º weather and sunshine. It was early March, not even officially spring, yet I felt as if I could walk forever. In my last blog post I posed the question, “What if I created my very own PCT by walking local parks one mile and one day at a time?” I posted the idea on Facebook. A good friend, Rick, commented that he’s ridden his stationary bike from Seattle almost to San Diego—three miles a day. He jokingly said, perhaps we’d meet up sometime.

​I decided to begin our custom-designed PCT hike from the border with Mexico! Rick, I entered San Diego today with Mile #15! Where are you?!

As I updated Facebook with the mile-by-mile and park-by-park PCT hikes, several people asked if this was fodder for my next book. Sorry, no Custom Designed PCT book in the works, but my blog will keep you with us along the trail! 

I’ve received so many comments from friends – asking which parks and where, etc., so there is quite the energy around this endeavor!

Thom went  online and looked up the listings of all the parks in Snohomish and King Counties. He printed them out and made us a booklet guide. Here are the first 15 miles and 15 parks for this week’s blog post.

Mile #1 at Lynndale Park was highlighted in the last post (March 24th), “A Thousand Miles Starts with One Step.” 

Mile #2 (Starting at Mexico border. Now 13 miles from downtown San Diego) On our way! To be clear- we aren’t down south- We are Doing the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) one mile and one local park at a time. We did Lake Stickney Park Snohomish County, WA for Mile 2. A mile is all both our 14-year-old Josie & Buster can muster, and they deserve their favorite treat, ice cream, at the end. Onward!

Mile #3 at Edmonds Marina, with the Edmonds–Kingston ferry in the background and Josie and Buster with us–we had not yet gotten Nikki. A happy encounter with a local painter!

Mile #4 of “our one mile and one park a day” PCT ADVENTURE! Today the INTERURBAN TRAIL by ECHO LAKE PARK! Buster & Josie true Trail Blazers! We stopped at Sky Nursery for garden shoes. Yup! Got the yellow. 

We start Mile #4! Truly on our way!

Mile #5 at South Lynnwood Neighborhood Park.

Mile #6 at Scriber Lake Park.

Mile #6 Pups intrigued with remote controlled boats!

Mile #6  Wow! Look at them go!

Mile #7 Seaview Park

Mile #8 Today EDMONDS SIERRA PARK! Buster, Josie, and new brother Nikki took dear friend Natalia, visiting from Moscow, Thom & me on a quick walk as dusk as fell this evening. Glorious sunset & surprisingly much birdsong!

Mile #9 Today SNOQUALMIE FALLS! Buster, Josie, and new brother Nikki take dear friend Natalia visiting from Moscow & me on a serious hike down to admire the falls. A delish meal at the Salish Lodge is our reward for the exercise coming back up! 

Mile #9 The splendid Snoqualmie Falls!

Mile #10 Today RENTON CEDAR RIVER TRAIL! Buster, Josie, and new brother Nikki take advantage of sunny warm spring day, relishing a walk & picnic along the Cedar River. Then relaxing at home backyard. Going to need a larger lounge chair! 

Mile #11 Today PINE RIDGE PARK! Buster, Josie, and Nikki catch a dry walk before next few days with rain forecasted! 

Mile #12 Today MEADOWDALE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK! Buster, Josie, and Nikki catch an almost dry walk in between the drizzle, wind, & sun! Totem Pole titled “The Raven and the First Salmon, the Humans and the Last,” by Chris Vondrasek. 

Mile #13 Today SPRUCE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK! Buster, Josie, and Nikki are happy check out new trees & trails.

What amazing stories these fascinating trees could tell! Huge stumps from old growth. Marshall Family donated this land to the Lynnwood Parks in 1990. Boy Scout Troop 18 did the Woodland Restoration 2003.

​The pups really picked up speed when heading back to the car at the end of Mile 13!

Mile #14 “our one mile and one park a day” PCT ADVENTURE! Today PIONEER PARK! Buster, Josie, and  Nikki in a race to walk the trail in between the showers.

I looked and San Diego is only 15 miles from the Mexican border (the PCT goes from the border with Mexico to the border with Canada). Happy to reach Mile #15 of our “one mile and one park a day” PCT ADVENTURE! Today GOLD PARK! Buster, Josie, and  Nikki enjoyed learning about native foliage. Name markers along the paths. 

Mile #15 Josie  forging through the jungle! –working hard to walk and climb and enjoy our daily hike along our “local” Pacific Crest Trail project.

As you see we are having a lot of fun and learning a lot about our local area as we hike our custom-designed PCT! Would love to hear about your favorite parks and “hikes.” I’d be so pleased if you’d leave a suggestion in the comments.

See you along the trail!