3) PCT Start, Calculations & Edi

Yann Roma
Aug 25
3 min read

A Turbulent Start

My adventure on the Pacific Crest Trail began with more excitement than I had bargained for. I flew from Switzerland via London to San Diego, but there was a fire at the London airport, causing power outages. I was seriously worried whether my flight on Saturday would even take off. Fortunately, everything was back to normal by the time of my departure, and I could start as planned. Saying goodbye was hard—I was leaving my comfort zone and embarking on an unknown adventure full of challenges and new experiences. Part of me was excited, while another part kept asking: What have I gotten myself into?

Arrival in Campo

After landing in San Diego, I stayed in a motel right on a busy street. Jet lag hit me hard, and restful sleep was impossible. The next morning, I did my first shopping—the area felt a bit strange and unfamiliar. Then I took the shuttle to Cleef Campground in Campo, right at the PCT trailhead. The atmosphere there was fantastic. The campground staff welcomed us warmly and gave reassuring information: this year there’s enough water, and the snow in the mountains shouldn’t be a big issue. Still, I felt uneasy, especially about food—did I bring enough? Would I always manage to resupply in time?That night, I heard coyotes howling in the distance—a fascinating but slightly unsettling sound.

Edi—My Trail Name?

The next morning, I reached the official starting point, the terminus. Finally, I was here—the beginning of an enormous adventure. The first few kilometers flew by, and I was full of euphoria. Eventually, the name Edi, short for Edelweiss, came up. On the PCT, there’s a tradition of giving hikers a trail name—a sort of nickname often given by other hikers. Some accept it, some don’t. It often reflects a special trait or experience on the trail. Whether Edi will stick, I don’t know yet, but somehow I like the idea.

The Calculations Begin

Very quickly, I realized: the most important question of the day is always, where is the next water source? I constantly have to plan how much water I’ll need to reach the next source. Luckily, there’s the FarOut App, which provides all the necessary information. Without it, I’d feel much more uncertain.

Another challenge is the units. Americans use miles instead of kilometers, feet instead of meters of elevation, ounces instead of liters. Miles are somewhat manageable, but elevation and liquids are trickier. I’m slowly getting used to it, but sometimes I wish I had a quick-reference chart.

A Heavy Start

Although the first kilometers were euphoric, I soon started thinking about the weight of my backpack—or rather, wondering how unbelievably heavy it actually is. Every step reminds me that I have to carry all this gear for over 4,000 kilometers.

Temperatures are high but still bearable. I’m glad I started in March—later on, it would be much hotter, and water might be scarcer. There’s still a risk: in the Sierra Nevada, there could still be snow. For now, things look good, but that could change quickly.

After the first days on the trail, I already feel a little settled in. I still have a lot of respect for what’s ahead, but I’m ready—or at least I want to be. Let’s see what the next section brings!