Derin
@derinhiking.bsky.social
Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail 2025
Insta @derin.hiking
📍London
Insta @derin.hiking
📍London
PCT 1: after months of planning for a thru hike starting with 600-700 miles of desert terrain, we begin at the southern terminus, completely overcast. Ahead of us today is non stop rain, all day long. An incongruous start, but still thrilled to begin. 31.03.25
July 9, 2025 at 3:16 AM
PCT 1: after months of planning for a thru hike starting with 600-700 miles of desert terrain, we begin at the southern terminus, completely overcast. Ahead of us today is non stop rain, all day long. An incongruous start, but still thrilled to begin. 31.03.25
Day 35 on the long hike to Moreland Gap shelter we take a quick side trail to see Laurel Falls.
A popular spot, we were asked by a couple of days hikers where we had hiked from, to which we smugly replied "from Georgia!"
🥾18.4 miles
A popular spot, we were asked by a couple of days hikers where we had hiked from, to which we smugly replied "from Georgia!"
🥾18.4 miles
January 13, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Day 35 on the long hike to Moreland Gap shelter we take a quick side trail to see Laurel Falls.
A popular spot, we were asked by a couple of days hikers where we had hiked from, to which we smugly replied "from Georgia!"
🥾18.4 miles
A popular spot, we were asked by a couple of days hikers where we had hiked from, to which we smugly replied "from Georgia!"
🥾18.4 miles
We camp at the hostel, dry our clothes and the following morning indulge in the famous breakfast buffet.
January 13, 2025 at 7:26 AM
We camp at the hostel, dry our clothes and the following morning indulge in the famous breakfast buffet.
Day 34 - we wake early and grind out 16 miles as quickly as we can to reach Mountain Harbour hostel. We're constantly crossing the state line so while nearly finished with Tennessee there are disconcerting signs telling us we'd only just left North Carolina!
🥾16.3 miles
🥾16.3 miles
January 13, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Day 34 - we wake early and grind out 16 miles as quickly as we can to reach Mountain Harbour hostel. We're constantly crossing the state line so while nearly finished with Tennessee there are disconcerting signs telling us we'd only just left North Carolina!
🥾16.3 miles
🥾16.3 miles
Day 33 freezing cold day hiking up Roan High Knob. At least 15 hikers crammed into the loft of the shelter, the wind blew hard and it rained all night. I was crammed up against the roof and barely slept worried that a spider would crawl onto my face.
🥾15.8 miles
🥾15.8 miles
January 13, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Day 33 freezing cold day hiking up Roan High Knob. At least 15 hikers crammed into the loft of the shelter, the wind blew hard and it rained all night. I was crammed up against the roof and barely slept worried that a spider would crawl onto my face.
🥾15.8 miles
🥾15.8 miles
Day 32 - well rested we hike a long day out of Erwin and pitch up at a dispersed camping spot. Heavy pine forest which smells amazing, and a new wildflower - squirrel corn
🥾19 miles
🥾19 miles
December 29, 2024 at 9:06 AM
Day 32 - well rested we hike a long day out of Erwin and pitch up at a dispersed camping spot. Heavy pine forest which smells amazing, and a new wildflower - squirrel corn
🥾19 miles
🥾19 miles
Day 31 - zero day in Erwin Tennessee. We walked along a riverside path from Uncle Johnny's to the town centre - a nicely preserved old town, busy coffee shops and a taproom. Cool town!
🥾 0 miles
🥾 0 miles
December 29, 2024 at 8:59 AM
Day 31 - zero day in Erwin Tennessee. We walked along a riverside path from Uncle Johnny's to the town centre - a nicely preserved old town, busy coffee shops and a taproom. Cool town!
🥾 0 miles
🥾 0 miles
Day 30 - a short day hiking to Erwin, TN then a day off at Uncle Johnny's hostel. Awesome views of the Nolichucky river on the way down.
A day of this length is known as a "near-o" i.e. nearly zero - very few miles in the morning then you take the rest of the day off...
🥾6.3 miles
A day of this length is known as a "near-o" i.e. nearly zero - very few miles in the morning then you take the rest of the day off...
🥾6.3 miles
December 19, 2024 at 8:36 AM
Day 30 - a short day hiking to Erwin, TN then a day off at Uncle Johnny's hostel. Awesome views of the Nolichucky river on the way down.
A day of this length is known as a "near-o" i.e. nearly zero - very few miles in the morning then you take the rest of the day off...
🥾6.3 miles
A day of this length is known as a "near-o" i.e. nearly zero - very few miles in the morning then you take the rest of the day off...
🥾6.3 miles
Day 29 - nothing to report from this day, a long day hiking through the rhododendron with far spanning views whenever we broke through the green tunnel.
🥾18.4 miles
🥾18.4 miles
December 17, 2024 at 8:40 AM
Day 29 - nothing to report from this day, a long day hiking through the rhododendron with far spanning views whenever we broke through the green tunnel.
🥾18.4 miles
🥾18.4 miles
Nature's Inn was in a dry county which was a bizarre concept as an English person. No beers after the hike, but we bagged a private cabin with a porch overlooking the stream.
December 14, 2024 at 11:20 AM
Nature's Inn was in a dry county which was a bizarre concept as an English person. No beers after the hike, but we bagged a private cabin with a porch overlooking the stream.
Day 28 - short day's hike to Nature's Inn hostel. It's still very cold, with lots of mist every morning.
🥾11.2 miles
🥾11.2 miles
December 14, 2024 at 11:18 AM
Day 28 - short day's hike to Nature's Inn hostel. It's still very cold, with lots of mist every morning.
🥾11.2 miles
🥾11.2 miles
Day 27 - a short day: we saw a cool rock and took the big butt bypass before we had to stop early because Sarah was sick with dehydration.
🥾 6.7 miles
🥾 6.7 miles
December 13, 2024 at 9:35 PM
Day 27 - a short day: we saw a cool rock and took the big butt bypass before we had to stop early because Sarah was sick with dehydration.
🥾 6.7 miles
🥾 6.7 miles
We hiked past the home of the southern cookie lady who bakes fresh cookies for passing hikers throughout the season. Just one of many examples of the kindness and supportive things people do for AT hikers!
December 11, 2024 at 8:12 AM
We hiked past the home of the southern cookie lady who bakes fresh cookies for passing hikers throughout the season. Just one of many examples of the kindness and supportive things people do for AT hikers!
Day 26 - we watch the sunrise from the fire tower and start hiking early. We reach the 300 mile marker later that day.
🥾16.8 miles
🥾16.8 miles
December 11, 2024 at 8:05 AM
Day 26 - we watch the sunrise from the fire tower and start hiking early. We reach the 300 mile marker later that day.
🥾16.8 miles
🥾16.8 miles
Sunset and our "camp site" from the top of the fire tower
December 10, 2024 at 8:05 AM
Sunset and our "camp site" from the top of the fire tower
Day 25 - one of my favourite memories from hiking the Appalachian Trail. A short day out of Hot Springs and we camp at the top of the Spring Mountain fire tower
🥾 11.3 miles
🥾 11.3 miles
December 10, 2024 at 7:40 AM
Day 25 - one of my favourite memories from hiking the Appalachian Trail. A short day out of Hot Springs and we camp at the top of the Spring Mountain fire tower
🥾 11.3 miles
🥾 11.3 miles
Day 24 - a zero day eating and resuppling in Hot Springs
Highlight was breakfast hash with a fried bologna sandwich from Smokey Mountain Diner
🥾 0 miles
Highlight was breakfast hash with a fried bologna sandwich from Smokey Mountain Diner
🥾 0 miles
December 6, 2024 at 9:28 AM
Day 24 - a zero day eating and resuppling in Hot Springs
Highlight was breakfast hash with a fried bologna sandwich from Smokey Mountain Diner
🥾 0 miles
Highlight was breakfast hash with a fried bologna sandwich from Smokey Mountain Diner
🥾 0 miles
Day 23 - Reaching the tiny town of Hot Springs, NC felt like a milestone - we'd been talking about it for days, and it's (imo) the first famous Appalachian Trail town. Town means a hot shower, resupply and eating some real food - first up, a bacon cheeseburger at the Iron Horse Station.
🥾12.8 miles
🥾12.8 miles
December 5, 2024 at 2:40 PM
Day 23 - Reaching the tiny town of Hot Springs, NC felt like a milestone - we'd been talking about it for days, and it's (imo) the first famous Appalachian Trail town. Town means a hot shower, resupply and eating some real food - first up, a bacon cheeseburger at the Iron Horse Station.
🥾12.8 miles
🥾12.8 miles
Day 22 - for most of the Appalachian Trail you will occasionally cross a fairly busy tourist / sightseeing area. On this day we went over Max Patch which had awesome 360 views out over the rolling mountains - no surprise it was busy with day trippers.
🥾13.1 miles
🥾13.1 miles
November 30, 2024 at 1:45 PM
Day 22 - for most of the Appalachian Trail you will occasionally cross a fairly busy tourist / sightseeing area. On this day we went over Max Patch which had awesome 360 views out over the rolling mountains - no surprise it was busy with day trippers.
🥾13.1 miles
🥾13.1 miles
Day 21 - a short day hiking out of Standing Bear Farm to Groundhog Creek. We accidentally pitch our tent upwind from the privy. It's not all glitz and glamour on the Appalachian Trail! New wildflower - the fire pink.
🥾7.2 miles
🥾7.2 miles
November 28, 2024 at 5:33 PM
Day 21 - a short day hiking out of Standing Bear Farm to Groundhog Creek. We accidentally pitch our tent upwind from the privy. It's not all glitz and glamour on the Appalachian Trail! New wildflower - the fire pink.
🥾7.2 miles
🥾7.2 miles
Day 20 - a moody, wet start, we were the only people to use our tent instead of the shelter and heaving rain rolled in overnight! We leave the smoky mountains today and stay at the somewhat notorious Standing Bear Farm hostel. A new wildflower - the fringed phacelia.
🥾18.2 miles
🥾18.2 miles
November 25, 2024 at 10:24 PM
Day 20 - a moody, wet start, we were the only people to use our tent instead of the shelter and heaving rain rolled in overnight! We leave the smoky mountains today and stay at the somewhat notorious Standing Bear Farm hostel. A new wildflower - the fringed phacelia.
🥾18.2 miles
🥾18.2 miles
Day 19 - our penultimate day in the smoky mountains. In the morning we pass a helpful sign telling us we only have 1,972 miles to go. Head down, keep hiking!
🥾15.7 miles
🥾15.7 miles
November 22, 2024 at 8:51 PM
Day 19 - our penultimate day in the smoky mountains. In the morning we pass a helpful sign telling us we only have 1,972 miles to go. Head down, keep hiking!
🥾15.7 miles
🥾15.7 miles
Day 18 - a big day! Early start to hit Kuwohi AKA Clingmans Dome, the highest peak on the AT at 6,643ft, then pass the 200 mile mark and cross into Tennessee by 2.30pm. We get a ride into Gatlinburg where I saw "his and hers" confederate flag swimsuits for sale - crazy town!
🥾12.2
🥾12.2
November 21, 2024 at 12:04 PM
Day 18 - a big day! Early start to hit Kuwohi AKA Clingmans Dome, the highest peak on the AT at 6,643ft, then pass the 200 mile mark and cross into Tennessee by 2.30pm. We get a ride into Gatlinburg where I saw "his and hers" confederate flag swimsuits for sale - crazy town!
🥾12.2
🥾12.2
Day 17 - not many photos today as it was our longest day on trail so far and I was focused on hiking (by which I mean I was exhausted). A new wild flower, the yellow trout lily.
🥾17.8 miles
🥾17.8 miles
November 20, 2024 at 10:03 AM
Day 17 - not many photos today as it was our longest day on trail so far and I was focused on hiking (by which I mean I was exhausted). A new wild flower, the yellow trout lily.
🥾17.8 miles
🥾17.8 miles
The permit is easy enough - just a drop box for one part then you carry the other part. It feels like a big moment though - like a 'section' of the hike is finished and you're moving into the next. Soon after entering we climb up Shuckstack Fire Tower (won't tell my parents about that one!)
November 19, 2024 at 7:16 AM
The permit is easy enough - just a drop box for one part then you carry the other part. It feels like a big moment though - like a 'section' of the hike is finished and you're moving into the next. Soon after entering we climb up Shuckstack Fire Tower (won't tell my parents about that one!)