Halfway through the Pacific Crest Trail, NorCal tested us with 30-mile days, heat waves, and relentless climbs. It was the section where we broke limits, deepened our inner work, and discovered the mental strength to soar beyond pain.

We fled the High Sierra after frostbite and a harrowing experience—then flipped north, hoping for healing and sanity. What we found in NorCal was so much more: buried cabins, bushwhacking bruises, powerful trail magic, and a deeper gratitude for forward motion.