Distance Total train miles traveled 9,986 # of segments 10 Longest segment New Orleans to LA – 1,995 miles – 46 hours Shortest segment LA to San Diego – 128 miles – 3 hours Time Total # of days 25 Hours on a train 231 (9 days, 15 hours) Geography States visited 24 Highest elevation 9,270 …
My Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hike was to begin in 9 days, but I hadn’t slept in my tent yet. It is never wise to start a thru-hike without testing your gear first. Though I had done a lot of research and felt fairly confident in my choice of tent (you can read about that …
From Chicago, I headed west again on the California Zephyr. Departing in the evening, I slept through boring parts (sorry, Nebraska and Iowa), and woke up the next morning in Denver. I was excited for the scenic journey ahead. The section of railroad between Denver and Grand Junction, CO is some of the best scenery …
After a two-day stop in Montana, I re-boarded the Empire Builder in the morning, heading east toward Chicago. Shortly after departing Whitefish, MT, the train travels along the southern edge of Glacier National Park, the highlight of the entire 2,210-mile Empire Builder route. The tracks pass over the Continental Divide, treating passengers to a panorama …
I saw six seals in the Puget Sound shortly after leaving Seattle. The Empire Builder travels along the eastern shore of sound, at times just inches from the water, before turning sharply east toward the Cascade Range. Stevens Pass The railway crosses Stevens Pass, the major mountain pass that crosses the Cascades, connecting western and …
LA was my bail out point. If, after five days of train travel, I arrived in California realizing that I had had enough of trains, I could end my trip there. I’d abandon the rest of my itinerary and find something to do in Southern California for two weeks until my PCT start date. Good …
March 18th The Sunset Limited is the oldest named train route in the U.S., dating all the way back to 1894. Departing from New Orleans and terminating in Los Angeles, it is also Amtrak’s southernmost train. The route spans approximately 1,995 miles and takes roughly two days. I boarded the Sunset Limited in the morning, …
March 15th I left Washington DC in the evening, boarding the southbound Crescent line. This 28-hour train would take me all the way to New Orleans. It was my first time on an overnight train, and I really hoped that I’d be able to get some sleep. With a total of eight nights planned on …
March 15th My alarm went off at 4:30 am. Today was the day, the start of my big adventure — a tour of the U.S. by rail followed by a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Though I’d been looking forward to this trip for weeks, it’s hard to feel excited about anything at …
The southern terminus of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is located on the U.S.-Mexico border in the town of Campo, California. In a few weeks I will touch the small monument that stands there, marking the beginning of my 2,650-mile journey to Canada. For 5 or 6 months I will have my sights set on …