Interview with PCT hiker, Isaac Reister

Isaac Reister from Leavenworth, Washington, has been on the Pacific Crest Trail since June 29th when he left Harts Pass near the Canadian border and headed south. He said that he got kind of a late start but figured that he would be done before bad weather started.

He was almost right. He hit blowing snow with a bit of lightening when he got near Bishop but it was Tuesday, Oct. 13, about one day out of Walker Pass, that the skies grew really dark and he could see lightning off toward Mojave. He thought that it might be a good idea to get off the ridge to make camp. No sooner had he set up his camp and got inside when the skies opened up with rain, thunder and lightning. For about 30 minutes it felt like he was camped under a waterfall. Isaac said that one lightning strike was close enough that he could, "Feel it in my stomach."

On Saturday, Oct. 17, he came down the PCT out of the mountains near where it meets with Highway 58 and could see lines of dump trucks going back and forth. He thought that was a little strange for a highway, then realized that there might have been a mudslide somewhere. When he got closer he saw a big semi truck being pulled out of the mud. Isaac thought that was probably the problem until he looked down the road and was shocked to see what seemed to be about 50 other vehicles submerged in mud.

Isaac walked along the highway until he met some workers who explained the giant mess. Someone offered him a sandwich saying, "You came down out of those hills? You deserve this." One of the workers gave Isaac a ride into Tehachaapi so he wouldn't have to camp in the mud.

On Monday morning October 19, Isaac arrived at The Loop newspaper office to pick up packages from home, including a new phone. (He had drowned his phone somewhere along the PCT). He told us that he really needs to hustle as he covers about 25 miles a day and has a plane ticket from San Diego to Washington on Nov. 12th. He joined The Loop for lunch, then shouldered his huge backpack and said "Good-bye.".

God speed, Isaac!