Much of the summer of 2025 was spent hosting hundreds of PCT trail hikers who found their way down from Sonora Pass / Hwy 108 to Pinecrest to stay at the Sonora Pass Trail Angel cabin (“cookies cabin”) in Pinecrest. The cabin was specially set up to host handle groups of hikers where they were fed dinner and breakfast family style and offer a place to connect with other hikers, recharge themselves and their devices for additional hiking north or south on the PCT.

One night we maxed out at 20 hikers at one time. It can be busy at times to shop, prepare food and cook and host and help hikers with their special needs.

The hikers come from a worldly diverse community from countries around the world and ages from young to old. Over 50 percent of the PCT hiking community is international. Each hiker has a unique story to be told and shared. The Pinecrest cabin offers a quiet place to relax and enjoy the lake or to do music with other fellow hikers.

Some nights the groups would kayak and canoe or other nights we could bike by the lake and the community. Many hikers chose to “Zero” at the cabin, taking two nights, allowing a full day at the lake and cabin and time for sailing lessons and other lake activities.

Some hikers experience injury on the trail and other medical issues and required staying at the cabin for up to a week.

Music was a common activity for many of the hikers and jam sessions would occur with instruments some of the hikers were carrying and other instruments at the cabin.