Trevor Spikes: It’s Origin & How It Works
The Program’s Namesake
On March 16, 2020, Trevor ”Microsoft” Laher took his first step on the PCT. As he set off from the southern terminus, the 22-year old hiker embarked on a journey that he had dreamt of for years.
On March 27, 2020, eleven days later, Trevor crawled out of his tent at NOBO mm 166.6, packed up his belongings, and headed north with his group towards Apache Peak, now covered with 3″ of fresh snow from the night before.
Apache Peak
Trevor had heard cautionary tales of the infamous Fuller Ridge and had shipped MICROspikes and an ice axe to the Idyllwild post office just 14 miles ahead. Fire closures had kept the section of trail near Apache Peak closed for several years prior, making research into the dangers of this section of trail more difficult. Had this information been more accessible, Trevor would have known that shipping his life-saving snow gear to Idyllwild was too far up trail. He needed it about 15 miles prior, ideally at a location that he just had breakfast at the day before - Paradise Valley Cafe.
Tired and looking forward to a warm bed in Idyllwild, the group continued towards Apache Peak, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead.
Trevor’s ceremonial photo at the southern terminus
Hidden Dangers
At NOBO mm 169.5 lies Apache Peak - one of the most dangerous sections of the entire PCT when snow and ice are present. Tucked away into the San Jacinto mountains of southern California, the PCT cuts across Apache Peak which overlooks the Coachella Valley below. To your right is a near vertical, 45 degree slope which empties into an ice chute. One slip or misstep in this section can cost you your life as the only thing to stop your fall are a few boulders or an occasional sapling growing out of the side of the mountain.
Trevor entered Apache Peak with his trail family. Jannek, a young German hiker, and Cody, an Australian ultra-marathoner met Trevor on day 2 of their adventure just prior to the climb into Mt. Laguna. While all three were experienced hikers, none had any mountaineering experience. In fact, Cody’s trek on the PCT was the first time he’d ever seen snow.
None of the hikers had snow gear with them as they began their trek across Apache Peak. The following is an excerpt from an article published in Alta Magazine by Louise Farr titled “The Accident on the Pacific Crest Trail”…
At around 9:30 a.m., as they turned a corner onto Apache Peak, the trail disappeared under what, at this higher altitude, was two to three feet of snow. They checked their maps. If they crossed a small clearing and headed around another corner, they’d be fine. Jannek, about 10 steps in the lead, and the lightest, made it across the precipitous slope to a stand of trees. But as Trevor crossed, he slipped on ice hidden beneath the top layer of powder. He stopped and tried to stabilize his footing, then his feet went out from under him, and he fell onto the snowy trail. For the briefest time, he managed to stay in place. Then, suddenly, he began sliding feet first, gathering momentum until he hit a rock and began cartwheeling into an icy gorge.
“I tried to get to him,” says Cody, who was in the rear. “There was really no way that he could slow himself down. It was a funnel down a rocky chute, and once he started sliding, I started yelling. Jannek turned around, and we just watched him go down the chute, tumbling off the rocks.”
Cody dropped his bag and hit his emergency beacon to call 911. They had lost sight of Trevor, and for 10 to 15 minutes they shouted into the echoing silence, also trying his phone, which he didn’t answer. Frightened that he might slide too, Cody yanked the straps off his backpack and tied his wrists to the nearest tree branch. Across the clearing, Jannek pulled a length of cord from his gear and did the same. Then they waited to be rescued.
Search & Rescue
Rescue crews from the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit (RMRU) and the California Highway Patrol Medic and Air Operations Unit arrived on site at roughly 10:30 a.m. Five fire trucks, two helicopters, and more than 24 rescue personnel fought the elements during the rescue mission. One helicopter focused on rescuing Cody and Jannek while the other attempted to locate Trevor.
Dangerous terrain, coupled by severe weather, prevented the helicopter from hoisting a rescuer down to his location. The safest landing spot they could find was some 5-miles away. Medic Charles Rhodes of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) hiked and eventually bushwhacked his way to Trevor’s location, but was unable to reach him until 1:30 p.m. Sadly, Trevor had already succumbed to his injuries from sliding several hundred feet into a steep ravine.
A photo of Apache Peak on the day following Trevor’s accident
What If…
There were a number of compounding variables which contributed to Trevor’s accident on Apache Peak.
1. “What if” the section between Spitler Peak trail and Devil’s Slide trail had not been closed for the previous 6-years due to forest fires? Would the dangers of Apache Peak been more prevalent and more openly discussed by PCT thru-hikers?
2. “What if” there had been members of RMRU having breakfast at Paradise Valley Cafe (PVC) on the morning of March 26, 2020? This was often a regular occurrence, especially with snow/ice present on Apache Peak. RMRU team members would warn PCT hikers of the dangers looming ahead. There were none present on March 26, 2020 - likely due to COVID-19.
3. “What if” Trevor hadn’t camped just 3-miles south of Apache Peak at the intersection of the PCT and Fobes Saddle trail? This meant the snow/ice had no chance to melt. They were the first hikers that day to traverse Apache Peak - the trail had vanished beneath the freshly-fallen snow.
4. “What if” Trevor was a day faster/slower? The timing of the weather system which moved across the San Jacinto mountains was perfectly timed with Trevor’s arrival. Hikers claimed that (both) in the days before and after Trevor’s accident that Apache Peak was traversable, albeit with MICROspikes and ice axes.
6. But the biggest “what if” is this - “What if” Trevor had his snow/ice gear with him when he started his climb into the San Jacinto mountains?
And it’s that “what if” that led to the creation of the Trevor Spikes program…
Paradise Valley Cafe
As some might say, the Trevor Spikes program provides hikers with safety “When They Need It, Where They Need It”.
PVC is a favorite of PCT hikers. Many claim they have the best cheeseburger on the entire Pacific Crest Trail. It’s located on Highway 74, about a 1/2 mile from a trail head that intersects with the PCT. The diner sits at just under 4,800’ in elevation, 1,500’ below Apache Peak, and more than 5,000’ below San Jacinto Peak.
Once hikers leave PVC, they remain at high elevation for many miles, with just a couple of bail-out options prior to Apache Peak and the Desert Divide. Having your snow/ice gear when you leave Paradise Valley Cafe is essential.
Paradise Valley Cafe
Trevor Spikes
In a nutshell, here’s how the Trevor Spikes program works:
1. PCT northbound hikers must buy their traction devices and ice axe at Nomad Ventures; a gear retailer located in Idyllwild, CA.
2. The Trevor Spikes program provides a 20% discount off retail price - the highest discount permitted under “Minimum Advertised Pricing” policies. This discount is paid for by Trek for Trevor and the Fowler-O’Sullivan Foundation.
3. When placing your order, you will be asked to provide the date of your ETA to Paradise Valley Cafe.
4. Nomad Ventures will personally hand deliver your gear to PVC for pick-up on or before your scheduled ETA. There is no charge for delivery or S/H.
As you can see, there are a multitude of benefits to hikers who participate in the Trevor Spikes program. There is of course the obvious financial incentive… while it’s not impossible that you’ll find this gear less expensive with another retailer, it’s unlikely. Trek for Trevor wants to limit financial obstacles which could be the difference between life and death.
But the real benefit is that Nomad Ventures will hand deliver your gear for you (at no charge) to PVC. This saves hikers money on shipping. While retailers like Amazon may offer free shipping, unless you plan to carry your gear with you from the Mexican border, you’ll need to pay for shipping to some location on trail - whether that be Mt. Laguna, Julian, Warner Springs or even PVC. Shipping your gear from home will cost you something.
The most significant benefit however is the convenience. Hikers don’t need to carry their snow gear with them across the desert floor - adding unnecessary weight to their packs. Their snow gear will be delivered to them at the exact location on trail that it’s needed. “Safety when you need it, where you need it.”
A photo of Trevor from the Laguna Mountains on the PCT
Learn from Trevor
As with many PCT thru-hikers, there were things about the PCT that Trevor didn’t know. He was a first-time thru-hiker and with nearly 500 miles of hiking under his belt (mostly on the east coast and at lower elevations), he assumed that he would “figure things” out as he made his way northward. And if he found himself in trouble, his superior athletic ability would prevent him from injury.
He hadn’t given much thought about safety, and while gear was a concern of his, he aspired for an ultralight set-up. He instead focused on how he could drop weight and remove unnecessary items from his pack rather than add weight to it, even if that meant he would be safer doing so.
Would Trevor be alive today had he been in possession of his MICROspikes and ice axe that day on Apache Peak? We’ll never know, but what we do know is that they would have given him a better chance at surviving, and sometimes, that makes all the difference.
Trevor, Janneck and Cody can all be found guilty of not exercising better decision-making. The trail conditions were such that no one should have attempted to traverse Apache Peak without significant mountaineering experience and the right gear. First-time long-distance thru-hikers with no mountaineering experience and no gear? Forget about it!
Always remember, it’s better to have safety gear and not need it, than need it and not have it. But gear in and of itself won’t always save your life. The best tool you have at your disposal is the one between your ears. Safety gear is no substitute for good decision-making. Make smart decisions and know your limits. There is no great adventure if you can’t return home to tell your family and friends about it. Sadly, “good decisions come from experience, but experience often comes as a result of bad decisions”. Don’t learn from your own mistakes…learn from Trevor’s.
We invite you to participate in the Trevor Spikes program and hope that your PCT adventure is bigger and better than anything you had ever dreamt of.
