For about a decade now, I’ve had an interest in attempting a long-distance hike. I’ve hiked about 300 miles worth of the Appalachian Trail (AT), mostly in the form of day hikes and overnight backpacking trips. About a year ago, I finally reached the point where I found myself in a position to be able to make an attempt at a thru-hike. While I enjoy hiking on the AT, I chose the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) because it has a greater diversity of landscapes, altitudes, and wildernesses which I believe will appeal to me more than the “green tunnel” of the AT.
In October of 2019, I decided to pull the trigger and attempt a thru-hike of the PCT. At the end of October, I applied for and received a permit to hike the trail (this attempt of course was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, so I'm attempting again in 2021). The trail crosses many different Federal, State, and Local jurisdictions, all of which have different restrictions on hiking and camping. The thru-hiker permit allows one to cross all of these lands without having to get individual permits from each different agency. The two other permits that I need are the California Fire Permit (which allows me to have a fire/light a stove in the state) and the Canadian Entry Permit (which allows me to legally walk into Canada from the PCT – where there is no border station).
I haven’t yet set foot on the trail, but this hike has already involved months of research on the different sections of the trail, figuring out where and how I will resupply my food, researching and purchasing the right gear, and trying to get in shape and be physically healthy enough to conquer this demanding challenge.
For me, this hike will be about leaving my comfort zone and testing my limits, both physically and mentally. It also allows me to do what I love – go on an adventure and hike through beautiful scenery. I know that on this trip, there will be heat, cold, rain, snow, storms, and many unforeseen hazards along the way. I will need to adapt to things and go with the flow – the exact opposite of how I usually travel, which will be an adjustment.
For my hike, my mom is going to act as my support back home. She’s going to be my point of contact and will do things like send out my resupply boxes and make sure my bills are paid on time. She is also planning on taking a vacation in California this summer and will meet me out on the trail.
I am hoping for this blog to be a summation of my trip that will allow those who wish to follow me to enjoy both the highs and lows that the trail has to offer. I have had some people express an interest in sending me things while on the trail. If you are interested in doing that, please contact me and I will provide you more information on how to do that.
