Blog #1: So What Exactly am I Doing…?
In spring of 2023, I am setting off to attempt a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT), a 2,650 mile trek through California, Oregon, and Washington. The trail has been around as a National Scenic Trail since 1968, and was officially completed in 1993. Over the years it has become one of the United States’ most popular trails for hiking, and each year thousands of individuals set off from the southern terminus to hike each open mile of trail in one calendar year - this is what is referred to as a “thru-hike” and is what I will be attempting to do. It is likely this hike will take me about 5-6 months.
On this hike, I will be carrying all of my supplies with me in a backpacking pack. I will be stopping periodically (anywhere from every 3-8 days, depending) to resupply my food. The exact gear I will be carrying will be talked about more in-depth in a later blog post, but these are some of the most important items I will have with me:
Backpack
Tent
Sleeping bag & pad
Cook kit + Water filtration
Hiking Clothes + Extra Layers
First Aid + Toiletries
Electronics (Navigation, Illumination, & SOS Device)
There is a lot more to that list, but those are the general categories.
Additionally, I will be attempting my thru-hike solo, meaning that I will not be planning my hike with another person. This is so that I will have total control over my hike, and won’t be tied to another person’s hiking pace, plans, injuries, etc. While I am doing the hike solo, it does not mean that I will be alone. There will be hundreds of other hikers doing the exact same thing as I am that I will be hiking around, and forming a small group will likely occur. In fact, making friends out on trail is one of the things I’m most looking forward to! I just don’t want to tie my hike to anyone else in order to have the most control over the experience possible, and make all of the best decisions for my own hike.
For safety while on trail, I will be carrying a knife, pepper spray, and an SOS Device with GPS tracking. I will most always be camping and hiking around a group, all of whom will be looking out for one another. I will also have my cell phone for areas that have cell service. My exact location and most of my communication regarding my plans will all go through my husband, Erich.
Which brings me to the topic of my wonderful, supportive, and amazing husband. Erich has been along with me on this journey since the very beginning, and has supported and encouraged my dream of hiking the PCT into becoming reality. We have always supported one another in our individual goals, and while backpacking a long-distance trail is not his dream, he’s been my biggest support system and will be cheering me on the whole way. This experience would not be possible without him, and while he won’t be out there physically on trail, he is a huge part of this thru-hike, and I’m so grateful to have such an involved and supportive partner to help me tackle this goal!
Lastly, I’m sure many people will wonder why I am doing this hike. In short, these are my reasons for deciding to hike the PCT this coming year:
Live outside in nature and experience one of the most beautiful trails in the world
Meet other hikers and create life-long bonds
Face a challenge I’ve set for myself and overcome difficult obstacles (mental, physical, emotional)
Experience the PCT before I’m unable to physically, before too much “life” gets in the way, as well as before climate change alters the trail completely
Test my preconceived limits
Enjoy the activity of backpacking for a prolonged period of time, and the freedom that comes with putting everything you need on your back
I’m so excited and ready for this adventure to start, and beyond grateful for the amazing network of family and friends that I have around me! I won’t be posting my start date publicly, but if you are curious about my exact plans (and I actually know you in real life), feel free to reach out to me personally.
That covers most of the big questions and topics I get asked about when I’ve told people in person about this hike, but if you have any more questions feel free to add a comment on this blog post. I’ll be happy to reply to comments, or write a dedicated blog post for questions that come up more frequently. I’ll be posting periodically about different topics as I prepare for my hike for anyone who wants to follow along, and once I’m on trail I won’t have a posting schedule but will write as much as I can to document my trip. Wish me luck - I can’t wait to get out on trail!
Check out my blog post “What is the PCT?” for a more in-depth look at each section of the PCT. For some great resources and information I recommend, check out “Helpful Websites, Videos, and Other Resources” for book recommendations, PCT websites, and more!
