When I lived in the States, especially in the Wilderness, I always wanted to hike the Pacific Crest Trail; a grueling, unforgiving, wild hike of over 2,600 miles. I met one guy who was on the trail and detoured to see Mount St. Helens and he said the PCT quest was the most exhilarating yet stupid thing he’s ever done. He and I had a lot in common because at that time I too was on the path of stupidity and exhileration while working on a J1-visa at an active volcano. Don’t ask me why I wanted to do the same hike he was battling, I just did. Something about it sounded so regal, so adventurous, so…….insane. The idea was/is flat out looney tunes, knowing that really out of 5 billion people on this planet, only 4,000 have actually completed the full hike…all bitching 2,600 miles of it. Half of that in the last year since the movie Wild came out. The though of being on your own for months, mile after mile becoming your best friend but also your worst enemy. No companionship, unless you can con some poor sucker into doing it with you. Nothing but your thoughts and a really fucking heavy backpack Yep, not sure why I wanted to, but I did.
I still do.
So I am.
WTF????
I’ve decided to hike the full PCT before I turn 40 years old. It’s going to take years of training, of preparation, of psyching myself up to take the challenge. I’ll probably quit a hundred times before I even step foot in Campo, on the California/Mexico border. But here I am, planning for it. Writing about it makes it official, right?
I mean really? Why the hell would I subject myself to a hike where I literally have to mail myself shit to ensure my survival at random outposts along the trail. Relying on pure instinct, great maps and open stores to make my journey less grueling? Hoping like hell my Solomon’s are as good a hiker as they are up Terrace Mountain? What the hell am I thinking?
I am so fucking jazzed!
This blog will follow my beginning through to the end. From tonight when I printed off a few trail maps to many years down the road when I step foot back into British Columbia after months in the rugged wilderness. Follow the fun here. Please comment, give me tips, well wishes, etc. I want you to be there with me. Through it all!
Let’s fucking do this!
