On April 11th, 2020, I will begin hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington. This ongoing series is an attempt to document the entire journey from beginning to end. 

I am walking 2,650 miles to End Polio with Rotary International. Support my journey!

CLICK HERE TO HELP ME END POLIO

Money and Finances

Money and finances are like anchors meant to keep us in our place. Every time we get the itch to break from the normal or routine these anchors pull us back. It is a sad state of affairs that only the wealthy seem to have the option of self-exploration yet have too many responsibilities to attempt such a journey. Well, friends, I am living proof that those of us in the middle class can take off work for five months and do nothing but hike. Thanks to some careful planning, taking two years to pay off my credit cards and saving every spare dime, money, and finances will not be a roadblock on my path northward. Without a doubt, these challenges will always be on my mind, but they will not keep me from chasing a dream.

I Wish You Could See What I See

For the last six months or so, I have been following bloggers, vloggers, and photographers who are a part of the 2018 Pacific Crest Trail Class. I have watched with intense curiosity as they prepared, hiked, and captured moments of both extreme highs and depressing lows. Over and over again, I have found myself jealous of what they were seeing and doing. I wanted to see what they were seeing and do what they were doing. In 534 days, someone out there will be thinking the same thing about me. That’s a tremendous responsibility and one I do not take lightly.

Feeling Generous? Here is my Amazon PCT Wishlist…

AMAZON PCT WISHLIST

So Much Research

In 2013, I graduated from Seattle University with my master’s degree and decided to take a trip to Brazil. In preparation for that trip, I might have done a total of 10 hours of research before I felt comfortable. On the other hand, my prep work for the PCT takes a couple of hours of my time every week. I don’t write that begrudgingly. Rather, it stands as a symbol of the intense focus that I think will be needed to see this journey through to the very end.

What the World Expects of Me

Last month, I met up with a friend and let him know about my plans for the future. He was taken back that I would walk away from a career, relationships, and responsibilities to hike. Since that conversation, I have been thinking a lot about what the world expects of me. Over and over again, I have chosen to defy the norm. I haven’t done so it any monumental or anarchistic sort of way. No, instead, I have chosen to live a life that is professionally selfless and personally selfish. The balance between the two can feel like a see-saw but trying to find the sweet spot where both sides are held even in the air is one of my great joys. So, yes, I am quitting my job, saying goodbye to friends, putting a pause on responsibilities and hiking for a little while and I don’t really care what the world thinks.

Mail Me Stuff

From Mexico to Canada, there are various spots along the trail where I will retreat to buy food and restock supplies. Something that makes the PCT special is the ability of those who are not on the trail to offer some assistance. This can come in the form of complete strangers called “Trail Angels” who offer food, water, and/or a place to rest. It can also come in the form of family and friends who choose to mail you things. In the next couple of weeks, I will be publishing a Google Sheet that will allow people to sign up to mail items, where to mail them, and when I should be there to pick them up. I am overly excited to see how people respond to this request.

Be good to each other,

-Nathan

I've never asked readers for financial support before. I am committed to keeping content on this site free and open to all. For me, this means no paywalls or subscription fees. If you like what I create, please consider making a contribution on Patreon.