On May 1st, 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.
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Getting into Shape
According to the countdown app on my phone, it is 1 year, 297 days, 1 hour, 49 minutes, and 06 seconds, before I begin making my way north via the Pacific Crest Trail. Since deciding to tackle the trail, I have spent a lot of time thinking about getting into shape. As you can imagine, walking from Mexico to Canada is and will be a taxing endeavor. Between now and launch day, I plan on becoming religiously devoted to the gym with a strong focus on cardio in an effort to increase my stamina. As someone who has had a love/hate relationship with his gym membership, this should be fun (typed sarcastically)!
Getting Anxious
With each passing day, my anxiety rises. A part of me feels like a kid waiting for Christmas morning. Another part feels the immense pressure of my decision. The whole exercise has become consuming. There isn’t an hour that passes where I don’t think about the hike and everything that needs to be done between now and then. As a planner, this is a lot to handle, but it is also where I shine. Before long, I will have my gear, water/resupply points selected, and trip mapped from beginning to end. I sort of relish the chaos leading up to that point in time.
Seattle Afterwards
When November 2020 arrives, I will be finished with the Pacific Crest Trail. I will find myself back in Seattle, WA. Months before, Brandon and our things will have made their way back home. As life on the trail comes to a close, I will begin life anew in the Pacific Northwest. While I have enjoyed my time in LA so far and have lots I still want to accomplish over the next two years, the thought of getting back to Seattle keeps me going and motivated.
AMAZON PCT WISHLIST
Training
I haven’t done a lot of long-distance hikes in my life. Without a doubt, I have never tried to traverse a country from one border to the next. I am an avid hiker though. In order to prepare, I plan on spending the next year doing as many day hikes as possible to get my legs into shape. As I approach one year out, I plan on doing more weekend and multi-day hikes, in an effort to continue getting my legs ready and to test my gear. So, if you want to go camping and for a long walk, let me know!
Ready to Leave Now
Taking off four to five months to hike doesn’t feel like an escape from reality. Rather, it feels like an opportunity to redefine it. My life doesn’t have to be put into a box or placed on some path for which there is no escape. It can buck the norm, trends, and expectations. It can be mine for the shaping and molding. To realize this at the age of 34 is extremely freeing. Sure, debt and responsibilities will always be in the back of my mind, but for a little while, they won’t be the most important things in the world. Soon, all I will have to worry about is putting one foot in front of the other and enjoying the journey.
Be good to each other,
-Nathan
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