On March 13th, 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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I Quit a Hike

I’ve hiked hundreds of miles without quitting. I’ve turned around because of the weather or loss of daylight. I’ve never quit because the spirit and body weren’t willing. All of this was true until encountering the Sand to Snow Trail inside of San Bernardino National Forest. Sitting under a tree, seeking shelter from a blazing sun, I made the uneasy decision to head for the car. As I walked back defeated, I debated with myself. On the PCT, what will I do when I want to quit? This question forced me to run for answers: stop and sit up camp, get off the trail and head into town, remind myself what walking into Canada will feel like. In the end, I am grateful for this experience. Hopefully, it has steadied my resolve for next year.

John Muir

In preparation for this journey, I’ve read and thought about John Muir a lot. His sense of endless wonder and exploration are characteristics I hope to adopt. Around every bend in the trail, across every valley, and up every incline is an opportunity to see something brand new. I would do well to remember that not everyone is afforded these opportunities and I should count myself lucky. I should also think deeply about how these experiences make me feel. The inspiration born in these moments will move me for years to come. Hopefully, in some small way, they can inspire the next generation of hikers.

It Almost Slipped Away

Financial concerns, family responsibilities, and/or my body betrays me, are the only reasons I can envision my Pacific Crest Trail hike not happening or coming to a premature end. In the last couple of weeks, the financial concerns have been weighing heavily on my mind. As some of you know, I walked away from my job because of ethical and moral concerns. This decision has thrown my financial house into chaos and I currently find myself living off the money I had saved for the PCT while I look for a job. With the passing of each day, I can feel my dream slipping away.

My Support Group

No one really hikes 2,650 miles alone. Sure, it is my feet doing the work, but wrapped around me are a support network of donors, cheerleaders, care package champions, friends, and family. All of them are willing me forward and will continue to do so with each mile hiked. I count myself so incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful support group. A part of this journey is for them. As we get closer to our goal, it is their faces that I will be thinking of when we finally conquer this thing.

Be good to each other,

Nathan

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