PCT 2023: Reflections and Lessons
People always ask about what “real life” or “normal life” will look like when I’m done with the trail. Doing what I love, and thus thru hiking, IS “real life.”...
Thru-Hiker Mantis
PCT 2023: Reflections and Lessons
-
But, Do I Enjoy Hiking?
My muscles are sore even at the beginning of the day. My feet need to be massaged at lunch. Some days I have an insatiable hunger from the amount of...
-
Trail Angel Stories: Talia and Mohamed
When they returned, they revealed goodies that they carried for us. Fresh cherries, huckleberry ciders, and cookies! What treats! We dined together and swapped stories, staying up well past hiker...
-
PCT Trail Days
We immediately started seeing familiar faces once we arrived. It was a big, beautiful reunion of wonderful people. By day, we wandered around with various friends and visited all the...
-
Trail Angel Stories: Twist, Headstart, and Family
Our hiker friend Twist grew up in Portland, OR. He had a whole itinerary of people he wanted to see on particular weekends. Lucky for Journey Man and myself, Twist...
-
Thoughts on Injury
A couple days in to the time off trail in Seattle, I had to sit with myself and ponder the real possibility that I might not return to trail. It...
-
Hopping Back Down to Northern California
Due to injury and wildfire-induced trail closures, Journey Man and I flipped back down south to Northern California to fill in miles that we skipped previously— 622.3 miles to be...
-
My Favorite Day on Trail So Far
The next morning, Journey Man and I took our time climbing up to Old Snowy Mountain from camp. The views were incredible and expansive. I was on top of the...
-
Challenge: Can You Eliminate Single-Use Plastics From a Thru-Hike?
I aim to be a conscious consumer, and I recognize that convenience is a huge factor in the products widely available in our society. It is frustrating that the onus...
-
Switching Stoves
I switched out my MSR stove for the titanium Vargo Triad Multi-Fuel Stove and fuel bottle. The products were shipped without plastic packaging. The stove requires denatured alcohol. I purchase...
-
Trail Update: Buffets and Blue-Blazing
“Blue blazing” is a term hikers use in reference to side trails to views or other attractions off of the PCT, which is marked as a red line in our...
-
Trail Angel Stories: Spaghetti
“I made too much food,” she told us. “Can I give this to you?” She offered up the plate. “It’s spaghetti! I made it right over there,” she pointed to...
-
Trail Angel Stories: Public Lands
Big Momma has been trail angeling for years and just looped Kitchy into it a few weeks ago. “I just love it,” Kitchy gushed. “It’s such a great community, you...
