2015. A year (almost) of ADVENTURE!
It it all kicks off in April with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and ends in October high up in the Himalayas
I had never heard of the PCT until April 2014 when I saw a post about it on Facebook. Since then I have thought about it every day and dreamed about it every night (probably). It is all consuming. I knew I had to do it. Some people dream about it for years, there is no way I could do that, so I am starting almost exactly a year after the dream began.
“The Pacific Crest Trail spans 2,650 miles (4,265 kilometers) from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington. It reveals the beauty of the desert, unfolds the glaciated expanses of the Sierra Nevada, travels deep forests, and provides commanding vistas of volcanic peaks in the Cascade Range.” pcta.org
The trail was proposed in 1926, designated a protected national scenic trail in 1968 and completed in 1993. The first thru-hike was completed in 1970 and it is estimated that around 1000+ hikers will be on the trail in 2015. It passes through 26 national forests and 7 national parks, taking in 4 national monuments.
The trip should take around 5 months, although with the 6 months – a year of planning, the whole experience feels like it’s a lot longer. I am SO EXCITED, and I am absolutely terrified. But life begins at the end of your comfort zone right?
A couple of weeks after completing (hopefully!) the PCT I will be off to the Himalayas to climb Mera Peak with my mates. At 6,476m it’s going to be around 800m higher than I’ve been before. I love being at altitude, but unfortunately altitude doesn’t like me much! So the 3 week trip up the big hill may be the bigger challenge of the two! Only time will tell.
Stay tuned…
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Fantastic. Its good to go for your dreams. Look forward to reading about it. Hope you all have a great time doing mera peak although great may not be the right word. All best for 2015
Val
I’m absolutely delighted to read you are doing this. When we met last year you were so keen on a new challenge but this one hadn’t quite materialised among the many others you were excited to do!
You have always been a ‘go get it’ kinda girl without exception. A true inspiration! I am in awe of your grit and determination to grab life by the balls! I just know you will have the most incredible journey and see the most awesome things. Well done – I cannot wait to read the updates!!!!!!
Good for you Alex! Gutsy girl go! Remember to reassure your mum from time to time and so no brown bear or other beastie stories.
Might see you on Mera, will be there in late April, and back to Nepal in September to climb Himlung…! Good luck, Baz
Sounds like this will be an amazing adventure. I am jealous. Maybe I will find some sections of this trail to run, especially the northern part nearer to where I live
Awesome! I’m planning a shorter long-distance hike next year. I’m anxious to follow your blog and hear your story!
Puff Puff…..
I am just now reading your blog more than a year after you started it. I am slow on the up take!
What I have read so, by jumping around, is very well done. That prompted me to come back to the beginning and see how it all started for you.
I did not blog about the PCT, and this is a good reminiscence for me, as we were hiking approximately at the same time until our trails diverged at Kennedy Meadows.
I jumped ahead to Donner Pass. Didn’t want to deal with those late season snow storms. Having lived in Alaska for almost 20 years, I did not need the snow experience again.
Came back to the Sierras when it was snow free in late June. It was similar weather and trail conditions to when I first did the JMT in 1972. Then the number of hikers I met going my way south to north I could count on one hand. What a difference now!
We finally met up again in Manning, B.C., but both had to go back to Stephens Pass for the final missed section to Stehekin /Rainy pass due fire and weather reroutes.
This comment on your 1st blog made me chuckle…
“I had never heard of the PCT until April 2014 when I saw a post about it on Facebook.”
From first hearing about the PCT and actually doing it in ~1 year time is remarkable.
I first heard about it back in 1971, and was bitten by the bug to “do it” then when a book came out by Eric Rybeck the 1st guy to write about it. (BTW he is on the PCTA BOD. He designs and pays for the metal which is given to PCTA members who complete the trail. Had a chance to meet him in Seattle in October and thank him for his inspiration and contributions to the PCTA.)
It took me 44 years to take action on my wish. I guess that makes you 44 times more proactive then me! 🙂
It was that darn book and movie that I heard about in 2014 that finally motivated me to do it in 2015 before it became a daisy change of hikers.
Glad I did it when I did, because it is going to get busier and busier. It somewhat changes the experience, but that’s the way of the world. Nothing remains the same forever.
For hikers doing it now, don’t dispair about the increased traffic. It still is a long trail with hikers stretched out along the route. I had many days of seeing no one, and many nights camping alone, so it did not feel overly busy except at some of the hiker vortexes.
If hanging out with a lot of other hikers isn’t your thing, you can always walk on by the vortex, or get on the trail early and you have it all to yourself. Remember, the youngsters tend to sleep in late. 🙂