PCT

The PCT - short for Pacific Crest Trail - is a 2,650-mile trail that connects the borders of Canada and Mexico. Its follows the "crest" of the west; the Sierra Nevada mountains in the south and the Cascades in the north. The trail was originally established in 1968 by Congress as a National Scenic Trail and is managed by government agencies as well as nonprofits such as the Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA). The PCTA estimates that about 700 people attempt to hike the whole trail each year and that 60% finish, but they're not really sure. Still, the numbers are bigger than I would have expected and point to the growing popularity of outdoor adventuring.

At home on the Eagle Creek trail just outside of Portland; a popular alternate route on the PCT.

OK, cool, so what would motivate someone like me, a seemingly sane young woman, to attempt such a feat as hiking all of this trail in one season ("thru-hiking")? Probably foremost, I grew up in the wild western US without actually seeing most of the wildness that anchors me here now. I truly believe that the best way to experience a place is to move through it, not in a car and especially not a plane, but at the ancient human pace of 3 miles per hour. It's about time I really experience my homeland!

 I'm from Portland, OR and have hiked small chunks of the PCT throughout my life without even realizing it. Last year, it occurred to me suddenly that I could hike for five months straight on the same trail. As soon as I knew it was possible, I was bitten by the idea and found a way to work it into my post-grad life. It became a daily obsession, as my friends and family will attest, haha.

Erin "Wired" Saver on the Washington PCT, stoked as usual: www.walkingwithwired.com

I was particularly inspired by previous PCT hiker ladies Wired and Bacon Bit, who kept daily journals while they hiked. In the day-to-day accounts of trail life, I realized that it was entirely possible and not crazy to hike this trail alone as a woman. They don't know me, but I have so much gratitude to these two women, and highly recommend checking out their blogs: www.walkingwithwired.com/ and http://dorothyspctblog.blogspot.com/

For more general PCT info, check out PCTA's FAQ page: http://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/faq/