Monday, February 15, 2010

For Reals

 I have been holding off the start of this blog for a while now. Until yesterday I have been concerned that this enormous trip may be more than I could pull together. Hiking the PCT has been in my head for a long time, and as I have spent the last year planning and the last three months training, the idea that it might actually happen has made me nervous.

 Moose walked with me for 100 miles my Oregon Section hike. This is day two for him, we did 32 miles!
I believe we had ice cream and beer for dinner at Elk Lake.

Yesterday I was hungry for lunch, so naturally I went to my parents to visit the fridge, and of course see the family too. I was working on some cold pizza and my dad asked if he should get plane tickets for San Diego.  Now I had to decide for real. Ten minuets later, I am officially thru hiking the PCT starting Friday,  April 23, 2010. And I had just come here for leftover pizza!


 
Jessica on the PCT last summer. A very cold and wet august day.


A Little Info:
The Pacific Crest Trail Starts in the south in Campo, CA and ends in the north at in Manning Provincial Park, British Columbia. 2663.5 miles. long. oh man. This, I'm hoping takes me about four and a half months or less. As long as my body holds up I believe it is very reasonable.
On this walk, I will get to hike through 700 miles of desert, with 30 mile waterless stretches.  I will walk through snow in the High Sierra, and Climb Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the continuous 48 states. There will be mosquitoes, snow, rain, and blisters.  I will walk 20 to 30 miles a day, then sleep on the ground. I'm sure this will be by far the most challenging goal I have attempted. I can't wait.
The Nimblewill Nomad coming around the east side of Diamond peak. He was an inspiration on my Oregon hike.



If you can find a free hour or so, please watch Walking The West. It's a very well made documentary about thru hiking the PCT.  I have watched this probably ten times in the last four months, Its worth it.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Sounds like a real journey. Don't be nervous, it's going to be amazing!

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.
-Edward Abbey

Hillary said...

Sam, reading this made me so happy. It's official! I can't wait to hear more.

love,
Hillary

Robert said...

Senior Sam,

I'm just as stoked as you are for this trip! Except I get to sleep in my bed at night and not have to "Spoon" with you in a sleeping bag! HeHeHe! I'll be getting your site linked onto our webpage for others to follow soon.
Be safe and have fun on your adventure of a lifetime!!
Robert

Unknown said...

Sam the man! Just remember...if it were easy everyone would do it. Remember too...it's the journey. Who da man? YOU da man.

Best,

Eric