Canada!!! After 2,110 miles, 141 days on trail, and jumping in 32 lakes, my journey on the pct has come to an end. What a ride.
Gavin drove Joker, Free Willy, new addition Spicy G, and I from Snoqualmie pass up to Mazama. An incredible favor it was an 8 hour drive for him not including a stop in Chelan for Mexican food and resupply at Walmart! After meeting fellow hikers and getting a glimpse of life on trail, he dropped us off at the Lion’s Den, a property owned by a trail angel that has laundry, showers and space out back to camp. No cost.
Next morning we hit Rainy Pass for the final 90 mile stretch! 30 miles to Harts Pass, 30 to the boarder, and 30 back south to the nearest road at Harts Pass to head back into civilization. The start was foggy but luckily for us not much rain and after we passed Harts Pass we knew we’d see all the views on the way back. Then the third day, our terminus day, dawned bright and clear. The night before I read a letter I had written to myself if I ever wanted to quit. The tears started then. I had gotten very close to reading it, in fact in Sierra City I thought I would that night but I spent the night with Free Willy and decided I didn’t need to yet. I never needed to. Terminus day we left camp all set up and carried light packs 11 miles to the Canada boarder along a ridge looking out over the stunning northern cascades. Then the final stretch was 3 miles of horrific blowdowns that we all believe are purposely placed by the PCTA because the trail wasn’t hard enough already.
And then we reached the northern terminus!! So much adrenaline going it was hard to fully take in. Our friends who got there before us waved a finish flag that was stashed there and after hugs we settled down to eat lunch, take photos, drink the beer we had packed and let it all soak in. We made it.
3 hours later we headed back. We all grumble that we have to hike 30 miles after we finish but in the end it is very special to end in the wilderness. And even better you pass by everyone around you and the last three days become full of congratulations. We saw lots of friends coming back as we headed out and then coming back I ran into Wolverine who I started with!! With her was Hootie and Picasso, two other friends from my first tramily I had hiked over 1,000 miles with. I can’t explain how special that was, having gone through so much together then seeing each other make it to the end.
Finally I kept walking amidst the best sunset of the whole trail. The whole way back to camp I walked solo along the ridge line with views to the west as the sun set over the northern cascades. I wanted to walk like that forever.
The next day we headed back to Harts Pass with beautiful views the whole way. The trail felt entirely different in sun after having walked it in fog. More friends came by including a friend I hadn’t seen on trail since our first zero day in the desert. Then we reached the trailhead, got a hitch so fast I didn’t even need to put out my thumb, and we headed back to Mazama. Man I’ve gotten so good at hitching! Back at Lions Den we spent one last night and trail angel Mary was having a potluck!! Blessing after blessing, it felt like a celebration just for us.
Highlights:
The people are an incredible part of the trip. There are four large aspects of the trail that I see and I would rank them as such: the people, the wilderness, the freedom, and the physical. We all come from such different backgrounds but share this huge thing in common. We all have very little control traveling with just a backpack and live with little comforts so we learn to be easy going. As such it’s easy to form relationships, be spontaneous, and travel with fellow hikers. And you can only talk about the weather for so long. I really value the depth of some friendships I’ve made on trail.
That is one of my greatest aspects of growth on trail I think, my ability to form deeper relationships and be more open. Along with that, my confidence in myself and not being overwhelmed by large feats or difficulties. At first I would cling to the people around me but I learned I’d be okay by myself. I can seek out relationships as I enjoy hiking with people but if needed I am capable and comfortable with myself. As to being overwhelmed, the pct was extremely overwhelming but I just needed to start walking and keep walking.
That’s not to say it’s easy. I put all my heart into this and so I’m convicted now that everyone should attempt things they think they’ll fail at and see how far they can go. So many times during the trip I thought there was no way I could make it the whole way. And it’s so much crazier reaching the end because of that. It’s so neat what our body and mind can do. I thought going in that the people out here would be superhuman but we’re all normal people who decided to push ourselves and commit to this challenge.
Finally, this trail has felt like a long realization of how incredibly beautiful our world is. Being able to see the wilderness of the western US and the expanse of it from high up along the crest trail has been stunning. It’s landscapes I would never see otherwise. People talk about getting your trail legs but I think there is a lot to be said for a trail mindset. To be so immersed in nature and get comfortable even with all the discomforts it brings. To fully enjoy the rhythm of thru-hiking: walking, breaking, walking, setting up camp, cooking, sleeping on the ground, walking, bearing the elements and the body aches. The miles becoming easier and beautiful and the pace of the world slowing. No bed, couch, or any other sleeping area has ever been more comfortable than my sleeping bag and pad after my 50 mile day. And some moments walking along grand vistas I was just full of such gratitude and awe of the world. Caamp writes “take your hands out of your pockets and feel the water run”. I think we can do that thru-hiking.
It has been stunning to walk for so long that we are able to witness the changing of the seasons, from spring to summer and now noticing the nights getting longer and colder. The past few weeks we walked though leaves in brilliant reds and oranges, and the last two nights the ground froze. With the cold and all the miles on my body, I am ready to be done and seek a warm room of my own and rest for my fatigued body.
After following the pct blaze for so long, I end not without gratitude for the PCTA, as well as the parks, wildernesses, national forests, and counties who have formed and maintained the trail. And for all the people along the trail who provide food in the wilderness, rides into towns, even lodging all for no pay and show us a new level of generosity. I have gratitude for the private land owners and the peoples of Yakima and Warm Springs who let us walk through their land to journey on one continuous footpath from Mexico to Canada. I would often think of the trail winding continuously behind me and ahead of me for so many miles, and of the people who hiked before me whose footsteps I was walking in. And of course I end with gratitude to all the people in my life who have shaped me into who I am today and my Lord and Savior. I love you all.
Signing off,
Let’s Go ❤️
Leave a comment