One year ago today I started a five month (and ~6 million step) journey on the Pacific Crest Trail, from Mexico to Canada.
Today I am feeling nostalgic and a little envious of one year ago me, when everything I was doing funneled into a single mission: get to Canada. It was admittedly more mentally taxing than I had anticipated — planning resupplies, planning water carries for long dry sections, finding rides, making decisions about wildfires, getting off trail for weddings. And yet it was still simple, because ultimately everything I was doing pointed to the same place.
There was never any question about what I was doing. I just had to keep walking. And you know what? I miss the walking part too.
Reflecting on my favorite moments, the things I will remember forever, it all comes back to the people I met. The people who became my trail family, my parters in slowly devolving into feral creatures, the people I laughed uncontrollably with and commiserated with and made daily plans with.
A lot of people have asked me what I learned, or what is coming with me from the experience. Learned? Maybe that blisters can form on top of blisters on top of blisters on top of blisters. Seriously, I didn’t know how many layers could happen. It’s astonishing.
Taking with me though? Friends for life ❤️
Special thank you to my own personal trail angel
@aleah_chapin , who dropped me off at the start, spoiled me with delicious food at multiple points along the way, and drove me back and forth from obscure parts of the trail multiple times. She’s a real one.
And thank you to everyone who supported me with rides, mailing boxes, and sending me words of encouragement ❤️
And of course to the one and only
@sprinterpct , for always being there to save our asses.
#pacificcresttrail #backpacking #pct2025