I recently completed the Pacific Crest Trail and it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But looking back, it was also one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
What’s the PCT?
The PCT is a long-distance thru-hike that stretches across the west coast of the United States. Starting at the Mexico border and ending at the Canadian border, it covers 2,653 miles through California, Oregon, and Washington.
I began hiking at the Mexican border on March 30th, 2022 and finished at the Canadian border on September 2nd, 2022. I hiked with my girlfriend and two close friends, and by the end of the hike, our community grew to include countless other hikers that created our “tramily” (trail family).
Planning and Budgeting for the PCT
Before embarking on this life-changing adventure, I had to thoroughly plan for the entire hike, which I wrote about in Budgeting for my 2,653 Mile Thru-Hike. I allocated $10,185, and in the end, I spent a total of $9,946. I’m super excited that my budget was accurate and I was able to stick with it. I made sure I was on track every 6-weeks or so, which allowed me to fully immerse myself in the experience and not freak out about spending money when I got to a restaurant or needed a hotel room.
Logistics & Lessons Learned
Hiking the PCT is all about timing so that you get the best weather possible during your hike. This means getting through the desert in the spring, timing your arrival in the Sierra Nevadas just right in order to avoid dangerous snow and river conditions, and reaching the northern sections before wildfire season. My group started slow but we picked up speed during the second half of the hike and were super fortunate to finish just as the trail was closed due to wildfires.
I wildly underestimated how much weight would factor into my enjoyment of the hike. I started with a 44-pound bag, but shedded unnecessary weight whenever I could. Eventually, my bag weighed around 28 pounds, depending on the amount of food and water I carried. I noticed that I became a much happier hiker the lighter my bag got!
I also had to come to terms with my forgetfulness and make sure I kept track of my essential gear at all times. Early in the journey, I got the trail name Breadcrumbs – find out what that is here – for leaving a trail of lost items behind. This was super frustrating, funny to everyone else, and a huge challenge for me to overcome as the hike continued.
The Mental Battle
A huge part of why I decided to hike was in order to explore my interests beyond work and gain a better sense of who I am. I knew that I was on track to become a workaholic if I didn’t re-evaluate my relationship with work, but it was worse than I thought. It took me about a month into the trail to stop waking up every day with a “to-do” list of tasks in my head from my previous job.
After I finally got rid of the work to-do list, I was on a mental high for the next two months. I was fully present and learning new things, gaining confidence and strength, and the “newness” of this adventure fueled me. During this time, we hiked through the most beautiful, iconic, and treacherous part of the trail, the Sierras.
However, around the halfway mark, I felt my mindset shift back into old patterns as the newness of this adventure wore off and the hike became my new form of work. The stunning views started to blur together and I found myself daydreaming about what’s next. I was still determined to finishing the hike though, and it was in this moment that the most important realization hit me: everything is temporary.
Letting Go of Expectations
What I mean by “everything is temporary” is that the moment is constantly changing, so it’s better to embrace the present moment for what it is than fixate on what’s missing or uncomfortable about it. This realization hit me when I found myself constantly fixating on the physical elements – it’s too cold or too hot, I’m hungry, my feet hurt – and while fixating, I was never actually present and enjoying the moment for the beauty, friendship, and full experience.
Over the second half of my hike, I started to accept and appreciate the present moment, knowing that my circumstances would change eventually. This mindset shift helped me be present during the last section of my hike and persevere when I was uncomfortable physically and mentally.
So…Was It Worth It?
@lauramcgreen The amount of lies I tell myself. #marathon #runtok #running ♬ original sound – Laura
This TikTok captures my feelings perfectly. Hiking the PCT was type 2 fun – really hard (and sometimes not fun) in the moment, but great in hindsight.
Hiking the PCT helped me focus on my well-being, develop a deeper sense of self, and explore interests beyond work. I also found a strong sense of community and camaraderie among my fellow hikers, which was one of the best parts of my trip.
The PCT taught me the importance of finding balance and being present, no matter what I’m doing. Now that I’m back in the “real” world, I’m keeping these lessons in mind as I start work again and redefine what success looks like for me moving forward. Maybe it’s a career, or maybe it’s my next adventure – bike packing trip anyone?
We’ll see. For now, success looks like lounging on the couch for a month and only walking to the kitchen and back.