PCT Epilogue

Some years later

A dream completed.

COVID restrictions, wild fires, and finally waiting for the Canadian border to open delayed my final completion of the Pacific Crest Trail until late summer of 2023.

Enormous thanks to all th trail crew and rangers for their hard work and encouragement!!  The beauty of the trail and the fellow hikers were enough to make this experience one of the most treasured of my life.  However; for me, the greatest value of this 2600 mile trail trek rests in my mind and my soul.  Finding, and coming to rely on the strength and perseverance that we all have within us; realizing the enormity of this world we live in; and experiencing feelings of peace and joy, rather than dread, when seeing seeming endless mountains rising on the trail ahead.

There are, too, the very simple pleasures of finding a relatively flat tent-site and reveling in the delicious comfort of wild mushrooms and sleeping on my eggshell camp pad under my 40 degree quilt.

There are too many joys and quiet revelations to share, some of the experiences can only be understood by someone who has completed the 2600 miles .  I am 68 years old and for the rest of my life I will treasure each of these  memories,  pondering them in my heart.

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Runningbird

Last summer the Canadian border opened at Manning Park, BC. I walked the last 70 miles with a sense of joy and gratitude, the monument was crowded with people from all over the world, finally able to compete their dream. The summer of '23 was incredible for another reason. Lonely for the simple pleasure and renewing life of long distance trail hiking I decided to begin the Continetal Divide Trail ! I hiked from the south I-15 crossing to Canada (about 900 miles), experiencing windstorms, a blizzard, twice daily thunderstorms and days without seeing even a human footprint. I was hooked! Stay tuned as Wingman and I restart the blog chronicling the remaining 2100 miles of the CDT, from Mexico to Montana.

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