Completing South Carolina and Arkansas

It has been so long since I posted. I am having a most epic adventure. As I sit here in Southern California, with the end of the trail looming before me, I feel a bit of dread approaching. So let me give you a brief account of how I have gotten into this position.

Palmetto Trail 

Finished up the Palmetto Trail, completing my hikes in South Carolina. Hiking from the mountains to the ocean was a fun experience, this South Dakota guy doesn’t get much of an ocean enviroment. South Carolina was a great start for me. While the trail isn’t necessarily a thru hiking trail, I found it helped me narrow down my gear for the Pacific Crest Trail.

Ouachita Trail

Then it was onward to Oklahoma/Arkansas to hike the Ouachita Trail. I loved the Ouachita Trail and the people I met along it. Highly recommend this one for beginner backpackers. I plan on writing more about it after the PCT.

Ozark Highlands Trail

Then moving on up to the Ozark Highlands Trail. Whew….this was a tough one. Especially the end of May. Much more rugged than the Ouachita Trail, which I believe made it a bit more fun, but definitely challenging.

Ozark Trail

In June, I jumped up to the Ozark Trail to finish the Triple-O. No bueno on this one. If there is one thing I can say about hiking in Missouri during June, do not do it. The temperatures were insane and after a couple 100+ degree days with humidity, ad well as rising temperatures for the next week, I bailed. Will definitely come back to do this one but I felt like I was a ball of sweat. Even the evenings were mid to high 80s, there was just no way to cool down.

Waiting for PCT

This left me with a month and a half of sitting at home to start the PCT. So what do I do? Catch up on my shows I haven’t seen the last three months and vegetate on the couch. Not a great plan at all. I have alot of miles under my belt, I definitely knew better. I let my laziness take over all functions while at home and lost everything I gained hiking the year.

Been on the PCT for two and a half months now. Enjoying the trail, meeting new hikers, and reconnecting with old ones. I’ll start posting my journey from the Canadian border. I have been thinking about this for a long time. It is about time I get back into it.