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Who Am I and What’s The Vibe?
Life Before Thru-Hiking
If someone asked me to tell them about myself a year ago, the answer would have been drastically different. Not to say that I didn’t wear my love for the outdoors on my sleeve, but it was more about weekend trips in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I was a mechanical engineer working in the defense industry for 3 years when I finally started daydreaming of the lifestyle that all the Appalachian thru-hikers I met lived. That daydream ate away at my subconscious until I found myself watching every bit of video on thru-hiking I could find. I became obsessed with the Pacific Crest Trail and the beauty of the west coast.
Northern Terminus on September 16th 2024
Maybe the obsessiveness was a little unhealthy but I felt like I had finally found what my heart and mind had been yearning for – a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. In February of 2024, I broke the lease on my apartment, quit my job, broke up with my partner due to ultimatums about hiking and flew to train out in Colorado with my family. Then on March 18th I started my thru-hike of the PCT from Mexico border and didn’t look back until my completion on September 16th at the Canadian border. A lifetime of memories and friends were made along the way but it still felt like my thru-hiking journey was not complete. But before we get to that, you’ve heard about me before I thru-hiked the PCT. It’s time to hear about what the answer to the question “Who are you?” would be now!
PCT Midpoint on July 14th 2024
I Am Vibes
Hi! My name is Jacob, better known by trail friends as “Vibes”. I completed my first thru-hike on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2024. The path to getting to the Southern Terminus in Campo, California was a long and rocky one, as mentioned above but I wouldn’t change anything about it. Looking back at my thru-hike of the PCT, I view it as the biggest leap of faith I ever taken in my life but also the most rewarding thing I have ever done. It is a life achievement that I wasn’t sure I would ever get the chance to achieve and in achieving it I found it changed my core values and ideology. How could you hike for 6 months straight and not come out a different person? But even though that question signifies my feelings, it was that question that made my transition back to “real life” really tough after trail.
Hiker Trash Party on April 3rd 2024 with Juicy Popsicle
My Why
Something I never really thought about before or during thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail was my why. Why are you hiking this trail? Why are you putting your body through this day in and day out? Just why? Looking back at the Pacific Crest trail, I believe my why was that I just needed an out. I wasn’t happy with my life. In general I felt stuck in a career and place that I didn’t love and actually dreaded doing every day. Hiking the PCT was the exact opposite of that. I got to live in every moment and live life to its fullest – hence why I got the trail name Vibes.
But now I have an answer to my why as I get ready to embark out on the Continental Divide Trail. My why is to continue my journey of self-discovery. When I got back from the PCT I felt lost. I felt like I had to change my career and who I am because I felt that indebted to the PCT for changing my life so much. But after time I realized that isn’t the case. The trail allowed me to be peel back my introverted shell and become who I felt I was truly meant to be. A carefree, loving, jolly spirted man that just want’s to go lay in some dirt and laugh at life’s inconveniences. And in realizing that, I figured the best thing for me would be to get back out on trail and work my way towards the new dream of being a Triple Crowner. So here I go, ready to tackle another trail and look forward to all the beautiful and crappy moments to come. Come join me as I embark on this beautiful journey and get to know me more through my photos and words!
Summit of Mt. Whitney on May 31st 2024
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Comments 5
Love this guy!
O you might run into Charles Gutierrez (Boomerang) he just started out couple days ago. Have fun! Montana’s my state.
Maybe! So far the trail has been scarce. Only seen 3 other people on trail while hiking. Towns seem to be collecting the hiker trash so far.
This journey was the first step of something extraordinary. I am 100% confident that you will soon be a triple Crowner. Don’t forget to also enjoy the off moments and take some time out. Loe you my dear bestie, can’t wait to read all about it !
Miss you!