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Final decision – Pacific Crest Trail. Hiking as a family of 9.
Here we go!
I was born and raised on the East coast of Canada in New Brunswick, a stunning province which boasts the Bay of Fundy, yielding the highest tides in the world. Not only does NB have gorgeous lakes and oceans, we also have endless evergreens and beautiful mountains. Like many aren’t aware, the Appalachian mountains do not end in Maine and go through four of our Canadian provinces.
We now however live in Western Canada, a few hours from the Canadian Rockies. Our styles of hikes have certainly changed and we now experience higher altitudes, endless granite and gneiss, grizzlies, and rewarded with the most majestic mountain views.
Despite growing up in a single parent family, every year we would hike and camp, with those times being the highlights of my childhood. I knew when I had my own kids that I wanted them to have the same experiences I had and help them to develop a love for the outdoors.
We have always been an outdoorsy family, but when Covid hit in 2020, nature played so much more of an important factor in our life. Never have we experienced more camping, hiking, exploring, and bliss. The woods were our solitude, our breath of fresh air ( quite literally ), and our calm and peace. It became our family “thing” and the kids would often wake asking which trail we were heading out on that day.
Is this lady mad!?
But I bet you want to know more about the kids. Family of 9?… Wait a minute… *does math internally in head* 9 – 2 = 7. SEVEN. Who in their right mind has seven kids? Who in their right mind HIKES with seven kids!?
That’s me! I’m your gal. The wild lady that will be attempting a thru hike of the Pacific Crest Trail with her husband and SEVEN kids ages ranging from 14 years to 18 months.
But WHY a thru hike!? Why not Disney?
A thru hike has always been a dream of mine since I was young. The idea was always in my mind but I never dreamt it as a true possibility. Surely this is something for others, but not actually for me.
I started listening to a podcast and there were interviews with other families who had thru hiked with their kids. The more I listened, the more I researched, the more I realized we COULD and CAN do this!
“Kids! We are heading on a thru hike!”
No work, no obligations, just us. As the old saying goes “Time flies’. I feel this to my core daily as I watch the kids grow and get older, my oldest only a few years away from being an adult. There is so much gratitude in being able to have the opportunity to spend so much uninterrupted time with them.
While hiking with kids isn’t a new thing, it is still a widely underrepresented group. I hope to share our journey and encourage others to explore more of the outside world with their little ones. As with anything involving kids, you get a different set of challenges than perhaps a standalone hiker would deal with, but there is truly an unmatched joy that comes with sharing these experiences with them.
Did I forget to mention that sibling arguments are also way easier to deal with with a killer view!?
Torn between two trails.
We have gone back and forth between the AT and PCT a couple times. Plans were originally made a few years ago for the Appalachian trail, especially since the end was so close to where we lived back home, no brainer right? We had originally planned to hike the year of 2023, but I became pregnant with our 7th child so that was no longer possible. Plans then changed for 2024 but life changes happened and we ended up moving across the country and settling into a new life far from home. Since now we are closer to the end of the PCT, we had now set our eyes on this trail.. but that still wasn’t fully settled upon.
AT, PCT, AT, PCT, AT, PCT.
Each trail has so much to offer. PCT offers us more solitude to grow and learn as a family, with less distractions. More wilderness and space to be just US. Downside is carrying a lot of water which weighs a lot, for a lot of little people. Not to mention food as well. It also requires much more logistical planning.
Could we really do it?
So we toyed once again with the idea of the AT, I even went so far as set our dates on the AT Conservancy website. We are often home sick so we figured if we did that we could spend some time back home. Almost a few days after setting our dates, Hurricane Helene came in and left the AT class of 25 very unsure of what would happen this year. Because we had so much back and forth I NEEDED to make a final decision for my mental health – that choice was the PCT.
PCT it is!! Flights are non refundable and we set out this coming April.
We have been so happy with our decision since and there is not a day that goes by that we aren’t itching to get out there. In the meantime we will be gathering last minute gear and essentials, planning resupply boxes, while also getting our home ready to move out of.
See you all again soon!
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Comments 14
I thoroughly enjoyed another family’s sojourn a few years back. I look forward to following your’s and wish you all the very best in your travels. Do have your kids keep journals if they can as they will enjoy their own recollections as they grow in years and wonderment! Peace….
That’s a fantastic idea! Much of our days the girls spend colouring and writing stories. I’d imagine they’d be up for that!
Hey Becks, wohooo, I am rooting for ya’ll. Thanks for sharing your journey and being an absolute mom inspiration.
Happy hiking!
Thank you so much! 😊
Incredible! As a former westerner (now up in Goose Bay), I totally get the hiking bug. Wish we had the freedom to do it when our family of 6 kids were younger… sadly they are now a little too old to be forced marched. But I still hold out hope one or two of them might accompany their folks on a thru hike! All the best, and I’m especially impressed that you have the resources to be able to do it for 6 months! What does hubby do for work, if you don’t mind me asking?
I understand! There are some hikes that we want to do where my eldest son may be adult age as well, I also hope he will still want to join in with his parents for them!
It’s been a long process purchasing gear and gathering everything for everyone. Sometimes I may only grab one item and then also shop the sales! We are lucky in the fact that we will still have some.. not much, but some monthly income coming in along the trek.
My husband is a second year Boilermaker apprentice.
Excellent. You guys rock for even trying this. I hope to see you on the trail this year.
Thank you Micah! We love the support ☺️
Will you be doing a thru this year?
Yes. I leave Mid April
Awesome!! See you on trail!
I’m so thrilled for you guys, I will be following and routing for all of you. From your old EastCoast neighbour, I’m so inspired by your guys!! 🫶
Thank you! 🥰❤️
Incredible journey ahead. Love the passion – can’t wait to follow along!
Thank you so much!