How an Audiobook Persuaded Me to Thru-Hike the PCT

There were mere days remaining of my 2013 Appalachian Trail thru-hike. My mind was made up – I was never doing another thru-hike.

Four years later I listened to my first audiobook.

And within hours, I was planning my 2018 thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail.

The Back-Story

Thru-hiking the AT was the toughest and most rewarding challenge of my life. And it still is four years later. But when fellow hikers inquired on future thru-hiking plans in those last days on the trail, I quickly replied, “Never.”

image of thru-hiker hiking the Appalachian Trail in the White Mountains, New HampshireI wasn’t interested in any more multi-month treks, or triple-crowning, or any of that. After the barrage of rain we had that summer, the mass swarms of mosquitoes in southern New England, and the urge to hop in a car and just go home, saying “no way” to another thru-hike was easy.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVED thru-hiking. The hikers I met along the way and living a simpler, if not tougher daily existence with the sole goal to walk north was life-changing. However, I was perfectly okay with taking on shorter backpacking trips in the future. I did the big one and I thought I was set for life.

I did finish my thru-hike and find a good life post-trail. But, there is something about the trail that makes it impossible to truly let go. I’m living proof that whether it’s 4 days, 4 months, or 4 years, the trail will one day draw you back in.

The Now

My PCT aspirations began when my dad recommended I listen to Gary Sizer’s book, Where’s The Next Shelter? Conveniently, I was about to go on a 10-hour round trip road trip to visit my best friend in New York.

Gary’s recollections of trail life had me reminiscing real hard on my own AT experience. I thought about those early days on the trail and how our first night atop Springer Mountain in our tent, every little sound scared the crap out of me. Or the second day at Hawk Mountain Shelter when we “washed” our clothes because they were “dirty” (ha!).

I remembered the moments we met our closest trail friends. Whether it was taking on the first big climb of Blood Mountain, on Mt. Rogers in a shelter full of people as the winds raged, or in the obscene heat of Pennsylvania making our way through the endless rocks.image of hiker in the white mountains, new hampshire

It was these minute moments of laughter, defeat, happiness, frustration, and joy that collided in my mind all at once and created this crazy, pestering thought that I had to get back out there.

The day prior, the PCT wasn’t even an afterthought and the next, I was back full-force into thru-hiker planning mode.

The Fears

image of hiker in the white mountains, new hampshireIn some ways, doing a second long-distance hike is more daunting. For one, I have more “adulting baggage” to leave behind. There’s an apartment, more bills, leaving a reliable job, navigating the murky waters of health insurance, and the most difficult – leaving my cat behind with my parents (thanks mom & dad!).

But I think what I’m most fearful of is comparing the two hikes and the mental defeat that this could cause while on the PCT. I know how different the AT and PCT are from one another. I know that I’m going to be 5 years older. And I know that I’m heading into this hike with way more experience than I had the first time around. But, I still wonder if I will endlessly compare the two hikes, or feel physically different on the trail than I did 5 years ago, and the worst, expecting things to be one way and being completely let down.

The fear of comparison. Is that a thing?!

Fears aside, I am so ready for 2018 and for my plunge back into trail life. There’s a lot to do between now and next spring. And if it’s anything like preparing for the AT, the next 8 months are going to fly by.

Damn it…I’m already comparing hikes.

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Comments 5

  • Gary Sizer : Aug 15th

    Whoa! Lindsey, best of luck!

    I know just how you feel though. I’m itching to get back out there now too. I’ll be following along for sure.

    Happy trails!

    Gary

    Reply
    • Lindsey : Aug 15th

      Thanks, Gary! I’ve learned that it’s an itch that you just have to scratch!

      Reply
  • Half Slow. : Sep 8th

    I enjoyed reading your blog. You are a good writer and I am glad that you are using this gift to give back to the world.
    Like you, I thru hiked PCT in 2015, and now dreaming of getting back out there, wherever that may be. All the feelings and sensations you described were true and real for me , and that I now realized that none of it could be had without the others. They were all parts of the experience. And yes, I too often compared between this and that, but fortunately I often caught myself before a judgement of this is better than that. So I justify it to myself that it is OK to compare and know the difference, but to judge one is better is not so good. I would have to determine what is beauty and what is blase and what is bordering undesirable, and then tell myself that I need to see it all.
    So I hope that you can get sense that it is OK for you to compare and write about it, and pass on the knowledge.
    One thing that really helped me during the 5 months, and now too, is I seek to see beauty even when it is not pretty, and I have a good laugh everyday. ( if I did not have anything to laugh about before I end my day, I tickle myself to sleep. Good luck, and if there is anything you think I can help you with, give me a try. Half Slow.

    Reply

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