How Did I Get to the PCT at 18?!

A Little About Me

Hello, hello! My name is Hatie (she/her) and I am so excited to be writing on The Trek! I am currently 18 and a high school senior. I have lived my whole life in the same house in Berkeley CA with my parents, two siblings, and, as of the past few years, two dogs! I love reading, trying new foods, photography, and traveling. Currently I work in technical theater and with kids, and in the past I have worked with the Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa. And, of course, why else would I be here except for that I love to walk!

Backpacking Origins

My first backpacking trip ever was as a 6 year old, with my dad and siblings. We went to a nearby state park (Henry W. Coe, if anyone is familiar!) and hiked out for one night. I was carrying my little school backpack with probably just my clothes inside and maybe some snacks. My dad had a giant pack with everything else we needed; a tent and sleeping bags and a bear can and all of our food.

My dad worked in national forests as a young adult and loves to hike and camp and backpack. He has always been my inspiration and to explore the outdoors. We have all gone on many backpacking trips around the country since that first time in 2013.

The first time that I remember hearing about the PCT was in 6th grade. I somehow came across the book Wild (by Cheryl Strayed, of course) in my school’s library and became entranced with the idea. I don’t know that I absorbed much from her story, especially at that age, but what I do remember is how inspired I was by her story and how I wanted to go and hike in the woods forever after reading it.

Continued Interest

In the spring of my 7th grade year, it was 2020, and we all know what that means. Because of COVID, I was out of school for the rest of that year and all of my 8th grade year. A lot of that time I was at home, on my computer ignoring my Zoom and Google Meet classes that I was supposed to be participating in, and instead watching YouTube documentaries about the PCT and AT and researching what it might take to do a thru-hike.

I then got into high school and it went to the back of my mind for a few years with so much else to think about. But as soon as I hit my junior year and everyone started asking me what I wanted to do once I graduated, it bubbled back up to the surface. At that point, I started really looking into hiking the PCT and talking to my family and friends about it.

Making It Happen

Ultimately, around the time I turned 17, I decided that I wanted to hike the PCT for real. The only way that it will work for me directly after I graduate is to do a SOBO hike (or a flip-flop, but the logistics seemed very complicated), so that is what I decided on, and I got my permit in January to start on July 9th!

You may be wondering, what about college? At this moment, I have applied to colleges and am considering my options. I plan to accept an offer and then defer admission for a year. So, if all goes well and as planned, I will finish in October and then have many months before I have to be in school again in fall 2026.

Thanks!

If you made it all the way through this, thanks for reading! If you want to follow along over the next few months of my planning and the months after that of my hike, please subscribe to my posts here! I also detail all of my trips (and my life) on Instagram, so follow me there to get all of those updates and beautiful photos.

I hope to make my next post about the reasons why I decided to do a thru hike, and specifically the PCT. Stay tuned!