I am hiking the PCT!?! I am blogging?!?

Hey everyone, I’m Andy! Welcome to my first-ever blog post! I am a 21-year-old college student from Southern California who is soon to graduate and soon to be on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2023. I decided to hike the PCT after I heard a podcast episode about Elina Osbourne. That was 2 years ago. After recently getting my permit I am more excited than ever to get on the trail. My adventure on the PCT will begin immediately after I graduate college. I will start my thru-hike the day after the commencement period stated by my university. How my journey will begin and end is still a mystery. My start date is mid/late May and I am not sure if I will flip-flop or start at the Southern Terminus.

What am I interested in?

Some of my hobbies include hiking (obviously), golfing, playing lacrosse, fishing, rock climbing, and hanging out with my dog. I am also an Eagle Scout. Another activity that I enjoy is performing magic. I am currently a member at the Magic Castle in Hollywood. I have a pretty strong feeling that my trail name will be “Magic” or something of the like. In May of 2023, I will be graduating with a degree in marketing. I say this in case anyone wants to offer me a job post trail (jk… unless?).

My hiking background

I feel pretty qualified to hike the PCT. I have been hiking my whole life and have been peak bagging for the last two years. Most recently, I have completed the SoCal 6 Packs of Peaks this past Spring/Summer. Some of these peaks are even on the PCT! These include San Jacinto and Mount Baden Powell. I feel very confident my legs can handle the mountains that I will face on the PCT. I am pretty excited to be training for the PCT with shakedown trips. In high school, I would backpack frequently with the Boy Scouts and that created some of my most favorable memories. My biggest trip was a 90-mile trek over 12 days. At the time that seemed to be the craziest thing ever, but seems like nothing compared to the mileage of the PCT.

Why am I hiking the Pacific Crest Trail?

I am pretty stoked to do the PCT for a variety of reasons. One thing I am looking forward to is being able to hike through places that I am familiar with and have fond memories of. The PCT is very close to home and I have done so many day hikes along and near the PCT. I am really looking forward to reminiscing my adventures while day hiking along the PCT. My family used to take many trips to Yosemite when I was young and I am excited to be hiking into Yosemite instead of driving. I once climbed up a log onto the PCT while avoiding a bear in Mammoth and I look forward to coming back to that area and being able to that story to my fellow hikers.

I am glad you are here!

If you have read all the way to this point, thank you. I hope you enjoyed my first-ever blog post and are just as excited to follow my journey as I am to experience it. Hopefully, I will be an entertaining writer and you will enjoy reading these. I have never been a big writer, so having this position as a blogger is a wildly new experience for me. Anyways, thank you for your time and I hope you have a great day!