I need to tell you something… and no, I’m not pregnant, getting married, or buying a house…
… although, does the tent I will live in for about 6 months count as a house?
Hi!
I’m Bettina and I’m finally tackling my dream of a PCT thru-hike in 2025.
For those of you who came across this blog post through The Trek and don’t know me, I would like to introduce myself:
I’m 32 years old and live in Austria. (Austria, that small country in Europe. Not Australia. Although I spent half a year in Australia around 17 years ago and absolutely loved it. Anyways.) I have a master’s degree in technical chemistry and have been working in the field of tribology for around 9 years. The word “tribology” might not immediately ring a bell, but if I tell you that it’s the science of friction, wear, and lubrication, one or the other tangible example might come to your mind (e.g., hiker-related: chafing and blisters, and how to avoid them).
I love to travel and have been lucky enough to do so, whether it’s short city trips within Europe, road trips in the US, exploring more remote places like Mongolia, or chilling on beaches in Thailand or the Maldives. Apart from travelling, I enjoy rather relaxed activities like reading or watching movies (and eating popcorn!). I’m a “rabbit person”, in the sense that I really like rabbits (and other fluffy animals). I would describe myself as an unathletic person. The only type of movement I’ve ever enjoyed is walking and the only physical challenges I’ve ever been interested in were related to walking.

On top of a sand dune (Khongoryn Els) in the Gobi desert in Mongolia. I was actually thinking about the PCT as I was crawling up there.
That’s where the PCT thru-hike comes into play.
Hang on. What does PCT mean? And what is a thru-hike?
For those of you I’ve invited to read this blog that might not be familiar with these expressions:
PCT stands for Pacific Crest Trail and is a national scenic trail in the western part of the USA. It is a long-distance hiking trail that stretches more than 4200 km (~2650 miles) from the Mexico-US border all the way to the US-Canada border. The trail runs through three states: California, Oregon, and Washington, featuring diverse landscapes including deserts, forests, and mountain ranges such as the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades.
The PCT became popular after the book “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed was published, and even more popular after a film adaptation of said book featuring Reese Witherspoon was released.
If you ask Wikipedia, “Thru-hiking, or through-hiking, is the act of hiking an established long-distance trail end-to-end continuously.” “The length for a trail to be considered a thru-hike is undefined. Trails most associated with thru-hiking often take several weeks or months to complete, but any completed end-to-end trail in a single hiking season is technically a thru-hike.” (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thru-hiking) It takes approximately 5 to 6 months to thru-hike the PCT.
So, I’m attempting a PCT thru-hike this year.
Why would I do that? How did I even come up with this idea?
I don’t remember when or where I first heard of the PCT. It might have actually been either the book or the movie “Wild”. The only thing I do remember is doing some research on it. I still remember sitting in my cosy warm bed, with my laptop in my lap, reading about all the physical and mental challenges, potential dangers, and logistics associated with a PCT thru-hike. I was drawn to this topic like a magnet. But at the same time, all I could think was “There’s no way I would ever be capable of doing that”.
As the PCT seemed a “mission impossible” to me at that time, but I was hooked on the topic of a “walking adventure”, I started researching more nearby and beginner-friendly options. That’s what brought me to the Camino de Santiago, a popular network of pilgrimage routes across Europe, ending in Santiago de Compostela in Spain. In 2019, I walked ~350 km (~220 miles) from Porto in Portugal to Santiago de Compostela and on to Finisterre in Spain. And I absolutely loved it.
Over the next few years, I travelled quite a bit and did the occasional hike or walking-related activity. The ones that might be closest to the PCT topic are walking 80 km (~50 miles) in a day as a part of an “extreme” walking event in Austria, hiking the Iseltrail in Austria and hiking the Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal. But I never really let go of this dream of thru-hiking the PCT.
Announcing my plan
The desire to fulfil my dream grew stronger and stronger, until recently, when it became so strong that I actually confronted my family and friends with it. So the big news I was announcing to them was not the kind of news commonly expected from a 32-year-old woman in a relationship, like “I got engaged”, “I’m pregnant” or “I’m looking to buy a house”. No, it was “I’m going on a very long hike about 10,000 km from home”. Luckily my family, friends, and colleagues know me well enough that they were not too shocked by this. They were mostly just relieved that I wouldn’t be doing this alone, but that my boyfriend would be joining me.
So here we are, about to embark on this great adventure together, starting at the southern terminus of the PCT (at the Mexican border) in April. For anyone curious about this exciting new adventure, whether you know me personally or are just looking for some PCT-related content, I hope to be able to virtually take you on this journey with us.
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Comments 16
Great blog! I totally know what you mean by making a big announcement like the PCT! I’m 32, and most people expect me to announce, “I’m pregnant” instead of “I quit my job and I’m going to hike for six months!”. 🙂
Thanks! I knew I cannot be the only one! 😀
A good portion of the hiking community take issue with C.S. and the effects wrought on the trail from her tell all.
I ask people to not follow her example. Otherwise, good luck. If you make it to Canada, It will permanently change your life. Seriously.
Splob, class of 2015, nobo.
Thanks! I very much hope and believe I will make it 🙂
Hello SPLOB, what is “C.S”? Thanks.
Bettina – when I told my parents I had “big news”, they also thought I was pregnant 😂 Nope, just quitting my job and living outside for 6 months! Great blog, can’t wait for you to get out on trail!!
Thanks! I can’t wait either! 😀
Good luck on your PCT hike. Will be looking forward to following your blog. David Odell AT71 PCT72 CDT77
Thank you! I feel honored 🙂
“The longest journey begins with the first step”.
Delivered newspapers as a child for 3 or 4 years. “The Des Moines (Iowa) Register”,even-
ing, and the “Sunday Register”. Never missed a day, in good health or poor; rain or shine. One
might consider such a bit of a “thru hike”.
What you’re doing seems a formidable chal-
lenge. Can’t imagine doing so “barefooted”.
They say the border into Canada is closed on the PCT. Otherwise you will back track south about 30 miles.
Yes, that’s too bad. It would have been so cool to actually walk into Canada.
How exciting! Can’t wait for all the updates and photos!
Thanks Brad! 🙂
Looking forward to reading your blog. Besides enjoying reading about hiker’s thoughts, perspectives, and growth while thru-hiking, your blog will have likely give insights of someone from a foreign country experiencing the United States for the first time.
Good luck and keep posting.
P.S. The C.S. mentioned in a previous post refers to Cheryl Strand.
Thank you! 🙂