I’m Back

Hello again! It has been while, but I’m back.

To Recap 

To refresh your memories, (or to introduce myself if you are new around here) I started the PCT headed northbound (NOBO) last spring, and hiked about 1000 miles.

Me, at the Southern terminus of the PCT in April 2023.

I completed the desert section, then skipped the too-snowy-for-me-Sierras, and hiked through NorCal. Somewhere around the California/Oregon border, I realized that my foot was in way more pain than could be “normal” thru-hiking pain. Once I realized that, I left the trail and learned that all that pain was caused by a stress fracture in my foot. It was a good thing that I got off the trail! It took me about 6 months in and out of a walking boot to heal, all the while scheming on how to get back out to the trail. Once I got out of the boot, it all seemed more possible, so I snagged a southbound (SOBO) permit to hike from the Northern Terminus to KMS South. This excluded the desert section, as I have no desire to do that section again.

Moving Forward 

Of course, just because I was out of the boot didn’t mean I could just start training the way I would like. I had several months of physical therapy for both my foot and my long-running knee issues. With the help of the PT, I very carefully, and very slowly, eased back into weight bearing and impact based activities, hoping to be as ready as possible by the time my July start date rolled around. 

And now, it has rolled around. 

Onto the Trail

Even with the permit defining what I could do, I’m still not entirely sure what I am doing. The permit covers all of the sections of the PCT that I have left to hike, plus NorCal, but I’m feeling flexible. Maybe I’ll convert to section hiking and just do Washington. Maybe I’ll do it all. Only time can tell.  

What I do know is that Washington state is home, and the forests and mountains here are the ones that I have always been most excited to hike through when I think about the PCT. With that in mind, I am glad to be going SOBO this year, as it gives me the highest likelihood of getting to hike all of Washington state. I finally get to be thru-hiking where I know the plants and can rattle off wildflower names to myself as I wander over the mountains. And yes, I will take into account some very good advice I was given, and will remember to stop and smell those wildflowers too. 

Some of my goals for this, second, attempt at hiking on the PCT is first and foremost to not end up in a boot for 6 months. That would really suck – trust me, I know all about it. Beyond that, I would like to have fun – part of that is finding ways to be less tense about the experience. 

In addition, it would be great to publish these blog posts a bit more consistently, and it would be cool, but completely necessary to find a more meaningful way to communicate my hiking stats.

Nook No Longer

With my new goals, and stronger foundation for thru hiking, I don’t feel like the same hiker who set off from the Mexico/U.S. border last spring. So, I plan on laying my old trail name “Nook” to rest, and am excited to be given a new one to suit who I am now. 

See you on the trail!