PCT Day 0: Nightmare Scenarios
Nightmare Scenario
I am at Garden Coffee in Old Town San Diego. I just got off of a 9-10 hr Greyhound bus, on my way to Campo. I haven’t slept more than an hour in 48. My friend had a medical issue, suddenly and very shockingly in a Phoenix gas station.
We got him to the hospital and once he was stable I decided to continue my journey onward. He’ll be okay or I’ll kill him myself. Only joking bud I love you with all my heart.
There is a worry in my heart about my friend and about myself. Maybe him in that condition is a sign.
Maybe the man on my Phoenix to LA bus crashing through the divider between riders and the driver, then punching out a double layer tempered glass window, jumping out of the moving vehicle was a sign.
He is (hopefully okay) okay or in tact, picked up by EMTs some ways away.
Day 1:
It’s the day of (Day 1) and I’m excited to start writing this in the shuttle over and I am not posting on the day itself. Yesterday I lost my wallet In a new city and found it again. 2 mile backtrack.
Freaking the fuck out as I blew up my life for this. Cursing up and down the streets of San Diego. 2 mile walk back to it, sitting pretty on the pavement. The rule of threes. My friend, a stranger, and my wallet.
Now is something else filling my head.
A mantra.
Mexico to Canada.
Mexico to Canada.
Mexico. To Canada.
It’s mine. It just hasn’t happened yet.
Goodbyes
I said goodbye to so many people in my life to do this. To hike this hike and make at least an attempt at a dream. A great many goodbyes happened in unforeseen circumstances. An airport drop off, a bonfire, a house show cute punk queers singing about smashing the system. A goodbye in a hospital room. A goodbye in a hospital parking lot.
For as much joy as this has given me it has taken its toll. As any decision will.
I am ready to give this trail my pound of flesh.
From Mexico to Canada.
P.S
I’m sitting here in about as severe an attitude as ever, (day 2) my writing may not convey it but there’s a simple joy in my heart. Editing a day 0 post days into a hike. Just know this is part of it, I get service rarely but when I do I try to make edits. Thank you again to The Trek for hosting this, and allowing me to be on their platform
I‘ll be starting weekly posts, with occasional longer posts in between. Cooking one up about plastic packs and ecology. It’s a longer delve into the experience of planning and the very act of consideration for these things itself.
The next post will be about days 1-7.
This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price as they would otherwise, and your purchase helps to support The Trek's ongoing goal to serve you quality backpacking advice and information. Thanks for your support!
To learn more, please visit the About This Site page.
Comments 1
Hannah, what happened on your hike? Are you okay?.. In your first post, you wrote about making some rookie mistakes. In your second post, you spoke about severe anxiety. I take it you left the trail early on, but why? I would love to hear what happened, and so would many others. If nothing else, your experience could help other folks like yourself. Please write more. 🙂