What Made Me Decide To Hike 2,650 Miles

   

Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail has been a dream of mine for so many years. I can’t believe I’m making that dream come true this year. 2025 is my year to make this through hike happen, learn new things about myself, and test my limits. As far back as I can remember, nature has always been my home away from home. It’s a place away from the day-to-day, away from job issues, car issues, negative social media….. I could go on and on.

         As you hike deeper into mountains or deserts, those issues begin to fade, and you start to realize how big this world really is. When you summit peaks or hike long ridges, you see vast snow-dusted mountain tops protruding through a blanket of white clouds or hiking through the Anza Borrego Desert. At the right time of year, you see flowers of all colors as far as the eye can see. I have my parents to thank. Summer trips to the mountains and spring break in the desert were some of my best childhood memories. 

Quick Origin story

     I was born on Dec 15, 2000, and two weeks later, I had my first of many open-heart surgeries. The doctor found that I was born with a rare heart condition called Shone’s Complex. As I was in and out of the hospital for the first 3 years of my life, I had gone through several foster homes. By the time I was 4, a family picked me up from a home in Oakland, CA, and drove me down to the beautiful vineyards of Temecula wine country, and that’s where I stayed. To me, that’s when my life really started. I arrived at my new home having had five open heart surgeries. Malnourished, pale, and sickly from the poor conditions of foster care, my new parents loved me and gave me a fresh start in life.

          Although it took a while to get settled and break some bad habits, I found the outdoors to be my favorite place. The garden was my happy place, with an endless supply of food, a watering hose for drinking, and three large happy dogs to keep me company. I was in heaven. As the years went on and I got older, I continued to create a love for the outdoors, hiking, camping, and fishing with my family as often as I could. Although my heart required more surgeries, but it never stopped me from what I wanted to do. It made me appreciate life more. I couldn’t let it stop me. There is too much to do!!

 The Inspiration Behind My PCT Journey 

          Here I am now, with eight heart surgeries and a pacemaker later. I’m healthier than ever, and I’m about to embark on my journey from Mexico to Canada in hopes of inspiring kids with heart disease. I know how it feels to be left hopeless in the dust of healthy kids. The constant doctor appointments, surgeries, and checkups. Not only that, but now you’re left with scars and, in some cases, body deformations and cognitive issues. There was a time when I was incredibly frustrated, self-conscious, and felt alone. That was until I found Camp Del Corazon. A nurse introduced me to this camp for kids with heart disease.

          I was 13 years old when I went for the first time. I had never been surrounded by so many kids my age with heart disease. Somehow, I made lifelong friends in a week, and in only 5 days of camp, I went home feeling completely different. I had never felt more confident in my skin, and my perspective had changed entirely. Twelve years later, I still go, but as a counselor. Now, I am giving those kids the same life-changing experiences I had as a camper. With that, I’ve lost some of my closest friends to heart disease. Losing friends at a young age was hard, and now that I’m older, I feel compelled to give hope and inspiration to kids who might not have any. This year, I’m hiking for the kids who can’t and for my friends who passed too soon.

 My Limited Experience 

           So I feel like I’m not as experienced as many people going in ng to be on the trail this year. I started backpacking in January of last year (2024). I knew if I wanted to be ready by 2025, I needed to train, so with my uncle and dad’s help, I started going to the gym and going on much longer hikes as often as possible. I went on the Facebook marketplace, offered up and bought a bunch of backpacking supplies, used that for the whole year, and tried to camp out as many weekends as possible. Now, sitting here in 2025, just months shy of my April 13th start date, I’m feeling pretty confident, a little scared, and a lot of excitement!! 

 

Affiliate Disclosure

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 6

  • Jess : Jan 31st

    Billy, you’ve got this! Thanks for sharing your story. I think you’ll really inspire folks out on trail this year – and have a lot of really fun and memorable moments doing it! Really looking forward to reading your trail blogs.

    Reply
  • Gina Gilleland : Jan 31st

    Hi Billy,
    So nice to virtually meet you and get to hear your story, thank you for sharing! You are a courageous overcomer and it is apparent that you live life passionately and to the fullest. May God grant you strength , keep you safe and healthy and provide for your every need as you embark on this awesome journey enjoying Gods creation . I loved reading your blog, and getting to learn about you. I now hope and look forward to meeting you. Welcome to the family Gina ( cousin of Constance).

    Reply
  • Monica Wyman : Jan 31st

    So proud of you and can’t wait to see you accomplish this dream!

    Reply
  • Anna : Feb 2nd

    Inspiring blog, Billy. You got this! See you on trail.

    Reply
  • Nephi : Feb 6th

    Great origin story! Thank you for sharing. Will be following your journey.

    Reply
  • Rick : Feb 8th

    Your life story is so inspiring, and can’t wait to continue to hearing your new adventures.

    Reply

What Do You Think?