Thursday, December 25, 2014

Training

Training is beneficial for a thru -hike, but not entirely necessary. Some people don't train at all and hit the trail regardless, knowing that they will get in shape within a couple weeks of hiking. Others want to hit the ground running and put in more mileage early on. I decided to limit the misery of starting my hike and train. There are many ways to train for a thru-hike, but the best way is to hike with weight, preferably the pack you are using. I think it's as important to train yourself mentally as it is to prepare physically. I also train to avoid stress injuries and improve my gait.

I consider myself an active person, so when I decided to officially "train" for my thru-hike, all i really did was add to the intensity and duration of my normal routine, with a few tweaks. About 6 months before my start date, I started trail running around 6-10 miles, 5 days a week. On the weekends, I usually alternate between 10-15 mile hikes and "bike-hikes," about 15-25 mile mountain biking and hiking routes, (I bike 10-12 miles on fire roads to reach hiking trail head loops). When I run, I use very worn trail runners with little tread. I feel that the lack of tread helps me pay more attention to my legs and my feet, and how to place them better. When I hike, I always carry a pack and weigh it down with a couple liters of water and other stuff, sometimes even books. I feel that adding weight helps mentally as much as it does physically.

The mental training is extremely important to me because of how demanding a thru hike is in that regard. I mainly try to constantly force myself to do things I really don't want to do. If it is extremely cold out, I trail run in shorts and a t-shirt. If it's raining/stormy out, I go on a long hike. During the summer on hot days, I'd go on hikes on exposed ridges with little shade. When I go on 15-20 mile hikes and wake up the next morning sore and tired, I go on a another hike or trail run as soon as possible. I always loathe the idea of doing these things initially, but as soon as I'm moving out on the trail, I feel great. I think this will translate to the PCT, though I realize that it's a much a bigger stage.

I have a fantastic training ground here in Santa Cruz, CA. There are oceans, rivers, mountains, Redwoods, hiking, mountain biking, and beauty. My primary hiking areas are Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Nicene Marks State Park, Henry Cowell Redwoods State park, Butano State Park, and Wilder Ranch State Park. That's a shit-load of state parks, all within 10-20 minutes from where I live. In March of 2015, I plan to move out of Santa Cruz, and back to my home-town of Carmel, CA. I can't wait to train the last month and a half before my thru-hike in my old stomping grounds of Big Sur. It's been awhile since I've hiked the Ventana Wilderness and I'm excited to go on a few shakedown overnighters before I leave for Campo.
Berry Creek Falls in Big Basin (Summer 2014)
Berry Creek Falls (Winter 2015)

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Why The Pacific Crest Trail?

In Spring 2015, I will attempt a northbound thru-hike of The Pacific Crest Trail. My goal to walk solo from the border of Mexico to Canada will take me through 3 US states, (4 if you count the mighty State of Jefferson) over 60 mountain passes, through 37 wildernesses, 7 national parks and 24 national forests; a total of approximately 2,660 miles over roughly 5-6 months.

In addition to the physical challenge of walking nearly a marathon each day, I'll be mapping out water sources and mailing food to designated post offices and hubs along the way. I'll ford rivers, cross the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges, the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts, pass more than 1,000 lakes and descend into 19 major canyons. Due to snowfall in the Sierra and near Canada, thru-hiking is only possible within a 5 month window from the end of April through the end of September.

I first heard about this epic trek about 8 years ago and bought the Wilderness Press guide books, which I'd read over and over throughout the years as I dreamed of hiking the trail, though I never thought I'd actually have the chance to hike it. I have that opportunity now, and this trail has become my white whale. I love to hike, etc., but what I really desire is to see the wild and beautiful places of this magnificent country before we manage to turn them into a parking lot. I want to test myself. I want to be uncomfortable and maybe feel some fear and some joy. I want to feel myself slow to the natural pace of the landscape. I want to experience true freedom. This winter so far has been a flutter of training, preparation, apprehension, excitement, and obsession. Let's do this.