I spent six months walking the Pacific Crest Trail this summer. The transformative trek shifted my worldview, and revealed new insights and previously unknown strengths. And that¡¯s just my personal experience. I also wanted to know what my fellow thru-hikers learned, so I started questioning them once I reached Washington¡ªafter more than 2,000 miles on the trail. Over 1,800 thru-hikers hit the PCT this year. I talked with 16 of them.

Photo: Christopher Juarez, 43

Trail Name: One Gear
Fresno, California

¡°Being out here alone and going through your head, you figure out what¡¯s important in life. Every time I¡¯ve been happy in life, family has been involved. When I first told my family I was going to hike the PCT, I don¡¯t think they understood, but after a while of speaking with others and people getting excited and inspired, they appreciated why I was coming out here. I¡¯m just trying to live life, enjoy life, and appreciate all I have.¡±

Emily Ketty, 30

Trail Name: Pancakes
Lake Placid, New York

¡°I¡¯m stronger than I think. I love to eat: Corn Nuts, Twizzlers red vines¡ªall junk. I still love Knorr sides. Cous-cous forever. Pop-Tarts need some sort of container though. They crumble too easily in the foil wrapper. I¡¯ll still continue to eat them but they¡¯d be better if they were in one piece.¡±

Eric Anderson, 25

Trail Name: Dart
Wisconsin

¡°It doesn¡¯t matter where I am, I can be myself and do my thing the same in the woods, or in society, anywhere. Previously, my self-image was contextual, defined by studies or work. But now I realize it doesn¡¯t matter where I am or what I¡¯m doing, I am a relative constant in and of myself. The PCT is a momentum break; in the real world, you¡¯re caught up with the next event, the next get together with friends, the next work. Getting away from all of that and just existing for a little while helps clarify things. It lets you know what you really want to do.¡±

Ethan Bisset, 25

Trail Name: Homeboy
Salt Lake City, Utah

¡°I¡¯ve changed on this trail. I¡¯ve learned that we should put all our trust in who we know and not what we got. I¡¯ll go home with the trail in my heart. I¡¯ll go home with dirt in my lungs and my hair and under my fingernails. Be friends. Don¡¯t burn bridges and try not to pee in someone¡¯s backyard!¡±

Holly Barbush, 31

Trail Name: Little Buddha
Northern California

¡°I learned to trust that everything is going to happen exactly how it¡¯s supposed to, and not to force things. To purge things that are not benefiting you. Eventually, I¡¯d have come to this realization, but this experience was crucial. On this trail, you have to be open and flexible. Hikers have wanderlust, and there¡¯s a special something burning in each of us. People are here to search for something in themselves and that¡¯s how it should be in life, always.¡±

Jason Chrisman, 38

Trail Name: Crispy
Lake Placid, New York

¡°It¡¯s amazing how generous people are and how many have helped me out during the journey. I can¡¯t wait to pay that forward. I plan to come back to the trail next year and do trail magic.¡±

Jeff Carloni, 37

Trail Name: Highroller
San Jose, California

¡°I learned to go with the flow. You come out here with a plan, but nothing ever goes to plan, so you gotta learn to be patient and ready for whatever happens. I¡¯ll bring that back to society.¡±

Jim Hutchinson, 53

Trail Name: Dr. Pepper
Lincoln, Massachusetts

¡°I learned that you should take it easy on Sour Patch Kids candy. My son ate too many of them and got severe heartburn and chest pains that we thought was a heart attack. We actually went to the emergency room at the local hospital. The PH of sour patch kids is 2.5, close to the level of acid. He was eating a pound of them per day! I learned that the trail is awesome and you should go out to hike wherever you can for as long as you can.¡±

Jimmy Devore, 31

Trail Name: Roam
Asheville, North Carolina

¡°Freedom is a beautiful thing we should cherish. That¡¯s something I learned on the Appalachian Trail and I¡¯ve practiced ever since. It took a while for the cards to fall into place for me to do the PCT. Thru-hiking 100 percent changed my life. It revealed to me all the directions of life that are available to us.¡±

Katie Copeland, 20

Trail Name: Tape Boss
Calgary, Alberta

¡°Getting outside of your comfort zone is where you grow. I¡¯d not have grown had I not hiked. I¡¯m way more confident now. I learned it¡¯s important to have people around you. I¡¯ll be returning to school. I¡¯ve become smarter in many ways, but academically less so! I have a feeling I¡¯ll return home and not be able to explain the wholeness of the PCT. It¡¯s amazing and horrible and so many things. All the bad moments¡ªrain, loneliness, homesickness¡ª³Ù³ó±ðy¡¯re part of it but make the accomplishment all the more worthwhile.¡±

Kobayashi Shunsuke, 27

Trail Name: Koba
Tokyo, Japan

¡°I quit my job to come here and my mind is so spread because of the nature. I know American culture, having spoken to so many people. My mind is spread.¡±

Kyle Hoyt, 30

Trail Name: MAGA
Eugene, Oregon

¡°I learned about different types of berries. I learned how to be alone and be happy. I¡¯ve learned not to be scared of who you are; if you want to represent something, do it. You¡¯re going to be a lot happier. If you¡¯re afraid, you might regret it later.¡±

Peter King, 25

Trail Name: SPF
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

¡°Maybe the best thing you can do is to simplify everything down to the bare minimum. Reducing things to the necessities of only food, water, and shelter definitely clears your mind. I¡¯ll return to the same life, but I hope it¡¯ll change for the better in how I shape my attitude and treat others.¡±

Rico Colomb (left) and Mandy Torres, 26 and 32

Trail Names: Cup and Ladybug
Windsor, California

Ladybug: ¡°Hiking over the passes in the Sierras was a lot scarier than I thought it was going to be. Before the trip, I thought that if I got stung by a bee, I¡¯d die, but I got stung twice by a bee and I am still here!¡±

Cup: ¡°I learned I¡¯m capable of going through a lot more misery than I thought I was. I can hike a lot farther in a day than I thought. Biggest day was 29 miles. At the start I did a 14-mile day and thought I was going to die.¡±

Sasha Hashemipour, 28

Trail Name: Raging Pineapple
Portland, Oregon

¡°The biggest thing has been being kind and making kindness a part of my life, and paying it forward. I¡¯ve received a lot of kindness. I¡¯ve noticed kindness on the trail more than I have out in the real world. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s there; it¡¯s definitely there, but maybe you don¡¯t notice it as much. I want to focus on kindness more and bring it into my life. After the trail, I¡¯ll try to be more peaceful, more present.¡±

The post So You Hiked the PCT. What Did You Learn? appeared first on ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Online.

While?logging?1,800?miles on the Pacific Crest Trail this summer, I thought a lot?about how trail angels shaped my hike. They were?everywhere on the trail¡ªstationed at highway crossings and waiting with open arms in small towns along the way¡ªand they offered everything from chocolate cake and hamburgers to showers and shelter. My trip wouldn¡¯t have been?the same without them. But is that a good thing?

The question of whether trail angels, posted in droves along the country¡¯s most popular trails, degrade?the wilderness experience is a legitimate one. Recently plenty of outlets, including ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, have pondered the costs and benefits of this unbridled benevolence.

I understand these concerns.?But ultimately,?these places?are?better off with trail angels. If, as some argue, they compromise the rugged individualism of a through-hike, they replace that egoism?with a shared generosity. And there's tremendous value in that.

Trail angels donate?their time, money and, in some cases, homes to strangers. For the most part,?they do this without expectations or ulterior motives. The pure generosity of strangers was consistent and genuine throughout my hike. Magic has come in the form of watermelon, root beer floats, breakfast burritos, and much more. It isn't about the gift itself,?but rather the act of?gift-giving.?

Acts of charity on the trail, even of small items, assume huge significance. Along the PCT, unexpected generosity is food for the soul as well as the body. A granola bar isn't just a granola bar¡ªit¡¯s a connection to other humans who respect your through-hike and support your journey. And, for many of us, the journey represents a personal one as much as a physical one. Trail magic is a profound act of solidarity.

Where others see madness in our hikes, angels see adventure. Where most see inconvenience, angels see opportunity. Where many see a sap on resources, angels see the gift of human connection. Angels stick it to capitalist logic. I'd like to see more simple giving in everyday society.

Without a doubt, trail magic must be delivered responsibly. Angels must adhere to the same Leave No Trace principles as hikers do. They must measure that their provisions are needed and appropriate. Sure, some first forays into trail magic might be clumsy. But we have to?give the benefit of the doubt to these people, and assume that angels will be cleaner and wiser each time they turn out.?

All trail angels are different, and each has his or her?different motivations. They bring different types of magic¡ªsome bring beer and roast pork, others bring water and Ryvita. I¡¯m reluctant to judge between large and small acts of kindness. I don¡¯t want to discourage well-meaning trail magic. I don't want to dismiss goodwill. There¡¯s space for all types of magic on these trails.?

I'm prone to cynicism and have looked suspiciously on unadulterated kindness in the past, but the PCT has softened that edge. From the trail, I see things differently. Angels believe in the goodness of people:?they see strangers as friends whom they have yet to meet, and they trust that what goes around comes around.?¡°You get back what you put out,¡± says trail angel Dalton SteeleReed, of Tehachapi, California. ¡°At some point, I¡¯ll get it back. I don¡¯t know when or how, but I will.¡±

The post In Defense of Trail Angels appeared first on ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Online.

From the British Empire¡¯s efforts in the 19th century to document and control territories to Ansel Adams' conservationist agenda, pictures of landscapes have established narratives and swayed public opinion. For over 150 years, photographers have trained their eyes?on the transformation of our wild spaces and helped dismantle a lot of our blind romance toward the West.

PCT thru-hikers follow in this long tradition. As they travel through?California, Oregon, and Washington, the?thru-hikers see the trail and the region?from all angles. Having been on the trail for 11 weeks now, I've learned there are?an infinite?number of photo moments¡ªto hike this trail is to track an almost overwhelming flood of epic visuals. It is, in fact,?challenging?to fit the journey and awesome landscapes into a series of frames. But some PCT hikers are up to the task. Here are my top seven thru-hikers who, via Instagram,?show?the most beautiful parts of the trail.

@karenkwang

Earnest and loving, Wang is a master of landscapes and a sucker for portraits. Her food shots reflect every hikers' obsession with town food. Selective in her posts, Wang doesn't waste anyone's time and delivers a consistent visual mood. “I guess that's what happens when a wedding photographer does the PCT,” she jokes.

Shining Moment?

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A photo posted by Karen K. Wang (@karenkwang) on Jun 27, 2016 at 6:04am PDT

@picturethetrail

Ryan Musiello knows his way around a camera. From night photos to macro shots, every image conjures?light, silhouette, and artistry.

Shining Moment

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A photo posted by Ryan M. PCT Thru-Hiker 2016 (@picturethetrail) on Jun 26, 2016 at 6:15pm PDT

@packingitout

These guys' pictures aren¡¯t always the highest quality, but?I love their mission: Cap and Spice want to save the wilderness by removing?one piece of trash at a time. Hauling out junk that others leave behind and sporting John Muir-ish beards, these guys are heroes.

Shining Moment

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A photo posted by Packing It Out (@packingitout) on May 31, 2016 at 11:44pm PDT

@wilderbound

Wilderbound revels in the vagabond vibe. Before the clean lines of the Sierra, she depicted the wind, dirt,?and slog of the desert. There's hobo-chic echoes of Mike Brodie and Ryan McGinley here.

Shining Moment?

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on Jun 12, 2016 at 10:31am PDT

@nicholasreichard

Shots from above the clouds, selfies that aren't crap, and stolen glimpses of friends, Nick “Click” Reichard's feed is a treat.

Shining Moment

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A photo posted by Nick “Click” Reichard (@nicholasreichard) on Jun 19, 2016 at 11:47am PDT

@lachlanfysh

With a?sense for the absurd and dramatic, Fysh hams?it up and celebrates?the adventure. Campfire vibes, beardy friends,?and town escapades. You just want to be his friend.

Shining Moment?

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on May 23, 2016 at 7:14pm PDT

@kukud83

This is a special shout-out to a hiker no longer on the trail. From day one, kukud83's images were my favorite. As a native of Taiwan, he brought an outsider's eye to the West. You'll have to scroll back a ways in kukud83's feed to find his many PCT shots (he's prolific) but the surprise, joy,?and romance of his work make the time?worth while.?

Shining Moment

?

A photo posted by ÑÔÉí´ç in Tainan, Taiwan (@kukud83) on May 11, 2016 at 4:11pm PDT

The post The 6 Best Photographers Hiking the PCT Right Now appeared first on ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Online.

I spent months researching gear before hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. I read blogs and trip reports?and meticulously planned every detail to ensure I had the?best,?lightest kit possible. But here¡¯s the thing: even the best planning couldn¡¯t prepare me for real-world testing. Some of the pieces I picked up have proven invaluable. Others were left in hiker boxes almost immediately, and I had to purchase alternatives. Two months in and nearly 1,000 miles up the trail, here are my seven favorite pieces of gear so far.

Western Mountaineering UltraLite Sleeping Bag ($500)

Lots of ultralight sleeping bags forego a hood. I don¡¯t know about you, but in cold temperatures, I like to pull a hood over my noggin and yank the drawstring until only the smallest window remains for my mouth and nostrils. That¡¯s why I went with the?, which weighs under two pounds yet keeps my entire body warm down to 20 degrees.?

Duckworth Vapor Tee ($60)

I sweat a lot, so I needed something that would . For the past several weeks, I¡¯ve been swapping out two of these shirts every hour. I hike and sweat in one while the other is draped over my pack to dry. Even after seven days without a shower or access to laundry, these shirts?don¡¯t reek, and that¡¯s worth a lot on the trail.

Altra Olympus 2.0 Shoes ($150)

The zero-drop, wide-toe?design of isn¡¯t for everyone, but it works for me.?It seems to work for others, too:?Altra is the most popular brand on the trail by far. The shoes are ultracomfy, and?the wide sole has proven to be a solid platform that¡¯s kept me from rolling my ankle, even on sloped, technical terrain.?

Outdoor Research Helium II Rain Jacket ($160)

?It weighs a scant 6.4 ounces, takes up very little room in my pack, yet it¡¯s totally waterproof and breathes well even when I¡¯m huffing up a steep section of trail. I¡¯ve also used it as wind block on summits when I need extra warmth.

Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Hooded Jacket ($350)

This jacket is the perfect trifecta of?warm, light, and reasonably affordable (compared with?some other down puffies out there). on mountaintops in the snowy Sierra, and, like the Helium, weighs next to nothing (7.7 ounces) and takes up little room in my bag. ?

Kahtoola MicroSpikes ($70)

The steep, icy scramble over both sides of Glen Pass would have been impossible without?, which provide significantly more traction than your regular boot soles?but aren¡¯t as extreme as a pair of crampons. Don¡¯t carry them from the Mexican border, but make sure you have a pair waiting when you get to the Kennedy Meadows General Store at mile 700.

Class of 2016 Bandanna (Free)

My bandanna works as a towel, headband, dishcloth, sweat rag, and memento. You can¡¯t buy them in stores.?You have to walk 478 miles to Casa de Luna and do a dance for trail angel Terrie Anderson. The bandannas are an annual present from the PCT Class of 2002 to all the hikers who¡¯ve followed. The colors are different each year, but the design is the same and lists the essential off-trail stops for resupply, laundry, burgers, and beers.

The post 7 Pieces of Indispensable Thru-Hiking Gear appeared first on ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Online.

You can¡¯t talk about the Pacific Crest Trail without mentioning the crowds. For the first 55 years on record, starting in 1952, the most thru-hikers to attempt the full trail, starting at the Mexican border, where I started, was 300, in 2006. But in the past decade¡ªand particularly the last four years, since the release of Cheryl Strayed's?Wild¡ª³Ù³ó±ð numbers have spiked.?

Hiking the PCT: 2016

I set out in April on a six-month trek north along the 2,650-mile trail. I’ll be filing dispatches every two weeks. Follow my journey here.

So far, in 2016, more than 4,000 long-distance hiking permits have been issued. Not all of them are for hikers who plan to walk fully from Mexico-Canada. A few hundred of the permits will be for section-hikers taking on a 500-mile-plus trek. A few hundred more are for hikers heading out at other times of the calendar year. Still, if you look at the ?on the Pacific Crest Trail Association¡¯s (PCTA) website, you¡¯ll see that throughout the eight-week-ish window (approximately mid-March to mid-May) the full quota of 50 permits per day are taken. So there¡¯s 3,000 people attempting the Northbound thru-hike. Furthermore, a few hundred hikers will be heading Southbound between July and November. (The tougher, so-called “SoBo” itinerary is becoming more and more popular in the face of the hordes hiking north.)?

While the PCTA has issued permits for many years, the current permit system¡ªwith its 50 permits per day cap¡ªwas only introduced in 2015. As a direct response to the spike in numbers, the main aim of the quota system is to spread the number of hikers out and mitigate wear on the trail and environmental damage. This is especially important in the desert environments?that dominate the first 700 miles.?

¡°Deserts are fragile ecosystems. They¡¯re more susceptible to damage and when damage occurs, it lasts longer,¡± says U.S. Forest Service volunteer Jules Fijolek. ¡°If damage became significant, we¡¯d think about putting in shelters like on the Appalachian Trail. We¡¯re actually trying to avoid that, but the idea is not off the table.¡±

In addition to the environmental impact¡ªdegraded vegetation, establishment of new camp spots, human waste, etc¡ª³Ù³ó±ðre are also real financial costs to essential services. More hikers means more helicopter evacuations and searches. Fijolek says there had already been 20 rescues by April 26. All were in the first 50 miles.?

It¡¯s tough to put a number on exactly how many hikers use the trail during any given period. , the maximum number of allowable hikers of 50 per day headed out from the Mexican border during the high season in 2015, and 2,800 long-distance permits were issued that year. Of those, approximately 1,200 made it to Canada, Fijolek says.

Numbers for this year aren¡¯t available yet¡ª¡°We¡¯re still in a data collection phase,¡± says Fijolek¡ªbut judging by logbooks and my own observations, we¡¯re close to the 50-hiker-per-day capacity again.

So far as I can tell, the desired dispersal is working. But it may not hold up as more and more thru-hikers pile on and the only thing delineating when a permitted hiker may hit the trail is the honor system. For a long time, the hiker community, trail angels, and the PCTA were reluctant to adopt a formalized sign-up for what is essentially a wild experience. Stretching back to at least 2004, according to trail angel Donna Saufley, the trail community has been discussing increased numbers, pressures, bottlenecks, and community-led management. But sheer numbers eventually forced the adoption of the current top-down administration of permits.

No one wants to envision a day when hikers are denied the opportunity to walk. The PCT is a crucible of challenge, change, reconnection, and reinvention. It¡¯s an endeavor open to everyone: it¡¯s call has never come with caveat or exemptions. So even the smallest of restrictions on numbers would be a blow to the spirit of the trail.

In Warner Springs (mile 110) I met Rusty, 71, who did the thru-hike in 2003. Every year since, he has departed from the Southern Terminus with the?plan to hike as far as feels good. Sometimes Rusty makes it 100 miles, sometimes 1,000. In any case, he misses the quieter days.

¡°Sometimes, ¡° he said, ¡°I¡¯d like to hike without seeing a line of ants all the way to Canada.¡±

The post What Are All These Hikers Doing to the PCT? appeared first on ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Online.

It¡¯s not the shoes¡¯ fault, it¡¯s my fault.

Hiking the PCT: 2016

I set out in April on a six-month trek north along the 2,650-mile trail. I’ll be filing dispatches every two weeks. Follow my journey here.

You don¡¯t need to know what brand they were, you just need to know they were too small. They¡¯re durable, flexible in the right areas, lightweight, and good-looking¡ªbut that all counts for zip if they fit feet that aren¡¯t yours.

As a freelance writer, I¡¯m hardly flush with cash, so when a friend offered me a brand-spanking-new pair of top-of-the-range hiking boots I grasped the freebie without hesitation. I wore them for two weeks before departure and they felt great. But walking three blocks to work and back every day, it turns out, isn¡¯t enough of a test for the PCT.?

For the first five miles of the trail, my feet were fine. Hiking through the shady oaks, just north of the U.S./Mexico border, in the early morning hours, was bliss. At Mile 12, I felt hot spots develop on my heels. At Mile 15, I took off the shoes and saw more red skin than I cared for. Blisters from breaking the boots in, I thought, wishing away the inevitable. Instead, I was focused on getting through the 20 waterless miles of the first day; I only had headspace for the hot showers, flushing toilets, and milkshakes waiting at Lake Morena.

I taped up my heels with duct tape and continued on.

That night, at Morena, I peeled back the tape to discover, to my terror, that the second and third layers of skin on my heels were shredded. It was a?red raw horrorshow, but, incredibly, I still wasn¡¯t thinking that the boots might be too small.

On the second day, I bullishly taped them up. Apart from twinges on some inclines, I felt surprisingly little pain. Tape will reduce friction, but it won¡¯t heal the torn-up skin kept airtight and watertight.

When I camped at Cibbetts Flat (Mile 32) on my second night, the blister party stretched the width of both heels, where?multiple irritations had converged to create two deathstars of blistering skin. The weight of it all dawned on me. My frugality had led to this. Cutting costs was cutting the fun and it was certain to cut my progress. I reasoned that I¡¯d awake early and get to Mt. Laguna (Mile 42) as soon as possible. I didn¡¯t know what the solution would be, but I knew I had to suss one out.?

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A photo posted by Pete Brook (@petebrook) on Apr 20, 2016 at 2:40pm PDT

By the time I reached Laguna Mountain Sports and Supply, it was clear that I wasn¡¯t the only one having problems. The parking lot out front was full of hikers emptying packs, shedding weight, and tossing clothes. Moleskin, Leukotape, and KT-tape flew off the shelves.

I¡¯ve learned?that the first week on the PCT is made up of a combination of becoming stronger while simultaneously prioritizing and eradicating discomforts. The crowds at Laguna Mountain?Sports and Supply were tackling their lists of niggling problems from the top down as thoroughly and efficiently as time and money allowed: a six-pound North Face backpack replaced by a 41-oz. ULA Circuit; a one-pound,?all-season Marmot jacket swapped out for a five-oounce?Montbell rain shell.?

Excess weight gets dumped into the Hiker Boxes, which rest at every major stop on the trail. Most of the stuff you¡¯ll find in there¡ªunmarked foodstuffs in battered Ziploc bags, sweat-stained cotton clothes¡ªare useless. But you can find some gems: fuel canisters, first-aid supplies, and M&M¡¯s! At Laguna Mountain Sports and Supply, there was a pile of shoes next to the Hiker¡¯s Box. Two dozen pairs, at least, but all of them were worthless to me.

Dave, the shop owner, as well as his chirpy staffers Matt and Mary, all wear Altras. Like other trail enthusiasts in ?recent years, they¡¯ve come to realize that cushioned construction with wide toeboxes is the kindest thing for your feet.?

Altras are best worn with toe socks. They¡¯re so roomy, you can wear toe-spacers in them too. The ($120) and the slightly more hardy ($150) made their way off the shelves at a steady pace. One pair into my hands. Almost every buyer will size-up¡ªit¡¯s part of the philosophy to give your dogs room to breathe¡ªbut sellers know that thru-hikers feet swell on the trail and advise accordingly. I tried on a few pairs and ultimately went two sizes up. Usually a 12, I¡¯m wearing 14s for the first time in my life.?

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A photo posted by Pete Brook (@petebrook) on Apr 22, 2016 at 7:44am PDT

After a ¡°zero day¡± of no hiking and letting my wounds heal, I hit the trail again on Day 5. I¡¯m bouncing right along these sandy, desert trails. These shoes are like moon boots disguised as trail shoes.

I¡¯m still taping my heels every day and cleaning them nightly and letting them breathe through the night. When taped, there¡¯s no pain as I walk. But, given I must walk, they¡¯re not healing as quickly as they would if I gave them, say, three days to breathe. That¡¯s just the way it has to be for now. Again, not the shoes¡¯ fault¡ªmy fault.

The post How to Ruin Your PCT Hike on the First Day appeared first on ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Online.

¡°Why are you hiking the Pacific Crest Trail?¡± was a question I got asked a lot leading up to my departure on April 19, 2016 from the trail¡¯s southern end in Campo, California, right by the Mexican border. But, since starting the trail, fewer people ask.?

Hiking the PCT: 2016

I set out in April on a six-month trek north along the 2,650-mile trail. I’ll be filing dispatches every two weeks. Follow my journey here.

For the estimated 2,500 people departing from Campo and attempting a thru-hike in 2016, the reasons are many. No doubt I¡¯ll share a few with you in the next 23 weeks as I make my way north, 2,650 miles to the Canadian border.

As for my reason, I¡¯d been receiving hints?in life that something had to change. I¡¯m 36, and for the past eight years I¡¯ve worked as a freelance writer. I enjoyed the usual perks¡ªno boss, make my own hours, flexibility, some tax write-offs¡ªbut of late I¡¯ve increasingly wondered if I¡¯m not in the same place I was when I started freelancing back in 2008. Writing for online publications pays the bills, but I¡¯ve no safety net, no retirement plan, no sick pay, no paternity leave. I¡¯d begun to wonder whether I was?suited to the freelance game.

The niggling question is only relatively recent. In my late 20s, I had no qualms. I loved blogging; it was a way to get myself heard and to establish a voice. The Internet was my friend. But now, my website is an island, the RSS reader is yesterday¡¯s tool, and Facebook and Buzzfeed dominate mindshare.

?

A photo posted by Pete Brook (@petebrook) on Apr 19, 2016 at 10:56am PDT

Aside from freelance gigs, I wrote about photography that focused on?the U.S. prison system. My website, , is what I am most well known for. It was the springboard to lecture, curate, publish, and travel, but I¡¯ve still lived one project to the next. Now that the Internet seems less of an ally, what am I to do with the website¡ªwith the origin, raison d¡¯etre, and connective tissue of my profession pursuits? My commitment to prison activism is as strong as ever, but it might have to be channeled through other means like?direct action or?teaching.
? ? ?
For work, in the future, who knows? I may continue to write. Or maybe these dispatches from the trail are a last hurrah.?Things are going to change and I¡¯m not sure what they¡¯ll look like, but for now, we¡¯re on this trek together. Time out resolves things. Time out in nature cleanses things.

Also, while we¡¯re talking about reasons, there¡¯s another one that brought me here: I need to get away from my computer screen. I am writing these words on paper, longhand, then photographing the sheet and emailing the photo to my editors when I have cell service.

For the past decade, I¡¯ve sat in front of a flat, glowing, talking, moving 24-inch surface that spews information at me for eight-to-ten hours a day. This isn¡¯t a complaint, merely an observation. Walking two-and-a-half thousand miles seems like the?opposite type of activity. Instead of software updates, I¡¯m taking care of creaking joints, aches, and blisters. Instead of stress at the line at the coffee shop, I¡¯m worried about my next water source.
? ? ?

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A photo posted by Pete Brook (@petebrook) on Apr 21, 2016 at 9:39am PDT

I¡¯ve done a dozen or so backpacking trips over the years¡ªmostly in the Sierras, but also in Washington, Utah, Arizona, and Montana's Glacier National Park. I love the sweat, the switchbacks, and the strength you feel your body muster. The re-hydrated food, the gear failures, and the chilly mornings (that muscle-tightening drop in temperature just before sunrise) are all part of the journey, reminding me that I inhabit a body.?

One way or the other, I plan to be?outside,?walking and camping, until October 1. I¡¯ve not been telling people I¡¯ll hike the PCT, I¡¯ve told them I¡¯m going to try. Let¡¯s see how far I get.

The post Why Would Anyone Hike the Pacific Crest Trail? appeared first on ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Online.