An Adventureful Life

I’ve been dreaming about doing this for years… I have absolutely romanticized backpacking the PCT after devouring every single thru-hiker memoir I could find. I really want the challenge of a thru-hike, but I don’t want to be away from my family for too long, so a LASH (long ass section hike) seems like the right option for me.

I have been testing and accumulating gear over the last 2 years… I joined an awesome group of women who helped me mentally and physically train (thanks to the Hungry Hiker and crew), I joined all the relevant PCT facebook groups for up-to-date information, I trained at Orange Theory to keep in shape, and I practiced with all my gear solo and in groups to make sure I know how to use my equipment. The biggest step… putting a date on the calendar and telling people about my plans (no backing out!).

I’m not an ultralight hiker, so my base weight is just over 21 lbs (I had to bump it up with some snow gear). If you are interested in my gear, here is a link to my lighterpack list:

https://lighterpack.com/r/9dfdjy

I have what I feel to be a challenging, but doable plan… 10+ miles per day, and camps near water sources each evening. I’m headed out early season, so I expect snow patches, mosquitoes, blowdowns, and not too many other hikers. I have chosen an easy location to get to for my start, an end that’s not far from home, and a nice resupply point to break up my food carry nearish the middle. My plan is solid, now it’s just time to go!

Ok, that’s it for now… I’m super excited to be one of those people I’ve been reading about! Stay tuned for the rest of this multipart series!

For those interested in tackling a challenge like this, I highly recommend getting into a group to learn with and from other people. You should also get comfortable with paper maps and the many available gps apps out there. I use Gaia, FarOut, and I have a Garmin InReach on my person at all times.

Here is a link to the hiking program where I really built up my confidence and experience: https://www.the-hungry-hiker.com/the-confident-solo-female-backpacker-system/ There are many routes to build up your confidence in hiking and backpacking, but I truly feel the Kathleen’s program and mentorship changed my life!