Well, I jumped on a long trail again, so I suppose I should try getting this blog fired up for a bit to help get my wandering thoughts somewhat documented while hiking along.
This time I am back to the roots. The Pacific Crest Trail. The one that got it all started for me. And I am hiking 1200 miles from the California / Mexico border back north to Tahoe.
Historically, I start up this blog when I am on a long trail so I can keep friends and family sorta updated on the happenings of my adventures, my rambling thoughts, and general updates. Honestly, it would be interesting to read back through what I have posted from 14 years ago while on my first PCT adventure.
I first hiked the PCT from Mexico to Canada in 2012. I turned 29 that summer. It was my first foray into the counter-culture of long-distance hiking. Since then I have accumulated roughly 9000 miles of hiking, including the Appalachian Trail - 2200 miles from Georgia to Maine. Over 500 miles accumulated San Diego Trans-County Trail. About 600 miles (90% of of New Mexico) on the Continental Divide Trail. Roughly 1000 miles hiking in Alaska, the Lost Coast Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail, and many more around the country.
This time I am doing a Long Ass Section Hike (LASH) of the PCT. Time to get my body back in shape, and my mind reset. Time to grieve, time to process, time to plan and dream about all that lays ahead of me. If there is one thing I am learning as I creep into my mid 40's, is that time is fleeting. Gotta do the things you love when you've still got the health and pulse to get it done. So with a bit of planning, sacrificing, and a healthy amount of depending on family, friends, I have been blessed with the ability to pour the next 2-3 months of my life into doing not much more than walking. Walking north. I'll be putting in 35k-60k steps a day generally, for those of you tracking your steps at home. I hope to shed dozens of pounds of weight, while getting my heart and stamina back to elite athlete levels. Let's see how it goes. I am 3 days in. Lots more to go, but it is nice to be on a trail that feels like home. That I have shared so many laughs, tears, conversations with over these years. Every time I cross the PCT somewhere in my travels, I try to get out and walk on it, even for a hundred yards, to check in, reconnect, and touch base with the Trail that taught me so much about myself. All I can do to honor her is to have pure love and respect. I believe that is all the PCT really asks of you....
I generally lose steam posting once back on the trail for a bit, become too lazy after grinding miles day after day, and also not wanting to be a real content provider or writer. But hey, no one is paying me to keep this thing alive, and it's generally more off the cuff from the seat of my sweat soaked shorts.
So if you like what you read, and want to see more content, drop a tip in that venmo app and that just may be the motivation to keep posting lol. I am much to lazy and not super keen on putting this behind a pay-wall, but oftentimes people want to know how they can help, can they send a care package, how can they contribute. If you find yourself asking these questions, please feel free to reach out and ask and I can communicate with you details and specific needs. And I will make it worth your time with personalized notes, pictures, and postcards.
Until next time...
Kristo the Lion
venmo link here.
