Reminiscing PCT 2022
5 Sections and 5 Lessons
would be remiss if I didn’t reflect on my 2022 thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail—my first thru-hike. They say your first trail is your first love, and I can’t argue with that. There’s something about returning to a place that changed you forever.
When I first set foot on the PCT, I wasn’t confident in myself. I second-guessed every decision and constantly worried about what others thought of me. But as the miles passed and the landscapes transformed, I realized that hiking northbound on the PCT mirrors the growth and change hikers experience along the way. The trail is divided into five distinct sections, each one teaching something new.
Section 1: The Desert
The desert strips everything down to the essentials. It’s a harsh but necessary reminder that you have to keep moving forward, no matter how you feel. This is the start of the journey—full of fear, uncertainty, and the weight of the unknown. The long, dry stretches test your limits, and every day you question your decision to be here. But you push forward.
Section 2: The Sierra Nevada
After 700 miles, you enter the Sierra Nevada, feeling like you own the world. The challenges of the desert prepared you, but the mountains have their own lessons to teach. Water is plentiful, but food becomes the concern. Steep, unforgiving climbs, unpredictable weather, and the sheer magnitude of the wilderness force you to adapt. The fear is different now—more raw, more real—but you know you have no choice but to keep going.
Section 3: Northern California
Emerging from the high mountains, you feel invincible. You know what you’re doing. You’ve faced hardships and survived. But Northern California humbles you. The burn scars serve as a reminder that beauty is fleeting. The trail stretches endlessly under the hot sun, and you begin to grieve the sections you’ve left behind. This is where doubt creeps in—where the infamous “NorCal Blues” hit. The pain of what you’re doing becomes impossible to ignore, yet you keep walking.
Section 4: Oregon
Oregon feels like a gift. The trail softens, the grade evens out, and the forests welcome you with open arms. Water is plentiful, and for the first time, you feel like you can breathe. You realize how much you’ve endured and how strong you’ve become. But in the rush to reach Washington, many hikers speed through, barely pausing to appreciate the moment they’ve arrived at—a moment where they have fully grown into themselves.
Section 5: Washington
Washington is both breathtaking and relentless. Its towering mountains test your endurance with steep ascents and long food carries. Yet, every step forward is filled with anticipation. The end is near. You’re almost there. A mix of hope and uncertainty settles in—what will it feel like to finish? Relief? Fear of what’s next? Maybe both.
At the end of the trail, you carry with you five invaluable lessons:
The momentum of learning and knowledge
The bravery to face the unknown
The ability to endure loss and hardship
The realization of your own strength
The hope and fear that come with stepping into the unknown
These lessons don’t just stay on the trail. They follow you, shaping the way you move through life—just as the PCT has shaped me.
