Who. What. When. Where. Why?
Welcome to our blog! We're so freakin glad you're here with us! We figured we should dedicate our very first blog post to explaining who we are, what the heck we're doing, when we're doing it, where in the world we'll be doing it, and why in Sam Hell we are doing it.
To be honest, we aren't too sure about the answers to any of those questions, but we're hoping to figure some of it out as we write, and the rest of it along our 2,650 mile walk.
“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” - John Muir
Who
Autumn:
Howdy partners! I'm Autumn!
At first glance, I'm terribly average and uninspiring. Just another midwest gal with a wonderful family, plenty of friends, a profound love for wine and dogs and coffee... you get it. Basic. I'm basic. Seemingly, at least. But luckily I'm a poor decision maker, forever driven by adventure and the hope for "a good story". And while I do not condone poor decision making, I do credit it for making my life the beautifully exciting and awkward escapade that it constantly is.
I grew up in small-town Minnesota. Funny, because I friggin hate the cold. But despite the annual seven months of dark frigid winter, I wouldn't have wanted to grow up anywhere else. It was there that my love for adventure and adrenaline were born. I'm drawn to all things innovative, creative, mischievous, philosophical, and/or exhilarating.
Following high-school, I attended The University of Iowa. Yeah, yeah, I know.... a party school. And, party I did! But, simultaneously, I was a cadet in the Army ROTC program and a nursing student. After graduating college, I commissioned into the Army as a nurse. I would spend the next four years caring for some of America's finest - first at Fort Hood, Texas, and then at Walter Reed in D.C. Overall, I loved my military experience, and I'll be forever honored and grateful for having had the opportunity to serve. But the Army and me... we're very different. So I separated from active duty the very first day I was eligible. It was just recently actually. March 11th 2022! Now that I'm part of the free world, I'm ready to enjoy it! Hence, the PCT. If not now then when, ya know?
Chris:
I am not as good of a writer as Autumn so bear with me!
Welp, I am Chris, and I was born and raised in Lynchburg, VA. I was fortunate enough to grow up in a dual nationality household; my mother was born and raised in Marseille, France while my dad grew up in Barstow, CA. Many summers were spent with my mother’s side of the family in France taking full advantage of the French Rivera. I would hike down to the Mediterranean Sea with a fishing pole and spear gun in hand in an attempt to catch enough fish so that by the end of the summer, I’d have enough to make the delicious “Soupe De Poisson”. I credit my mom for instilling the sense of adventure I carry with me to this day. At the age of 7, she put me on an Air France Flight, all by myself, to spend the summer with my family in France. Do you realize how bad of a kid you have to be for your own mother to send you to a different country for three months? Well, I was that kid! In all seriousness, these experiences in France inspired me to follow an unconventional path through life up to this point.
The paragraph above is a small snippet of a series of adventurous experiences I had as a kid growing up, but it best explains how my adventurous side developed and why a person like myself decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. Of course, I like nature, challenges, and meeting new people. This played a role in my decision to hike the PCT. But the real reason is deeper and more profound.
As a regular student of yoga, I was taught to set an intention (or Sankalpa in Sanskrit) prior to each practice. This intention is formed by the heart and mind to help harness your internal Will to harmonize your body and soul. It typically isn’t shared but I break the rules quite often so here are two of my primary intentions for this hike. First, I hope to work on some self-identified faults, patience being number one. The second and most meaningful intention is focused on developing and strengthening the beautiful relationship I have with my partner Autumn Kruse. She is an angel and light to the world. We have endured long distance hardships, extreme proximity (like living in her 360sqft apartment in D.C...), and now an arduous 2650-mile trek along the PCT to further test out commitment to one another. The next four and a half months will test out relationship through a different set of challenges. Snow, rain, the desert sun, and some fun will deepen our understanding of each other and how we over come challenges as a team. So those are my two intentions I share with you.
Now, enough with the mushy stuff, here’s to a great summer and many more blog posts!
What
The motherf*ckin PCT baby!
The Pacific Crest Trail, or PCT, is a ~2,650 mile trail that stretches itself along the west coast of the USA, from the Mexican border into the southern part of Canada. It's littered with intense elevation and terrain, breathtaking landscapes, beautiful flora and fauna, deadly serpents and arachnoids, massive bears and mountain lions, mad mountain people, and so much more! At least that's what we've heard. Sounds exciting, right? We'll keep you updated.
When
Our start date is April 11th. If all goes as planned (which we know it won't), we'll be done around the beginning of September.
~ The average thru-hike on the PCT takes approximately 4.5 to 5 months to complete it
~ Record time: 51 days, 16 hours, 55 minutes. Holy shi shi! Way to go, Timothy Olson!
We'll probably hike an average of 20ish miles per day. Key word: average. Some days we might complete a torturous 30+ miles, and some days we'll complete zero or less. Less than zero, you ask? I guarantee at some point I'll leave my phone or Chris will leave his trekking pole or one of us will leave our entire pack, and we'll have to hike in reverse, ending the day further from the end than when the day began. But it's all part of the adventure.
Where
Again, the PCT runs itself along the west coast of The United States with its souther terminus at the Mexican border and its northern terminus 8 miles north of the Canadian border. It meanders itself through California, Oregon, and Washington, over extraordinary landscapes and vast elevation.
Peek at our gallery occasionally to see some snapshots of said landscapes!
Why
Why not?
It's not lost on us how fortunate we are to have the opportunity to thru-hike the PCT. To be able-bodied and also have the time and financial ability to do this goes to show how insanely lucky we are. We'll try to keep that in mind when we hit the Sierras and it's 33 degrees Fahrenheit and pouring rain and there's 50mph winds...
But that's why. Because we're able. And we love adventure and a good challenge and meeting inspirational people (which sounds like a guarantee on the PCT). A thru-hike is something we both had on our bucket lists when we met, so what better escapade to venture on together!
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