For those who know me, it should come as no surprise that I’m setting out on another hike. Only this time it’s on a completely different level than anything I’ve tackled before. Having introduced over 100 teenage students to the joys of hiking over the past few years (through the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award), the time has come to begin my own adventurous journey.
How I got to where I am
I’ve been hiking since I was about 13 (35 years ago), initially in the Boys’ Brigade and at school while growing up in the south west of England. I began with day walks in the windswept moorland landscapes of Dartmoor, where I learned essential navigation and orienteering skills. The challenges progressed to 2-day competitive walks in various areas of the UK, which instilled a sense of adventure in me and I successfully completed increasingly arduous challenges.
As I progressed through university and beyond, I expanded the range of placements, always looking for the next challenge, always learning something new. Sometimes a skill that was necessary to tackle the terrain, or something about me as I endured the physical and mental battles one encounters in the mountains.
Moving to the US gave me the opportunity to share my skills and knowledge at school with groups of students through the IDOE awards program, for many of whom this was their first experience hiking and boating on their own. Meanwhile, this new landscape opened up many more possibilities for incredible places to explore.
Moving towards the Challenge
Most of my hikes have lasted between 2 and 10 days: enough to explore new areas, but always leaving me wishing I could go further. There’s always one more peak I want to climb, or one more mountain lake I want to reach.
I started reading about popular long distance trails in the US and thought it would be an awesome thing to do someday, if I ever had the time. Bill Bryson’s humorous book while facing the AT, along with several YouTubers blogging about the PCT, made it seem possible.
I came across a good opportunity where I had the time, enough money saved, and the physical ability (plus a visa!) to make it happen. So I committed to a hike, I just had to decide which one.
Why the CDT?
If I was just going for one hike, I wanted to make it worth it. This meant it had to be one of the big three: the PCT, the AT or the CDT.
Conventional wisdom would suggest the AT, as it’s the most accessible, has the lowest elevation, and is the most popular (and therefore has the most people on the trail – useful if you’re struggling or just need motivation).
Or the PCT, which benefits from stunning views and also has a real community feel due to the popularity of the route.
However, the CDT just appealed to me: the remoteness and self-sufficiency, the incredible wilderness areas it passes through, and the «choose your own adventure» style of route where you really need to navigate and you can adapt your route to suit your needs. If you want to get more pick bagging, go for it. If you need to save some time with a cut, that’s fine too. And like I mentioned, if I’m just going for one hike, I want it to be worth it!
Next steps
In my next post: planning and preparation. The longest hike I’ve ever done before was 10 days. The CDT is going to have a completely different level of preparation…
This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any products or services you purchase using links in articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price they would otherwise pay, and their purchase helps support The Trek’s ongoing goal of bringing you quality backpacking information and advice. Thank you for your support!
For more information, visit the About page of this site.
