Introduction to Thru Hiker: The Hike

Hello! I’m Bridget and in 2026 I’m trying to hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) with my wife Sarah.

How do we get here?

Trail running in Mount Rainier National Park

I grew up in Western New York and often spent time camping and hiking in the Adirondack Mountains. When Sarah and I met, we were both living in Albany, New York, and we decided to hike our 46 peaks together, meaning the 46 high peaks in New York State. The rugged mountains taught us to persevere through long days and diverse conditions. When we moved to the west coast we discovered curves and well-graded trails like the PCT, and a dream was formed. Over the years we have planned and plotted, forecasting when we might take a 6 month break from work life. We delayed it for various reasons but finally circumstances aligned and we set a date for the biggest hike of our lives.

Why now?

When we first raised the idea of ​​taking an extended period of time off from work, almost everyone assumed we would have a child. There is some confusion when we tell people “no, I will actually be walking from Mexico to Canada.” And for some, I can appreciate that it is confusing. We are both 30 years old, we are in the middle of our careers, and we have a lifetime to do this path that basically passes through our house. Why not wait until we retire?

A morning at the Tour du Mont Blanc, a backpacking trip before getting injured pdf view.

For me, the time is now. Last September, while spending a typical fall Saturday playing rugby, I felt something trembling in my knee. Everything seemed fine, I walked off the field and didn’t feel any pain. But something still wasn’t quite right. Over the next few days, my knee swelled, I lost range of motion, and it hurt. After more than a month (thank you, US healthcare system), I had an MRI and was told I was very lucky because I «only» partially tore my ACL. We had already put plans in motion to do the tour and I was getting more and more nervous that this silly knee-shaking thing would derail everything. While I was told I could still do the tour, I quickly learned that I would be doing a lot of physical therapy and that it would take months to get back to what I felt was normal.

As recovery progressed, I became even more determined to try the hike this year. If a simple knee wobble could derail me for months, who knows what my body will be like in 30 years when I retire? Not to mention what the trail will be like in 30 years. With the increase in wildfires, the trail could look very different when it comes time to hike it. If I don’t go now, I may not have the chance.

What’s next?

I am very excited and nervous to embark on the journey, and very happy to be able to share it with anyone who wants to follow this blog. We are currently immersed in the preparation phase, fine-tuning equipment, training our bodies, and dehydrating our favorite foods. I hope you’ll stay tuned for some pre-trail updates as we hit the trail when spring arrives!

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