Longtime Listener, First Time Caller: 2026 PCT Thru-Hike Announcement

I am wise. I’ve spent years listening to the hiking world from the sidelines: learning, planning, and quietly turning the idea into something real. Now I’m intervening. I am taking the risk and committing to the work. 8 ball in the corner pocket: I’m taking my shot.

In 2026, I will attempt an end-to-end hike of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), starting at the Mexico-California border and ending at the Washington-Canada border. My goal is to complete the route in 120 days. For me, this hike is a deliberate reset. It is a test of discipline, a space for reflection and a way to return to work with a clearer vision. This is my PCT progress announcement: In 2026, I will move from planning to execution.

This decision is well founded. I’ve been planning it for about 15 years and my motivation has remained constant through major life changes. More recently, losing my mother and father made one thing clear: waiting for the “perfect moment” often turns into a delay. That’s why I’m not chasing an impulse. Instead, I am acting on a long-held commitment. I start now because the decision has been made and time works responsibly.

In Search of Paradise: My Dad at the Doyle Hotel (Duncannon, Pennsylvania). We hiked with Carlisle to Duncannon on the Appalachian Trail in the fall of 2021, a few months before he learned of his cancer diagnosis.

I plan to start heading north on Sunday, May 3, 2026. To remain durable, I will use a structured approach to training, logistics and recovery. My goal is consistency, not hero days. As a result, I will accumulate good days and manage risk in advance. If I do it right, the rhythm takes care of itself.

The Route: General map of the PCT (source: Pacific Crest Trail Association) showing the complete route from Southern California to Washington.

I don’t start from scratch, but I start with humility. I’ve tackled long trails before and learned what breaks a system. For example, pacing mistakes, nutrition mistakes, and poor recovery decisions quickly derail good plans. Over time, I gained experience on the Appalachian Trail, the Cohos Trail, the Arizona Trail, and the John Muir Trail. Those miles improved my way of planning, packing, and managing risk. This time, the goal is simple: finish. I’ll do it one controlled day at a time.

When it started clicking: At the Mexico-Arizona border monument on the Arizona Trail, one of the first trips where my trail systems started to look repeatable.

Below I’ll lay out my training plan, my refueling and budgeting approach, and the decision rules I’ll use for weather, health, and trail conditions. I’ll also explain what I’m changing from previous attempts and why those changes are important. For now I am finalizing my training blocks, resupply plan and support logistics.

This should get interesting.

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