My PCT strategy: the journey

How do you eat an elephant? A therapist once asked me this while I was pregnant with my fourth baby and I suddenly found myself a single mother with three children under 5 years old. At that time I had no answer. The task before me was unfathomable and I wanted better Strategy to be a mother. There were none.

By definition, a strategy is formulating an action plan to achieve a goal, right? This plan is the guiding force for each subsequent consecutive movement and serves as a symbiotic springboard that aligns each action making the goal more achievable.

So how will I strategize how to walk from Mexico to Canada for 5 months? The key to unlocking this One Eyed Willy treasure known as The Pacific Crest Trail is perhaps a little more complicated. There are hundreds of well-intentioned advice givers, “triple crowns of professional hikers” Type A, planned mile advisors, trail angels, forest rangers, social media influencers, tubers and the list goes on.

From desert heat, proper gear, weather, water, resupplying and then “how to” on how to tackle the Sierra Nevada despite the inability to know snow conditions until literally weeks before entering. It seems impossible to sift through all the information to develop the “perfect” strategy. So I decided I’m just not going to do it. (mic drop). My The strategy is to have NO strategy.

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

Strategy NOT Strategy

Call me crazy. I can accept it. But before you judge my decisions as Cheryl Strayed-style recklessness, hear me out. I’m not saying don’t prepare or do your due diligence, but rather shamelessly lean into the unknown. I find the idea of ​​meticulously planning a 2,650 mile search mentally exhausting. To complicate an already inconceivable idea, I personally run the risk of giving up before even setting foot on the path. The mental gymnastics required begs the question: how important is it? Which is not!

That is The crucial thing for me is to have the mental strength to move forward and protect that mentality at all costs. Instead, I’ll plan a few weeks, maybe even just a few days in advance. Knowing that invariably my plan will change in some way and when it does it will be imperative that I adjust and flow, so here it is…

Yes, I will see a rattlesnake, I will run out of water, something will break, I may even get hurt or not make it to Mount Whitney. Alright! Food, water and shelter THAT’S ALL. The rest will be fine.

Let’s break it down given the overwhelming amount of advice out there on how to plan a hike. Because there’s no doubt that there is value in that, however, in my opinion, an «appropriate» strategy for completing a 2,650 mile hike is as personal as a runner choosing a running shoe (if you know it, you know it).

• What is the best store to carry out the PCT? The one you can!
• What is the best sleeping bag to carry? Whichever is comfortable!
• How many miles should I plan to walk a day? As many as you want!
• How many refill boxes should I send myself? NONE or 10!

There is NO one-size-fits-all solution and there are too many factors that come into play when deciding what works. The beauty of attempting a thru-hike lies in the details, which often only become truly clear once you’re on the trail; At least, that’s what backpacking has taught me so far. And, to be fair, living in a van has provided similar lessons.

“HYOH” walk your own walk

There is a saying that circulates in the 12-step community, when considering joining. «Take what you want and leave the rest!» I think this concept easily applies to strategizing for a hike. At the risk of being repetitive, I am in no way saying that you shouldn’t use the immense resources that exist on social media platforms. A lot of information can be invaluable and I too have benefited from many that came before me. But I’ll be selective because once my feet hit that path, all bets are off. Some of the best-laid plans will fall apart within weeks, days, or even hours. Mother Nature will dole out whatever she pleases and there is no predetermined strategy that accounts for all of her glory. So, in my case, I’m going to grab the biggest spoon I can find and take a bite! I will listen to snow reports, investigate water reservoirs, pay attention to wildfires, and do my own due diligence to be safe and responsible. BUT what I will NEVER do is let fear and mountains of advice tie me down in the minutiae that requires a detailed strategy for something that has the ability to literally change with the wind.

Of this generation chasing One Eyed Willy this year and all those in between and after, let’s remember: «THIS IS OUR MOMENT!» Happy trails.

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.