And so it begins… Tomorrow I will take a bus from downtown San Diego to Campo, California, less than a mile from the monument on the Mexican border that marks the southern beginning of the Pacific Crest Trail. The next day I will take my first steps in an attempt to walk the 2,656 miles to Canada.
I’ve spent the last few weeks preparing for this hike: visiting the dentist and doctor, researching equipment and logistics, getting my body back into reasonable shape, seeing as much of my friends and family as possible, and tying up professional and personal loose ends.
However, I have to admit that before every outing I get nervous. In the days before a hike, I wake up at night thinking, «Am I fit enough?» “Have I done enough research?” “What if I get burned or injured in the first hundred miles?”
Fortunately, I have learned that this is just part of my process and once I am on the path I will be fine. Did I train enough? Probably not, but I’ll get stronger every day. Do I know everything about the trail? No, but there is There’s something special about leaving room for a little mystery, some magical surprises. And if I shut down or get injured it won’t be because I haven’t tried my best.
There’s no way to completely control a hike, and frankly, it would be a lot less interesting if you were. Part of the fun is the challenge of the unexpected. It’s not really a question of if something will go wrong, but of what and when, and the creativity needed to respond. The only thing you can do ahead of time is prepare as best you can, make a broad plan, and then move forward.
Wish me luck!
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