Why am I hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2026?

My name is Crispy, I will be starting the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) northbound (nobo) at the end of March 2026.

I took my first steps along the southern terminus of the PCT in March 2018. At that point I had been backpacking for less than two years and this was going to be my first real hike of any length.

After a couple of weeks, 150 miles, I developed plantar fasciitis. I decided it was best to take care of myself and when I arrived in Idyllwild, CA, I happily purchased some shoe inserts.

A few days later, while walking alone back to the mountains, I began to feel homesick. That’s when I did what they say you should never do. I quit smoking on a bad day. I decided to go home.

While I was home I started to get depressed and lose track. Realizing what an incredible opportunity to have a PCT permit was, along with the time and finances to do it. I contacted my backpacking mentor Rich, who took me back to the trail, of course, after a breakfast stop at Paradise Valley Cafe (highly recommended).

While walking through the Tehachapi/Death Valley section I started to feel pain in both legs, it was shin splints. Camped for a day at Bird Spring Pass, water cache mile 632. Fortunately, I was able to get a trail angel to take me into town so I could rest.

Since I had planned to meet a group from Orange County in the Sierras to climb Olancha Peak, I stayed for 10 days while I tried to heal until my friend Caryn was able to pick me up and then we drove to meet the group. At that time I hoped to continue with the PCT after our summit in Olancha. He had even collected a week’s worth of food, determined to continue after they returned.

The next day when we returned to camp from Olancha and that was when the truth, or rather, the pain, set in. Lihat juga pdf view. I was not healed enough to continue hiking in the Sierras.

I felt overwhelmed and disappointed that I couldn’t finish the PCT that year.
I also felt very overwhelmed with gratitude to be in the Sierras and with this group. We split my gear and food between them to help reduce what I had to carry. As we walked, I only carried water and snacks, then we headed to OC.

I recovered and started working again.

In 2019 I applied for a permit for 2020. However, that was when COVID closed the trails. Then in the fall of 2020, the wildfires were so bad in the west that I decided to go to the east coast to try hiking the Appalachian Trail.

In 2021 I completed the northbound Appalachian Trail and then the Pinhoti Trail.

The Summer of 2022, with the help of my girlfriend Reut, I returned to Walker Pass, at mile 653.2. I then walked to Kennedy Meadows South and was met by my friend Marble, even though he was recovering from an injury.

The night before Mount Whitney I ran into a hiker, Pippin, whom I had taken earlier that year on the Pinhoti Trail. It’s always nice to see a familiar face in the middle of the Mountains.

At Mammoth Lakes, Marble decided to stay off the trail due to his injury and continued alone to mile 1018 of Sonora Pass. At that point my shoes had holes in them and I couldn’t afford to replace them.

When I arrived at Sonora Pass, Marbel had not only hitchhiked to meet me, but had also met a man camped in his truck who made us a hot meal that night and coffee in the morning. With a trip through the mountains to better reach Los Angeles, I was able to get a ticket to fly back to Georgia thanks to my wonderful brother.

Now, in 2026, I will return to the southern tip and extend the PCT from start to finish in one year.

I feel like the years and miles I’ve hiked since my 2018 attempt have made me a stronger backpacker.

I’m excited to see where the road takes me in 2026.

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