This time a year I become a bit nostalgic, because in 2005 my son was in the last phases of his preparation for hiking the PCT. For those unaware of this feat, the Pacific Crest Trail is part of a set of National Trails, this one stretches from just over the Mexico boarder and tries to follow the mountain crest all the way to Canada.

 

 His trip started on May 21, 2005 and ended on October 2, 2005. As you might expect the logistics alone on such a hike are staggering. Each year several hundred brave soles head out on the trail, either starting in Mexico or Canada. Only a small fraction of those that start are able to finish. This accomplishment has to rank up there with any other human athletic feat. To put this in perspective, if you complete the PCT you have basically walked a marathon every day for an entire summer.

 

His approach was to mail supply packages to various spots along the trail, getting needed gear and food for the next section and returning unneeded items. This girl friend and now wife was his primary support person for the trip, although his mom stepped in when he got to Oregon. To make things even a bit more challenging, he is a very strict vegan so many of the normal PCT foods were off limits.

 I will chronicle my emotions during his trip as the summer progresses. I do recall May 21, 2005, the day that he and his hiking partner started out on the trail. My wife and I had a copy of his planned timetable that included the pickup spots. Our only connection with him during his hike was periodic telephone calls and photos that his girlfriend posted.

 

I remember that first day thinking on one side what an exciting opportunity, on the other as a parent apprehension of the dangers ahead.  

 

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