Day 149, September 13: The End and Final Recap
Start: Mile 2555.0
End: Stehekin - Mile 2572.9
Miles: 17.9
Ascent: 1690 | Descent: 5049
It is bizarre to think I finished my PCT adventure over 4 months ago. I’ve put off writing my final blog post for a number of reasons, I think.
One, I didn’t want to admit it was over. It my big adventure - one that took so much planning, so much hard work and figuring out logistics, one that required me to put my entire life on pause, and one that allowed me to have fun for 5+ months straight and be (mostly) free from adult responsibilities. And that big adventure was over.
Two, I was absolutely relieved that it was indeed finally over. I was so relieved that I didn’t have to be in constant pain anymore, I could sleep on a comfortable bed each night, and I didn’t have to be constantly dirty and gross. Part of me wanted to distance myself from the difficult experience and not think about it anymore.
Three, it’s hard to know how to sum up the experience I had this summer. When people ask me how the PCT was, my first response is usually “really hard. But fun! I’m glad I did it.” And that still rings true. Dealing with the excruciating pain in my foot day in and day out was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done, and yet my mind has already started to blur the pain so that it feels like a foggy, long lost memory.
And yet the trail was a ton of fun. I’m so glad I got to have the experience, to see all the beautiful nature that I did, to meet the friends that I did, and to eat candy bars all day every day and feel and look the strongest I ever have in my life (lol).
I want to give a special shoutout to the friends I made along the way. This adventure wouldn’t have been the same without you, and I’m glad I had the laughs and silly conversations to look forward to at camp to push me through the day.
Ending my hike at Stehekin was bittersweet. I cried a lot on the last day while hiking into town. If I go back and hike any more PCT miles, the last 80 to the Canadian border will be my priority. Overall, my thru hike did not go the way I had planned, but I’m so incredibly glad and grateful to have done it. And maybe, just maybe, there will be some more crazy adventures in my future.
Dilly Dally, over and out.
Final Stats
Pacific Crest Trail
Total Days Hiked: 123
Total Miles Hiked: 1895 miles
Avg Miles/Day (no zeros/neros): 19.2
Avg Miles/Week: 97.5
Highest Mileage Day: 28.2 miles
Total Ascent: 336,300 feet
Total Descent: 340,100 feet
Total Zeros Taken: 26
Days Slept in a Tent: 87
Days Slept Cowboy Camping: 9
Most Days without a Shower: 12
Oregon Coast Trail
Total Days Hiked: 12
Total Miles Hiked: 151
Avg Miles/Day (no zeros/neros): 11.6
Avg Miles/Week: 81.3
Highest Mileage Day: 20.5
Total Ascent: 6298
Total Descent: 6063
Total Zeros Taken: 1
Days Slept in a Tent: 11
Days Slept Cowboy Camping: 0
Most Days without a Shower: 5
Grand Total
Total Days Hiked: 135 days
Total Miles Hiked: 2,046 miles
Avg Miles/Day: 15.2 miles
Avg Miles/Week: 97.5
Highest Mileage Day: 28.2 miles
Total Ascent: 342,598 feet
Total Descent: 310,163 feet
Total Zeros Taken: 27
Days Slept in a Tent: 98
Days Slept Cowboy Camping: 9
Most Days without a Shower: 12
Pairs of Shoes: 5
Boxes of Purple Hair Dye: 2
Milky Ways Eaten: Too many (or not enough?)
Beers Drank: Yes