FIN-ish

   

Fire Creek Pass

   And here we are, 1 month after the feet had walked 2650 miles. I'm sitting here in Missoula, MT, a place I hold dear to my heart and I still can't seem to figure out how to describe the journey that took place this Summer.

Headed toward Stevens Pass

  For some people it is really easy to transition back into their life before the trail, for others not so much. I have adapted well in most environments but there seems to be something missing now that I have chosen not to walk and walk and walk...at least for a few months.

GOAT Time

    In the past month I've been in in 3 different countries, multiple time zones, many airports and in several large cities. It has been a complete 180 from waking up each morning in a sleeping bag, eating protein/energy bars as I hiked to the next water source and surrounded by the natural beauty along the trail. The past few weeks have consisted of waking up on a mattress, choosing the type of breakfast I want to eat (hot, cold, warm, etc) and walking (if I want to) to a destination that probably has running water and a toilet seat to sit on.

Highest Pt on PCT left

  People have asked me now, "So how does it feel to be done?!" and "Is it weird being back in the real world?" How does one answer those questions? Personally it feels as if I didn't just complete this trek across the country, it's almost as if it didn't happen. That sounds looney, I know, but bear with me here as I don't have an elevator speech/talk for this because it is not something that can be condensed into 30 seconds. Also I want to note that nothing is done, it feels as if it is just the beginning.

Tunnel Falls, OR

  So to help find some more meaning and to help others see or understand what it is a thru hike consists of I've done some calculations. See Results Below:

1. How Many Zero Days Did You Take (Zero Day = No Hiking)
  a).  21 Days Off

2. What about Nero Days (Near Zero Days that included some hiking into or out of a town or resupply stop)
  a.) 12 Nero Days

3. What was your average mileage per day?
  a). 29.3 Miles Per day
  b). Hiking 10 hours per day on average

Mt. Adams

4. What Was your Shortest Day
  a) 4 Miles

5. What was your longest Day?
  a). 38.7 miles

6. What was your longest stretch without a resupply (Resupply = getting more food/supplies in town)?
  a. ) 6 Days, from Tuolumne Meadows to South Lake Tahoe

Volcanic Rock = Trail

7. What was your pack Weight to Start? And Finish?
 a). Starting Pack Weight - 42 lbs
 b). Finishing Pack Weight - 24 lbs

8. What was the most water you had to carry? Least Water?
  a). Most Water Carried = 6 liters
  b). Least water carried = 0.5 liters

White Pass

More Numbers!!!

• 6 pairs of shoes worn
• 5 blisters (all in desert)
• 10 pairs of socks used
• 1 shirt (lasted from border to border...with many shabby patch jobs)
• 1 pair of shorts (worn until South Lake Tahoe)
• 1 pair of zip off pants (found in Hiker Box in South Lake Tahoe...with it's on shabby patch job)
• 1 hat (lasted from border to border)
• 1 pack (lasted from border to border...many a tear in it)
• 1 sleeping bag (lasted border to border...losing down due to compression)
• 8 sawyer squeeze bags burst (will no longer use these...ever)

3 Finger Jack

A Few more Fun Facts:

• Humans Encountered on Trail : Hundreds (4000 + permits issued this year, doubling every year)
• Mosquitoes Encountered on Trail : Millions 
• Bars Eaten on Trail : Hundreds
• Times it Rained while we were hiking: 4
• Food You Cannot Eat Anymore: Trail Mix
• Favorite In Town Meal: Paradise Cafe Burger
• Favorite Section: Sierras, North Cascades
• Least Favorite: Hat Creek Rim (was sick) and Sky Lakes Wilderness (Bugs and Blowdowns)
• 1 Phone Broken, 1 Camera Broken (Lesson...maybe)
• Fundraising Goals Reached - YES!!!! Thanks to everyone for their donations and positive energy!

     I don't think it will fully hit me until later in life but I have even more appreciation for our public lands in this country. In addition, the love, altruism and friendships I saw on trail give me hope in humanity in this time of great division. I appreciate life so much more now and will strive to continue to live mine while doing what I can to help others along the way.

Glacier Peak Wilderness

If some bold revelations come to me I'll post them on the blog but until then I am still a little speechless from the experience.

Dragon Glass

    It is still too early to answer this but I'll do it right now for the moment I'm in:

If you Could Do it All Over Again...would you? 

Yes

POST PCT Celebration

Thank you again for taking the time to follow the blog. Thank you to all the wonderful trail angels and caring citizens I met along the trail. Thank you to the PCTA for doing all the work that they do keeping the Trail Maintained, safe and for educating people on backcountry travel. Thank you to all the hikers who I will always call a friend now. Thank you to my family for always supporting me even though I've chosen some more unconventional paths to follow. 

Thank you ,

Tyler "The Prodigy"

FIN-Ish