Ruffing It: Kate and the Pacific Crest Trail

Meet Kate, our wonderful niece, who is hiking the entire 2,650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. She began her hike on May 8 at the California/Mexico border. Since then, she has hiked 2,155 miles. We were blessed and privileged to watch her hike from Oregon into Washington. With less than 500 miles to go, she is on track to complete her journey by October 15.

Kate is hiking with a purpose. She hopes to build awareness for the need to keep children and youth exploring and experiencing the natural world. She has put together a non-profit specifically for the hike and is asking for donations that will be split evenly between two non-profits dedicated to helping children directly experience nature. One hundred percent of donations will be split between Canyonlands Field Institute and City Kids Wilderness Project. (To learn more about Kate's project, please visit www.hikingtogetkidsoutside.org). Kate has worked for both of these groups as an outdoor specialist in the past, including leading river tours for families. For more information about Kate, her cause, and her hike, just click here: http://www.moabtimes.com/view/full_story/23822765/article-Moab-woman-hikes-2-650-miles-to-raise-money-for-groups-that-help-kids-experience-nature?instance=secondary_one_leftcolumn

Kate and her two hiking companions arrived at Cascade Locks at about 9:30 p.m., Thursday evening, after 36 miles of hiking... their longest single day hike ever. They had one request: pizza and beer to celebrate. We arrived at our rendezvous spot with three enormous, hot pizzas on my lap (the park host said they were small... but they definitely were anything but). Our hikers were ecstatic!

Kate, Emily, and Ian

We took them back to our campground for the night. In between whispered conversations about the trail and some of their experiences, they munched on two of the pizzas and filled up with much-needed beer carbs. Emily and Ian, Kate's current hiking companions, are both New Hampshire natives. They began their thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) about the same time as Kate and have criss-crossed paths several times. Both are wonderful young folks... like Kate, very special.

We awoke the next morning to a tiny tent city behind our camper. For breakfast, the group wanted nothing more than to finish the remaining pizza!

PCT tent city

We spent the morning and much of the afternoon chatting and watching each of the hikers meticulously repack their backpacks. Ian and Emily had both received re-provision packages at the post office from home. Kate was expecting her next package further up the trail. The hikers usually carry sufficient food for seven days to reduce their overall pack weight. As an example, Kate's pack weighs about 48 pounds when loaded with necessary gear, six days of rations, and one liter of water. In addition, she carries a tent, sleeping bag, cooking gear, clothing, and essentials.

Kate's pack and gear

It was fascinating to hear about their hiking experiences. While David and I backpacked for many years, we never undertook such an enormous goal. I think that our most ambitious hike was 22 miles over four days! The gear has definitely changed over the years. We used aluminum frame packs rather than the current internal compression packs... and everything was heavier! However, it was great to be able to share some of our past experiences and a few food ideas.

It was also fascinating to hear how different thru-hiking is than backpacking. With backpacking, you normally hike to a specific place, normally some wonderful vista. With thru-hiking, the whole idea is to make time, so those vistas are often bypassed. We also learned a bit about the PCT culture. As an example, there are "trail angels" along the trail... people who live nearby who help the PCT hikers with everything from food, to shelter, to rides to and from the post office or hitch town. We also learned that everyone had a nickname... Cold Water, Giggles, Shark Rider, Banjo, and Cougar Bait were a few of the PCT hikers that we met. Each nickname is given because of a personality trait or unusual situation that someone observed.

The Pacific Crest Trail Association reports that only 600-800 thru-hikers begin the trail each season, with approximately 60 percent succeeding in their quest. Kate will be part of the Class of 2013. She will finish the hike at the U.S.—Canadian border, north of Seattle and near the Manning Provincial Park in British Columbia.

Too soon, it was time for the group to head out. The hikers are ever concerned about the arrival of an early winter and snow during this last portion of the PCT. After tanking them up on burger, fries, and ice cream at the Eastwind Drive-In, we dropped the hikers off at the PCT trail where we had rendezvoused just yesterday. The trail would now take them across the Bridge of the Gods between Oregon and Washington.