Unfortunately, there's often a log of fearmongering that goes on surrounding a Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hike. Many would-be mongerers of fear have never hiked the PCT (or maybe at all) before and are largely afraid of irrational things (like murderers in the woods). As a former PCT thru-hiker,
I’m Afraid Of The Dark
I have a confession to make to you all: I'm afraid of the dark. People always ask me if I'm afraid hitchhiking, or solo travel, or the BearCat, and the answer is always the same: no. But you know what I am afraid of? Being alone in the forest after the sun goes down. That shit terrifies me.
9 Things To Remember Hiking The Pacific Crest Trail
If you're thinking about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, then there's a pretty good chance that everyone in your life thinks they have some excellent advice to give you about thru-hiking (even if they've never set foot on a trail). Fortunately you know better than to listen to them, and instead
How To Survive A Thunderstorm: What To Do (Part 4 of 4)
So there's good news and bad news, which do you want first? Bad news? Alright. The bad news is (and I've mentioned this many times before), that there is no safe place outdoors during a thunderstorm. You cannot do anything to guarantee your safety, only things to marginally improve your
How To Survive A Thunderstorm: The Myths (Part 3 of 4)
I've already discussed the basics of thunderstorms and how to predict them, but now we'll discuss something important: the most common myths and misconceptions surrounding lightning. Unfortunately, searching the internets for information on how to correctly behave during a thunderstorm can lead
17 Things I Learned On The Pacific Crest Trail
Having never been overnight backpacking before in my life, you would be correct in assuming that there was (and definitely still is) a lot about the outdoors and the Pacific Crest Trail that I understood little to none of. Fortunately, I had plenty of time to learn whilst out thru-hiking the
How To Survive A Thunderstorm: Prediction (Part 2 of 4)
One of the best ways to protect yourself from lightning strikes is to avoid being in a compromising position in the first place. I know this doesn't help if you're in the backcountry when you're caught in a storm, but since there is no safe place outdoors during a thunderstorm (and since there's
How To Survive A Thunderstorm: The Basics (Part 1 of 4)
Forget about bears and the boogieman, the only real thing to fear in the wild is nature's fury. Said fury can manifest itself in many ways: volcanic eruptions, flash floods, landslides, avalanches, earthquakes, wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, limnic eruptions, blizzards, and the topic
Choosing Footwear for a Long Distance Hike
Shoes are like love. They are unique to each person, and without them this cruel world will chew you up (love protects against this happening, right?). During the first few weeks walking a long distance trail (such as the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, or Continental Divide Trail), you