Absurd Questions People Ask PCT Hikers
Reading Time: 3 minutes I don’t know if it is because they are excited to be meeting someone thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, or if it can simply be attributed to a lack of logic within our society, but the questions asked by people you meet along the PCT are quite absurd (and they are incredibly frustrating and annoying once you have heard them for the hundredth time).
Acceptable Questions
NOTE: You must answer these questions (literally) every time you interact with someone who is not a thru-hiker, and so despite them being perfectly legitimate questions, you get incredibly sick of answering them.
When did you start?
I started on May 17, 2013.
Where did you start?
I started in Campo, California at the US/Mexico border.
You’re doing this all by yourself?
I started the trail alone, but I have met many other hikers along the way, and I am always aware of who is in front (and in back) of me.
Where does it start in Mexico?
The trail does not start in Mexico, it starts in Campo, California at the US-Mexico border.
What did you do to prepare?
Physically? I essentially ate whatever I wanted, knowing hoping that I would get in shape. Logistically? Well, there’s a complicated answer there.
Is the trail well-marked?
Generally, yes, the trail is better marked than I would have expected. However, there are plenty of opportunities to get lost and plenty of stretches that offer no markings whatsoever.
Unacceptable Questions
Do you carry all your food (for the entire hike) with you?
I don’t know what to say to people when they ask me this. Do I carry enough food with me to hike all the way from Mexico to Canada? Let’s see…five months, elevated caloric needs, one backpack – yes, totally plausible that this much food would fit into a single bag and that I would be capable of carrying it.
What do you do for sleeping?
Every night I press a button on my locator beacon, and a helicopter comes to airlift me to the closest town where I stay in the nicest available hotel. I also get food brought to me while I enjoy my daily massage, of course. Oh, wait, no. Actually, I sleep on the ground in a bag of feathers. What’s the alternative here?
What about bears?
Bears? What about bears? Bears are pretty cool. I hope I see a lot of them.
Are you carrying a gun?
Why? Why is this one of the first things people think of asking PCT hikers? What a messed-up country this is for this to be a question you would ask a complete stranger. No, I am not carrying a gun (nor do I know of anyone hiking the trail carrying a gun). Tell me why I need a gun. To shoot aggressive animals? To shoot people? To hunt? Guns aren’t even permitted in National Parks where the PCT spends a lot of time.
So you are walking the entire time?
Are you asking me if I ride on the backs of wild animals while out on the trail? If I am actually just driving between Mexico and Canada? If I hike without sleep, without breaks, and without stopping until I reach Canada? What…?
Have you heard of that one book…?
That book, Wild? Yes, I have heard of it. Nobody can ever think of this book’s name, and for some reason, everyone thinks it interests me. A book about some woman who hiked less than half of the PCT and how it made her a better person? It’s not a hiking book. Do you know why it’s not a hiking book? Because hiking books are boring.
Do you need anything?
Of course, I need things. I am a thru-hiker, I always need things. Give me anything edible you’re willing to part with.
Some are these are pretty hilarious but, unfortunately, you kinda come across as sounding like an complete ass, and nothing like the types of people that I’m actually used to meeting on a thru hike (i.e. not arrogant asses). For example:
You’re welcome!
Thank you for this fabulous website. I’ve read a lot of your articles and comments, determined that you are a great person, and am grateful for all that you have provided here. That said, you seemed to be in a bad mood when you wrote this article, and I aree that you came off sounding like a butthole. I’m really glad that I was fortunate to read your other writings before this.
You’re absolutely right. This being one of the oldest articles on the site as far as the PCT goes, it wasn’t written for a wider audience. I’ve made a few changes that hopefully take some of the sting out of this post.
I’m creeping on your whole blog as I plan a pct thru hike. I thought your cdt in 4 minutes video was my favorite part of the internet. I think this has now gained first place.
This makes me happy.
LOL. Favorite and funniest page I’ve read in a long time! And I read a lot of pages. Thank you!
I particularly like “Do you carry all your food (for the entire hike) with you?”. Why not reply with “Yes, I eat about a pound & one-half each day, and this trip will take about 140 days. Hence I started with about 200 pounds of food.”
Yes, and it’s all loaded up on my donkey who hikes ahead and sets up camp for me every day.
I carry a gun when I hike/backpack without my husband. Just makes me feel better/safer as a woman. And, yeah, it’s not really for the bears or mountain lions…
Personal choice is all, i was just pointing out that I didn’t think the question was as absurd as the writer did. To each their own.
I have been dreaming of and researching taking this hike since my wife and I picked up some thru-hikers at Glacier Lake a year ago. I have throughly read your every word, but I still have one fairly tough question.
You may not be able to answer this but I don’t know who else to ask. Do you think someone afraid of falling with severe epilepsy, loose joints (from Ehler-Danlos Syndome…which also causes much pain) and one eye could survive this hike? Truly, would you, with your love of this hike and all the positive experiences you had, attempt this hike in my state of health? And if so, how would I go about finding hiking partners that would hike with someone like me?
Due to my not yet being a medical professional, I fear the repercussions of urging you to undertake this monumentous journey. Perhaps one day I (or your doctor) can answer this question for you.
I heard of a dood who was blind and walked the PCT with his guide dog. He fell and had his fare share of stumbles and it took him a bit longer, but he still did it. As with anything big and adventure-oriented, talk to your doc, but don’t forget about it!
“I sleep on the ground in a bag of feathers”
Mac I’m dying; your intellectual indignance is gold. So is that one pic where you’re glowering and not wearing pants
HA! Just trying to keep it honest over here (as evidenced by my pant-less glower).
Keep up the good work on your end, rapidly-accelerating, fire-engulfed, space-bound llama.