What Lies Ahead

c) Andrew Carter, 2022

I hiked 1840 miles of the PCT in 2021. I had hoped to hike the remaining 814 miles in 2022. That’s not going to happen.

When I got to northern Washington earlier this month, I learned that the northernmost portion of the PCT is closed due to wildfires in Washington and British Columbia. So I got off the trail in Stehekin, leaving 81 miles of the PCT in Washington still to hike. I’ll have to return in 2023 to complete those miles. My “thru in two” becomes a “thru in three.”

I also have 50 miles of the PCT in the Sierra still to hike. I’ll take care of those miles in October.

Since April 3, 2021, I’ve hiked 2523 miles of the PCT. I’ve also hiked another 517 miles on the Benton MacKaye Trail and Tuscarora Trail back East. That’s 3040 miles in a year and a half. Add in the 50 miles in the Sierra I’ll hike next month plus the walk-in miles needed to reach trailheads in 2021 and 2022, and I’ll be close to 3200 actual miles before winter hits.

My long distance hiking days are coming to an end, however. It’s one thing to “ghost” Marta when she’s working, but she’ll be retiring soon and we have traveling we want to do together. I can envision shorter hikes in the future, but not anything longer than two or three weeks.

I hope you have enjoyed my posts, pictures, and videos. I’ve been blessed to be able to spend so much time in the wilderness these past two years. Who knows what the future holds?