By Allyson Wiley
I’m in college in the Midwest and am anxious to get on the Pacific Crest Trail. It’ll be another two years before I can take my shot at thru-hiking, so in the meantime, I’m seeking any possible way to connect with the trail.
One day last summer I stumbled upon volunteer opportunities on the Pacific Crest Trail Association’s website. In that moment I didn’t care that I was all the way in Oklahoma and that it would be a 24-hour drive to California. I knew this was a step toward the trail I’d been dreaming about and that I had to make it happen. I asked my most adventurous and nature-loving friends if they would be willing to volunteer part of their summer to help maintain a trail. Good thing they were crazy enough to say yes!
The PCT takes travelers through some of the most picturesque beauty in the West. If we were going to drive 2,000 miles for a trail that epitomizes that beauty, why not stop at some of the most iconic national parks and forests along the way? We had a plan: take a month-long road trip to the West Coast; once there, we’d spend five days volunteering on the PCT in the northern Sierra.
We stopped to hike in the Islands in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park. Brenna Hurst, Jacqui Ogle and Sabi Rivera.
While planning the trip, we decided the motto would be: “When are we ever going to be here again? Don’t know? Well, let’s make the most of it.” We sure did! This mindset allowed us to experience more than we ever would have, even if we actually lived in the western U.S. We were vagabonds for a month, experiencing life on the road. We packed light and ate backpacker food. We found ourselves in scenes from Moab, Utah, to Point Reyes National Seashore. Constant travel liberated us. We had absolute freedom, and we imagined “is this how it feels on the trail?” In California we met PCT thru-hikers and gave them rides. This brought us even closer to the trail I dreamed about. But our biggest adventure by far was the volunteer experience — building our own piece of the PCT.
Sabi Rivera near Alcove Spring, Canyonlands National Park
We counted the days until our arrival in Sierra City, where we’d get to volunteer on the trail. When we arrived, we were filled with excitement, but also nervousness and fear. We worried about silly things like if we were too young, if we had enough hiking experience, or if we were athletic enough to actually help do the work. After our first day on the volunteer crew, we were relieved. We were volunteering with American Conservation Experience (ACE) crewmembers, other volunteers, PCTA technical advisors. The project was possible because of the dedication of the staff of the Tahoe National Forest. I could not have asked for a better group. They showed us you don’t have to know it all or be crazy athletic to help. All the tasks were doable and when we felt like we couldn’t handle it, we went and helped in another area. We learned that there are so many aspects that go into making a trail, and our crew leaders allowed us to experience almost all of them. Every day we had a different task.
Jacqui Ogle and Sabi Rivera working on the new section of PCT that’s being built in the Sierra Buttes.
I left the volunteer project with more knowledge, experience, awareness, friends, connections, opportunities and a greater sense of fulfillment than I could have ever expected. It was absolutely humbling. I’ve hiked on trails for years with no thought of how they were created. After this experience, I see trails differently. I appreciate every aspect, every feature. When I step on trails now, I’m reminded of my experience on the PCT and how many hours (sometimes days!) that it takes to put in that one rock step or to widen that one section of tread. I learned that trails aren’t just walking paths. They’re art; art that I can no longer take for granted.
Allyson Wiley and Connor Swift building trail.
I hope to thru-hike the PCT in two years and I can’t wait to walk on the part of the trail that I helped create. I’m so proud that every other thru-hiker, day hiker and equestrian will get to see it too. My volunteer experience on the PCT was more than I ever imagined it would be and I’m so grateful that barriers such as distance and my school schedule didn’t interfere. I can’t thank the PCTA, the ACE crew, and the other volunteers with whom I worked enough for creating such an unforgettable opportunity.
Brenna Hurst, Kevin Broch and Ken Geib hang out near the project site in Ken’s RV. Wild Plum Campground.
The best adventures are the ones that change you, change your perspective and allow you to look at the world differently. Volunteering for the PCT is definitely one of those adventures. You can bet I’ll be volunteering every summer until I graduate, even if that means driving all the way from Oklahoma.
Support our trail crews by donating or volunteering today.
Brenna Hurst and Allyson Wiley on top of Angels Landing in Zion National Park.