Photo provided by Megan Gorsky.
With the thru-hiking season coming to a close and the end of the year fast approaching, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the stories that the trail has shaped. We reached out to the PCT Class of 2024 and asked them to share with us how the experience has impacted their lives. Why the Pacific Crest Trail? Who are they now, on the other side of the Terminus, or who do they hope to be? What does it all mean when it’s time to call another place beyond the trail home again? We’re delighted to share with you a few of the trail completion stories from this past year.
We hope you connect with them as we did.
Photo provided by Camille.
“My name is Camille, aka Sparkle, and sometimes Sparky! After a decade of dreaming and distantly aiming for my own PCT thru-hike, it finally became a reality! I, of course, found out about the trail through a visit to the movie theater with my family in 2014. Wild was my introduction at age 13. I was immediately inspired and obsessed. Being a young backpacker and an angsty teen I wanted nothing more than an opportunity to explore and be filled with awe, wonder and purpose. At 23, as I neared the end of my college days, I set myself up for the perfect thru-hike season after graduation. A friend and colleague of mine played a huge role in my confidence building and decision to go for it and truly begin the journey (although I don’t think she knew at the time).
She was the first young woman I had known who completed a thru-hike and had set out alone. Knowing her helped me to realize I was actually capable. That I could really do it. I prepared and showed up at the southern terminus as a solo hiker, but I was never alone. I instantly made the kind of connections I dreamed of and continuously fell in love with the natural world, the kindness of strangers, my own inner experience, and building new friendships. An absolutely unbelievable moment standing at the Northern Terminus and knowing “I walked here.” – Camille “Sparkle”
“Pancakes” (right) and their partner “Sunshine” (left) pictured at the Northern Terminus.
“I learned a lot about myself on this trail, but very subtly. It wasn’t something that fell out of the sky and slapped me in the face, rather a collection of small moments that called for self-reflection, leading me to a plethora of answers I had been seeking. Be patient and give yourself grace, as sometimes you won’t realize what you’ve learned until you have gotten off trail.” – Megan “Pancakes”
Photo of Madeleine “Berlin Falling” while on trail.
“When I started this adventure, I had no idea how to handle mountains or navigate deserts. Everything I know, I learned along the way. Each new challenge taught me something about survival, resilience, and myself.
The Pacific Crest Trail was nothing like I expected. I set out excited to hike solo, but instead, I found a trail family that journeyed with me all the way to the Northern Terminus. The experiences along the way were unforgettable: night hiking in the desert under the stars, with coyotes howling nearby, battling relentless mosquito swarms in the High Sierra, and pushing through stretches where heat and wildfire smoke felt nearly unbearable. The trail was full of contrasts – silent sunrises over mountains, endless open spaces, and a constant sense of freedom with every step.
These 5 months were more than just a hike; it was beautiful, humbling, and full of surprises. In the end, it wasn’t just the scenery but the sense of community and adventure that truly changed me. This journey, with its unique beauty and challenges, will forever stay in my heart.” – Madeleine “Berlin Falling“
To the PCT Class of 2024,
You’ve accomplished something extraordinary! We’d be honored to send you a certificate to recognize your time on the trail and have a physical keepsake. The PCT completion medal is one of the world’s great keepsakes. They’re only available to you and the rest of your alumni community. Both medals and certificates are available when you fill out the trail completion form.
If you’d like to participate in sharing your own trail completion story, there’s still time! Our intent is to highlight a wide variety of diverse and unique reflections from people’s time on the trail. We hope this can be part of your time capsule to help capture this year on the PCT. Please send along your trail completion story, which should be between 150 and 200 words. Include your trail name and, if comfortable, an optional photo of you on the PCT. All submissions should be sent to [email protected] with the subject line “2024 PCT Trail Completion Story”!