INTERVIEW WITH A THRU HIKER(Double Tap)

Pacific Crest Trail 14

Interview With A Thru-hiker

Trail Name : Double Tap

2014PCT

09.04.2017

0. Talk about yourself?

I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. Went to Texas A&M University and have been working in the electronics industry (sales) for my career. I lived in New York City before moving to California in 2003 and that is when my hiking obsession began after visiting Yosemite National Park in 2004. Every summer/fall season I spend as much time as possible in the Sierra with my favorite place to backpack being Kings Canyon National Park.

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1. Why did you decide to hike the PCT?

It’s hard to pinpoint and exact reason but after hiking the John Muir Trail in 2007 I started thinking of the next big trip and the PCT seemed to be the logical choice. In the end however, it all comes down to being immersed in nature for 5 months is an amazing experience. Plus, not having to worry about a job, bills, and all the normal stresses of everyday life pushed me to thru hike.

2. How many miles you cover when hiking?

Depends on the region. In SoCal (High Desert & Sierra) I averaged about 17 miles a day. In NorCal that went up to 20-25 miles per day. In Oregon it was ~28-29 miles per day and then it went back down to ~20 miles a day in Washington due to the large elevation gains everyday.

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3. Tell me about the memorable episode

There are so many memorable experiences on the PCT over a thru hike. One that sticks out is hiking the Knifes Edge in southern Washington as clouds were rolling in. The landscape up there is so barren that with the fog/clouds blowing over the ridge it made me feel so very … alive. Reaching the CA/OR border was another memorable experience as you realize at that point you just walked across what is probably your first state ever and it’s a long state going north or south (~1,700 miles). I also have very fond memories of sitting around a campfire one night at Kennedy Meadows South (and another night at the Saufley’s Hiker Heaven) with a bunch of other thru hikers just talking about our trips so far. That was a lot of fun.

4. What was your favorite part of the experience?

The entire trip all rolled up into one. Every day you get to be in nature the entire day away from civilization. It’s a very liberating experience.

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5. What is the hardest part of hiking?

Getting up in the morning when it’s really cold and warming up. 

6. Do you think people get addicted to thru hiking?

Yes. Post trail depression is a real thing that we all go through when we get back home. It’s hard to return to normal everyday living after being on the trail for 5 months.

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7. What are trail angels and what is trail magic?

Trail angels help hikers in any way, shape, or form. They can hang out at trailheads and offer hikers cold drinks and food or they can host hikers at their homes for a break. Trail magic is what the trail angel offers to the hiker, whatever that may be. Trail angels/magic is special aspect of thru-hiking as often they have never met you and don’t want any money. It’s done out of the kindness of their heart and that is something hard to come by these days.

8. Did you try other long distance trail? what is the difference between CDT and others?

Yes, my first long distance trail was the John Muir Trail (2007). I have also hiked the Tahoe-Yosemite Trail (2010), and am now section hiking the Sierra High Route. One of these days I would like to hike the PCT SoBo and also hike the CDT.

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9. What lesson you learn on hike?

Enjoy every day and treat it like it’s your last. It can all end at a moment’s notice.

10. Any tips for aspiring or current thru hikers?

Slow down and enjoy the experience. It’s easy to get tunnel vision with getting to Canada and doing miles miles miles everyday. Yes, you have to make mileage to get to the end before weather hits but try to enjoy every second of it (even the painful seconds). Also, break up the trail into smaller sections in your mind. Don’t start thinking of Canada your first week into the trail. Treat each section like a section hike except in this case you are stringing a bunch of section hikers consecutively.

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11.  Any new hikes planned?

This summer/fall hitting the next section of the Sierra High Route via Snow Tongue Pass and heading north ~50 miles. I also want to explore the Ampitheater Lake area and Ionian Basin/Enchanted Gorge region of Kings Canyon National Park. This winter I also want to explore/backpack more of Death Valley National Park and maybe backpack up to White Mountain.

12. What do you think of happiness?

You make your own happiness, go out there and do it.

Pacific Crest Trail 14

Thanks to Double Tap for sharing a big of his experience with us. We really appreciate the picture and story of your hike. I hope that Double Tap story gives you some inspiration, a sense of what it is to long distance trail the PCT

So, now what can we do?

Let's go hike!!!

INTERVIEW WITH A THRU HIKER(Bard)

Continental Divide Trail 16

Interview With A Thru-hiker

Trail Name : Bard

2014PCT/2016CDT

09.04.2017

0. Talk about yourself?

My name is Connor “Bard” DeVane. I’m a writer, a teacher, volunteer activist and organizer, and odd job worker.  I’m currently working on a multimedia journalism project about my hike and grassroots climate action in the states the CDT traverses called Hike the Divide. I started the CDT on June 28th and reached the Mexican border on November 19th.

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1. Why did you decide to hike the PCT & CDT?

I decided to hike the PCT right after graduating from college in 2014. I wanted to immerse myself in wilderness and do something wholly new for me; I’d never been backpacking before. I didn’t think I’d do another thru-hike after finishing the PCT, but it didn’t take long ‘til I felt the itch. I’d heard the CDT was more rugged, more wild than the PCT, and that really called to me.

2. How many miles you cover when hiking?

I would guess I logged 25-30 miles per day on average, my longest day being 62.2 miles (100km) through the Great Divide Basin.

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3. Tell me about the memorable episode

Every day was memorable! But one of my most cherished experiences was seeing three Mexican Gray Wolves, the most critically endangered mammal in the US, just north of Snow Lake in the Gila National Forest. I was road walking (typical New Mexico) with Anchor and we saw them just after sundown, maybe thirty yards up the road. At first we thought maybe they were just really big coyotes… and then they let loose some bone-chilling howls that only a wolf could produce.

4. What was your favorite part of the experience?

My favorite part of my CDT hike was just being out there. There’s nothing like the life of a thru-hiker: waking up in a new place every day surrounded by sublime mountain ranges, seeing the different ecosystems give way to one another, being able to hear yourself think. Favorite section, though, I’d probably say the Winds. The Wyoming section is way cooler than it gets credit for.

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5. What is the hardest part of hiking?

Some people say the hardest part of a thru hike is the first step (and the buildup of commitment and planning to take that first step), but I think the hardest part is what follows the last step. Transitioning back to society after a long trail is pretty disheartening and disorienting.

6. Do you think people get addicted to thru hiking?

Yeah, you could say that.

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7. What are trail angels and what is trail magic?

A trail angel is anyone who performs a selfless act of generosity for a hiker. Sometimes it’s a ride into town, a shower, a beer, or a warm bed for the night. Trail magic is, well, magic that happens to take place on trail. This often manifests as a cooler full of sodas, or a trail angel making pancakes, etc., but it can also be an encounter with wildlife, a run-in with a hiker you haven’t seen in a while, or simply the glimmer of sunlight on an alpine lake when you’re having a bad day. Trail magic reminds you of the good. It washes away anxieties and negative feelings.

8. Did you try other long distance trail? what is the difference between CDT and others?

I hiked the Pacific Crest Trail (NoBo) in 2014. The PCT sees more traffic, has a larger non-thru community, has a lot more signage, and is much more maintained than the CDT. I don’t think I could say I like one trail more than the other, but the PCT does have a special place in my heart. 

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9. What lesson you learn on hike?

My friend Kokopeli, a hiker who passed away last year, said (and I’m paraphrasing), that on trail we learn what really matters to us. I think that’s pretty accurate. Another friend, Rocket Llama, once said that, “The Trail is a lot of different things to a lot of different people.” Me, I learned what I’m capable of, how little I need to be happy, how much of what we assign importance to is entirely constructed and ephemeral, as well as how important it is to live in partnership with the natural systems of our planet.

10. Any tips for aspiring or current thru hikers?

Get yourself a good pair of shoes and get on the trail! You absolutely CAN complete a thru hike, but don’t get caught up in the idea of accomplishment. Just get out there, hike in the general direction of a terminus, and enjoy each moment for what it is. Smiles before miles, baby.  

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11.  Any new hikes planned?

No new hikes on the books as of yet. I’ll be spending much of 2017 working on Hike the Divide. I’ll probably go out and hoof a section of the PCT in Washington this summer, but no thru hikes, unfortunately. In the future, I’ve got my eyes on the PNT and this new Open Sky Route that Dirtmonger is laying fresh tracks on this year. Maybe the AT, eventually…

12. What do you think of happiness?

Happiness is yours; all you have to do is choose it. My recipe for happiness looks like: compassion for yourself and others, a connection to the land, and engagement with community and collective efforts to build a better world. Thru hiking isn’t a path to happiness per se, but I think it functions as a pretty good incubator for finding happiness within yourself. 

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Last word?

If anybody wants to see more from my hike or the journalistic side of my experience on the CDT, they can do so at HikeTheDivide.com, on Facebook and on Instagram @hikethedivide 

Thanks to Bard for sharing a big of his experience with us. We really appreciate the picture and story of your hike. I hope that Bard story gives you some inspiration, a sense of what it is to long distance trail the CDT & PCT

So, now what can we do?

Let's go hike!!!

INTERVIEW WITH A THRU HIKER(Animal)

Continental Divide Trail 16

Interview With A Thru-hiker

Trail Name : Animal

2016CDT
26.03.2017

0. Talk about yourself?

Hi my name is James. I am fairly new at hiking in general. I did not start until 2010. I have been working and hiking in the Yellowstone ecosystem since then. I started the CDT on April 8th 2016 and finished on September 27th 2016. I acquired my trail name Animal while I was hiking the CDT.

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1. Why did you decide to hike the CDT?

I have lived in the Rocky Mtn. region most of my life and for a long time been fascinated with the Continental Divide. Once I found out there is a trail I just knew I had to do it.

2. How many miles you cover when hiking?

I averaged between 20 to 30 miles a day.

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3. Tell me about the memorable episode

There are soooo many memories,  but climbing Mt. Albert was special. It was the first time I hiked over 14,000 feet. Another memorable experience was hiking 30 miles in one day in Glacier National Park.

4. What was your favorite part of the experience?

Starting so low to getting so high over and over.

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5. What is the hardest part of hiking?

The hardest part for me was doing the miles necessary on a daily basis to stay on schedule. I consider myself a slow thru hiker and it took me all day to do the miles.

6. Do you think people get addicted to thru hiking?

Yes it definitely changes a person.

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7. What are trail angels and what is trail magic?

Trail angels are people that help hikers out along the trail. Trail magic is what angels do to help hikers out like give them food and drinks or a place to stay.

8. Did you try other long distance trail? what is the difference between CDT and Others?

The CDT is the only thru hike I have done.

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9. What lesson you learn on hike?

I learned so much on the trail and faced some fears, it's really hard to narrow it down to one lesson.

10.  Any tips for aspiring or current thru hikers?

YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Continental Divide Trail 16

11. Any new hikes planned?

As of right now no new thru hikes are planned but there is talk of doing the PCT in the future. Now this summer in Yellowstone I am going to hike my butt off.

Thanks to Animal for sharing a big of his experience with us. We really appreciate the picture and story of your hike. I hope that Animal story gives you some inspiration, a sense of what it is to long distance trail the CDT

So, now what can we do?

Let's go hike!!!

INTERVIEW WITH A THRU HIKER(Scorpion)

Continental Divide Trail 16

Interview With A Thru-hiker

Trail Name : Scorpion

2014PCT/2016CDT
23.03.2017

0. Talk about yourself?

My name is Elijah Spray(Scorpion). I am from Bozeman Montana. I successfully thru hiked the PCT in 2014 April 12th to September 16th. and the CDT in 2016 April 8th to September 27th.

Continental Divide Trail 16

1. Why did you decide to hike the CDT & PCT?

I love hiking and I was very overweight at about 320lbs and I had never left my home area, I then heard about the PCT and quickly decided to hike it. and after the best summer of my life on the PCT i wonted to try the CDT and did so as soon as I saved up enough money.

2. How many miles you cover when hiking?

My average comes up to about 25miles. a day when hiking with friends and more like 30+ when I'm by myself. my longest day on the PCT was 53 miles and my longest on the CDT was 43.

Continental Divide Trail 16

3. Tell me about the memorable episode

hiking 53 miles in one day to get to a all you can eat buffet  in Oregon. 

4. What was your favorite part of the experience?

On the PCT it was all my favorite just seeing someplace new was amazing even the desert. i grew up in Montana and had never really traveled before and everything even the mountains were new and exciting. 

Continental Divide Trail 16

5. What is the hardest part of hiking?

Foot pain I have lots of foot/ ankle injuries that have made long distance hiking a challenge. 

6. Do you think people get addicted to thru hiking?

Absolutely.

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7. What are trail angels and what is trail magic?

Trail magic is finding something you need or want in a place you would never think of. and trail angels are people that offer help to hikers food water rides and anything else you may need.

8. what is the difference between CDT and PCT?

The PCT in a complete trail witch means very little road walking, no bikes and no ATVs, just hikers and horses. The water is better and there are hardly any cows. The trail is also less steep. The CDT was more of a challenge because there was very few times we were on just a hiking trail, but there was more freedom to do your own thing.

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9. What lesson you learn on hike?

I learned I can push myself much farther than I thought, and that America is a big country.

10. Any tips for aspiring or current thru hikers?

Take care of the woods and the trail, don’t party too much and respect the towns and the people in them, they don’t have to put up with hikers and they don’t owe us anything.

Continental Divide Trail 16

11. Any new hikes planned?

I want to hike the Hayduke trail this year.

Thanks to Scorpion for sharing a big of his experience with us. We really appreciate the picture and story of your hike. I hope that Scorpion story gives you some inspiration, a sense of what it is to long distance trail the CDT & PCT

So, now what can we do?

Let's go hike!!!

INTERVIEW WITH A THRU HIKER(Grams)

Continental Divide Trail 16

Interview With A Thru-hiker

Trail Name : Grams

2014PCT/2016CDT

23.03.2017

0. Talk about yourself?

My name is Michael, but on trail I'm being called “grams”. I started hiking in 2014 and hiked about 10.000km since then. I'm ridiculously lazy, hate carrying heavy things and being sweaty, but this never kept me from hiking long distance trails, but caused me to carry less and less stuff on each hike.

Continental Divide Trail 16

1. Why did you decide to hike the CDT?

After doing the PCT I just could not stop thinking about going on another long distance hike. The CDT felt like the next step up, it's rougher, more wild and kind of had something mysterious about it. There was little information on the CDT which just made it more interesting for me and since the PCT was a lot less wild than what I was initially hoping for, I thought the CDT might be a good next hike.

2. How many miles you cover when hiking?

It depends: As usual I started out slower, since I had no time to train in any way, so I started out with about 20mi (32km) per day, but soon did around 35mi (56km) per day. I did several 40+ (64+km) days, the longest being 47mi (75km).

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3. Tell me about the memorable episode

Oh boy, there are so many things that happened during these months, it's hard to pick. I feel like the Gila River might have been some of the hardest hiking in the most beautiful place I've been to yet.
One day I hiked about 18miles (29km) into town (Silver City) had lunch, did my resupply and left to hike another 12 miles (19km)out. The next day I slept way longer than I planned, but ended up hiking 45 miles (72km) to the next town, because I really wanted a milkshake.

4. What was your favorite part of the experience?

Absolutely everything! I loved the trail and even found happiness when times where ruff.

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5. What is the hardest part of hiking?

Saving the money to be able to afford living on the trail for several months!
On the trail for me it's road walking in general, it's really hard on your feet and it's very monotonous. I usually never try to divert my mind with electronics while hiking, but during some sections on the CDT I feel like listening to music and podcasts saved my mind.

6. Do you think people get addicted to thru hiking?

Yes. I am the living proof, along with many people I know who share the same passion. Once you're hooked it's hard to stop.

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7. What are trail angels and what is trail magic?

Trail angels are basically all kinds of random people who help hikers in various ways. Some people offer you to stay at their homes for a night, give you food, or fill up your water bottle on a dry stretch – it can be pretty much anything. Trail magic is a similar thing, usually maintained by people who would be considered trail angels. This can be someone on the side of the road grilling burgers for hikers, or just a coolerbox with sodas somewhere in the woods. Both trail angels and trail magic are not very common on the CDT (unlike other more frequented trails in the US).
I personally got a hot coffee once and found one box with trail magic during the whole 4500km of the CDT.

8. Did you try other long distance trail? what is the difference between CDT and others?

Yes, I hiked the PCT in 2014 and did a short alp crossing (Germany to Italy, about 300km) in 2015.
The main difference is the trail maintenance or rather the lack thereof. The CDT is not very well maintained, especially up north. There are little to no signs, you have to bushwhack in some stretches or have to walk on roads. Also the CDT is just not very frequented, so it might happen that you don't see any person for days!

Continental Divide Trail 16

9. What lesson you learn on hike?

It doesn't matter if you follow a fixed trail, or take other routes to continue your hike. I learned to be more independent and that I can walk anywhere I want – no matter if there is a trail or not. You see a cool mountain somewhere close by? Just go there and summit it! 

10. Any tips for aspiring or current thru hikers?

1. Go as light as you possibly can – but don't skimp on water!
2. Don't waste your money on expensive gear. Simple solutions are usually cheaper, lighter tend to last longer than any expensive/ complicated pieces of gear. Try making stuff at home, it's easy!

Continental Divide Trail 16

11.  Any new hikes planned?

Yes, actually I will leave next Tuesday to hike the Arizona Trail and the Appalachian trail. If I still have enough time afterwards I would like to do a shorter hike in Europe again, like going from Munich to Venice.

Thanks to Grams for sharing a big of his experience with us. We really appreciate the picture and story of your hike. I hope that Grams story gives you some inspiration, a sense of what it is to long distance trail the CDT & PCT

So, now what can we do?

Let's go hike!!!