Why Am I Hiking the PCT?

Question of the hour: Why the PCT?

What in the world would possess me to want to hike 2600 miles across 3 states???

Let me start by saying this has been on my bucket list for a long time. Yes, I have read Wild and yes I've seen the movie. Is that why I'm hiking? No. Did I think the book and movie adaption were inspiring? Yes. But that is not why I am hiking.

The first reason I'm hiking is simple.... because I want to. Like I said before, it has been on my bucket list. As a perk, thru-hiking is bad-ass. Thru-hiking is challenging, not only physically but mentally. It gives you a lot of time to think. When I say a lot of time, the PCT will give me around 4 or 5 months of time to think. To think about what you may ask? Everything.

I've always been a planner. I like to know what I will be doing, and exactly how I will accomplish that. Now you may think that this wouldn't be conducive to thru-hiking, but I have found that it really is. The amount of planning for a successful thru-hike is incredible. My head hurts from all of the blogs, books, online resources, and YouTube videos I have watched. This is literally the most planning I have ever had to do when it has come to traveling. Thailand is literally a piece of cake compared to this!

In the past few months I have been acquiring various pieces of gear I will need for the trail. Many of the things I will need, I have to get new or get used from sites like Ebay, REI, etc. I'm trying to have gear that is considered ultra light or on the lighter side. Everything that I will need for the trail, I will be carrying the entire way. Therefore, I do not want a 50 pound bag weighing me down. With food, water and every other piece of gear, I am hoping to be carrying around 30 pounds. I'll probably do a complete break down of my gear later on, just for fun!

I know that when I am on the trail there will be lot of situations I will encounter that may be scary, or might make me uncomfortable. Honestly, I'm counting on it. Whenever I travel or take on a new job, I always look for something that will challenge me. As I have gotten older, I have gained self-confidence, and have matured immensely. Talking in public doesn't faze me anymore, and I love being in a leadership position. While I am comfortable doing this now (I definitely wasn't in high school), I still look for experiences that will continue to challenge me. It's safe to say the PCT will do this!

I like to think of myself as physically and mentally tough. Collegiate golf has done a good job in training me in both of those. However, there's always room for improvement. Getting the chance to walk in the woods (literally) for close to 5 months will challenge me in ways I have never been challenged in before. I know it will be a physical challenge (I was sore after the 22 mile test hike!!), and it will be a mental challenge when unexpected things come up (and the mere fact it will take me close to 5 months). The physical and mental challenge of it will give me great insight into potential weaknesses. Both will be important for my eventual career path of law enforcement.

In the last few months I've been working really hard on the physical aspect of the job. When I apply for the police academy I have to pass a physical test. I started kickboxing, and do lifting with the golf team on a semi-regular basis. I've never had upper body strength, and so push-ups have always been an issue for me. Up until a few months ago, I literally couldn't do 1 push-up. I'm happy to report that I can now do 15 push-ups comfortably, and have done 21 push-ups without stopping. The physical tests requires you to do a certain number of push-ups without stopping for a break. I will continue to focus on my physical health in the next few months and I look forward to meeting more of my fitness goals!

My undergrad and now master's degree is in criminology. All of my classes have focused on the minds of criminals, as well as how the criminal justice system works. It's not a particularly pleasant topic. Many times, it's all about people doing horrible things to others (like sexual assault, murder, robbery, etc.). I do not pretend to romanticize being a "hero", and that is not my goal going into law enforcement. My job will be to enforce the law and help prevent crime before it happens. I hope to educate people on how to lessen the likelihood of becoming a victim. I want to help people navigate the criminal justice system, so that they don't continued to get screwed by the system. I know the risks of the job. I know that it will be dangerous and I know that it will be hard.

It's scary, but I know that it will be worth it. I know that all of the education I have received will benefit others. I want to help in anyway that I can. That doesn't mean that I don't have my reservations about it, and that I am not completely scared out of my mind though!

I'm hoping that this time on the trail will give me clarity. I'm hoping I will come out with even more confidence than I have now, and I will be ready to step into such an important role as a police officer.

For me, transitioning into "adulthood" has been rough and pretty much non-existent so far. I went straight from undergrad to graduate school and have only held summer jobs or part time jobs through the schools I have attended. It's not something that I have ever been prepped for. Obviously everyone enters the work force at some point in their life. Many people change their careers, and that is totally okay! I think it's great that someone takes the chance to change their career path, because they aren't happy or they just want a change. Hell, college isn't even for everyone. I think that there's a misconception that everyone needs a 4-year college degree. If that's not what you want to do or you want to go into a trade, then it's not necessary. Don't let other people make you feel bad because that isn't the path that you decided to take.

It's so easy to judge others, even if you don't know them. I'm guilty of doing this and I have to get better at not assuming or judging before I know all of the facts. Life doesn't give us a road map on how we are supposed to get from one end to the other. When life eventually ends, it won't matter how much money we have, it will matter what types of people we have surrounded ourselves with. It's easy to forget this, especially when we're so young. I have to constantly remind myself that I can change my life plan, it doesn't have to go 100% according to plan. Again, as I've said before, I'm a planner.... so letting go of my plan is really hard but I'm working on it. The main thing I want is to be happy in whatever I decide to do. Right now the plan is the police academy. Is it possible that I may change my mind? Sure. Is that okay to do? Sure.

For as scared as I am about life changing, I'm genuinely excited for the adventure ahead of me. I am excited to figure this out and honestly I am excited to make mistakes. That is how I will learn and that will ultimately lead me on the path that I am meant to take. Hell, that is how I found my major in the first place, and why I am getting my master's degree. Did I mention that I was a marine biology major my freshman year of college? (Hahaha I try to forget). However, none of this would have been possible without me learning from that experience.

Point of this post: I'm scared that my comfortable life is changing, but I am excited at the same time. We should all stop caring about staying in accordance with our "plans" and be willing to be flexible when life doesn't go the way we wanted it. It's hard but we will learn so much about ourselves when we face adversity head on rather than try to skirt around it.

So my question now, do you think the PCT is ready for me? Because I am definitely ready for the challenge.

Thanks for reading!
-GraceMarie