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Hi everyone! As many of you already know, I am hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) this summer. The trail is 2,660 miles long, and typically takes 4 to 6 months in order to complete. Hiking the entire PCT has been a dream of mine for years, and after the past year of Covid madness, I decided to make it a reality.
Like many people, I lost my job and my housing during the first few months of the pandemic. So many industries got hit hard by Covid, and the hospitality industry was no exception. I decided I would make 2021 a different year, and I gathered my gear, my savings, and my wits, and headed into the wilderness.
It was a bumpy start. I got on and off trail twice in the first two months to get vaccine shots, heal some blisters and swap out gear. The PCT has forced me to face my fears, insecurities, and doubts, and I hope that conquering these on the trail will help me conquer them as I start a new life after a difficult year. I am learning how to not compare myself with the ultralight hikers who zoom past me on the trail, to feel proud of the mileage I have done rather than worrying about what I haven’t done yet, and to not let the scary parts of the trail – such as the long stretches without water – intimidate me.
However, this year I had to replace my big four items: tent, backpack, sleeping bag and sleeping pad. I also needed to invest in new shoes, socks, and various clothing and gear items (I will likely wear out 3 pairs of hiking shoes doing the full PCT). On average, the PCT costs at least $1,000 per month to hike but will be more this year. I have budgeted as best I can, am staying at free campgrounds or at a hosting trail angel's home to cut down on costs when I'm in resupply towns along the way.
I have nearly completed one quarter of the trail (will be at Mt. Whitney next week) and feel confident that I will make it all the way to the Canadian border by the end of September. I have invested a good chunk of my savings and am looking to fund-raise the balance so that I can complete this trail and accomplish a truly meaningful goal. If you would like to help me with this challenge, a donation of any size would be most welcome and would go a long way.
I also appreciate anyone taking the time to look through the trail photos which I post on Facebook Photo Album PCT 21 ( https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=katie.kelly.54379&set=a.4097212450298228 ), read the trail updates, comment on the journey, or contribute any way they can. I am honored to have you on my team.
With much love and gratitude,
Katie Kelly: trail name Animal Style
(trail names are a PCT hiker tradition)
Like many people, I lost my job and my housing during the first few months of the pandemic. So many industries got hit hard by Covid, and the hospitality industry was no exception. I decided I would make 2021 a different year, and I gathered my gear, my savings, and my wits, and headed into the wilderness.
It was a bumpy start. I got on and off trail twice in the first two months to get vaccine shots, heal some blisters and swap out gear. The PCT has forced me to face my fears, insecurities, and doubts, and I hope that conquering these on the trail will help me conquer them as I start a new life after a difficult year. I am learning how to not compare myself with the ultralight hikers who zoom past me on the trail, to feel proud of the mileage I have done rather than worrying about what I haven’t done yet, and to not let the scary parts of the trail – such as the long stretches without water – intimidate me.
However, this year I had to replace my big four items: tent, backpack, sleeping bag and sleeping pad. I also needed to invest in new shoes, socks, and various clothing and gear items (I will likely wear out 3 pairs of hiking shoes doing the full PCT). On average, the PCT costs at least $1,000 per month to hike but will be more this year. I have budgeted as best I can, am staying at free campgrounds or at a hosting trail angel's home to cut down on costs when I'm in resupply towns along the way.
I have nearly completed one quarter of the trail (will be at Mt. Whitney next week) and feel confident that I will make it all the way to the Canadian border by the end of September. I have invested a good chunk of my savings and am looking to fund-raise the balance so that I can complete this trail and accomplish a truly meaningful goal. If you would like to help me with this challenge, a donation of any size would be most welcome and would go a long way.
I also appreciate anyone taking the time to look through the trail photos which I post on Facebook Photo Album PCT 21 ( https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=katie.kelly.54379&set=a.4097212450298228 ), read the trail updates, comment on the journey, or contribute any way they can. I am honored to have you on my team.
With much love and gratitude,
Katie Kelly: trail name Animal Style
(trail names are a PCT hiker tradition)
Organizer and beneficiary
Marc Kelly
Beneficiary