Support Ewan Vs The Pacific Crest Trail

A few words from me…

Hello Friends, Family, Strangers!

For those that come across this that don't know me, my name is Ewan (or on-trail ‘The Flying Scotsman/ Ewan.derlust’). I’m a 38 years old Scottish hiker based in Pittenweem, and on May 26th, 2022, I WILL be hiking 2650 miles from the Mexican border to the Canadian border via the Pacific Crest Trail. I am hugely excited and beginning to feel a little trepidation about this five-month journey. For those who know me and have asked how you can help me on this adventure, here you go…

Due to the balloted nature of the PCT permits, I only attained my approval to go in late January as part of the ‘Class of 2022’. Therefore, the time scale to raise funds is restricted, and I will be fundraising as much as possible for the final two months to achieve this dream. These funds will support costs of on-trail food, gear (upgrading to lighter, and the 4-5 pairs of shoes I will go through), visa, insurance and flights- while having a small cushion for emergencies… I mean, seriously… snakes, cougars, bears, poison ivy, to name a few!

Charitable aspect:

I plan to donate all funds not utilised or more than my goal to Disasters Emergency Committee, an organisation committed to supporting the UK Humanitarian Appeal. There will also be a donation to The Oath, an organisation dedicated to the trail and social injustice, to give outdoorists, from all walks of life the power and privilege to shape the future for inclusivity. A final donation will go to the 12th East Neuk Scouts.

So, what is the Pacific Crest Trail:

“A long-distance hiking.. trail closely aligned with the highest portion of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges. The trail's southern terminus is south of Campo, California, by the U.S. border with Mexico. Its northern terminus is on the Canada–US border on the edge of Manning Park in British Columbia. The PCT passes through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. The route passes through 28 national forests and 7 national parks.”

It's a whopping 2650 miles (or 4265km… I haven't decided which sounds longer…) and should take between 4.5 to 6 months to complete. There are over half a million feet in elevation gained, and we all know that what goes up must inevitably come down. The distance is a third again further than Frodo Baggins epic trek to Mount Doom, or its the equivalent of walking from John O’Groats (most Northerly tip of Scotland) to Lands End (most Southerly tip of England) THREE times, or doing one of Scotland’s premier thru-hikes, the West Highland way a massive 27 times.

About me:

I have been fascinated with the great outdoors ever since my first trip to the hills and mountains of Scotland with the Scouts in the 1990s. This passion was reignited in 2018 with a snap decision to ‘bag a Munro’, and subsequently, I have gone on and bagged 83 of Scotland’s 3000 feeters over the last few years. But alas, the forests and mountains of Scotland are very different to the heat of the Southern Californian Desert, the snow-capped High Sierras, and the Cascades. After reading about Rome and Marius’ Mules, who essentially thru-hiked Europe, from researching Hannibal crossing the Alps with Elephants, reading Wild, and finally watching Into the Wild, I was mesmerised that people have the capacity and capability to undertake these epic treks.

In the years before falling in love with hiking again, I was a keen sports enthusiast, playing rugby, skiing and football. The constant wear and tear led me to have five bouts of knee surgery and a partial reconstruction of my right knee, spending more time in physiotherapy than almost anything else. I struggled to see myself in a positive light. Combining the stresses of work-life balance and stopping all sports, left me discouraged, feeling inadequate and affected my mental health. My relationship with my body declined, and the urge to get outdoors and exercise ceased to exist. Even when I was medically cleared for sport and to step beyond the activities of daily living, I didn't trust that I had the capabilities and mental capacity to get back out exploring. I was scared that no matter what I did, I would always have this nagging mental block that I wasn't good enough, that my physical ability was diminished to step beyond my comfort zone.

Then I took a chance. A random snap decision to get out of the city, get on a train with what outdoor gear I had (on that first trip, I took everything, including the kitchen sink), and get back into the mountains. That's what made hiking and backpacking so different. While the miles, the elevation, the predictably unpredictable Scottish weather, the remoteness were intimidating, it was the first time in years that I can remember being truly happy whilst exercising. Not only that, but I felt capable, physically and mentally, every step stronger and more confident than the last.

I began hiking and hillwalking regularly. Taking a weekly opportunity to immerse myself in the Scottish landscape, get lost, and find myself. When Covid hit in March 2020, I was en route to finishing my Master's in Food Security. Lockdown had robbed my hiking momentum. What plans I had, what opportunities I had forged, were instantly stolen from me. Every moment that I was in a zoom meeting, I was also dreaming of exploring outside. I began to start once again dreaming about hiking. I decided that once the pandemic had lifted, I would move mountains to escape the societal norms that were expected of me and begin my thru-hiking adventures.

WHY?:

Fast forward to today. I have been seriously considering my thru-hike of the PCT since my first ballot application in late Nov 2021. Full planning began when the final ballot for permits in January came around, and I snatched one of the last coveted spots on this year's PCT. Since then, I have continually fielded the dreaded question from friends and family- “Why?”

Depending on who you ask, why has many different meanings…

“Why would anyone want to walk from Mexico to Canada?”..."Why would you enjoy this?"...“Why would you quit your job for this?”..."Wait, are you not scared of snakes, cougars, and bears?”...“Why now?”…Why not wait?”..."Why not just go on a normal holiday?"...WHY, WHY, WHY?

It is hard to put it into words. WHY?. I know in my mind why. I know in my body why. I know at this time in my life why… I hope to answer these fully when I step my first foot on the trail. But to put it simply, it's because I can. After the world went mad, after lockdown, after covid and uncertainty, after the brink of WW3… There is no need for justification. There is no better time to get out, to explore, to get lost and find yourself.

For every- why? There is an opposite- why not? The world is big and beautiful; there is so much to see and do. While not at my fittest, I feel strong, healthy and mentally capable. Because I enjoy the challenge of extremes. Because I don't want to bend to societal norms, to settle, to work myself into a position of boredom, to have finished my academic studies and the push to be successful and choose a monotonous career. Because I can join an inclusive community of unique, inspiring adventurers, who can change the world in their way, whose treads are trail breakers but hiking each their hike. Because there is something inherently optimistic about achieving the ultimate goal of setting foot on the trail…to have wanderlust.

Below is a breakdown of some of the costs:

When I add up all my expenses, I can expect to pay somewhere between $5,395 and $7,510 for a PCT thru-hike. With an average cost of $6,500, hiking the PCT isn’t cheap. This does not include visa costs, insurance, flights from the UK (return), and transport to and from trail, which I hope to cover myself.

If you choose to donate and support my adventure, I promise to share amazing photos and genuine updates along the way. I will be journaling and creating my blog during and after the trail as a way to process and share my experience with you all. I am excited to have a new challenge on the horizon and hope you feel excited for me too! Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for all donations. While there is much unknown ahead, I am incredibly excited and humbled to share my journey.

Instagram- ewan.derlust