Chippy, Perth
Hi, I’m Chippy. I thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2019 and I have also hiked the Camino Frances in 2011, currently section hiking the Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia.
I am dreaming about hiking the Te Araroa in New Zealand next. When? Who really knows at this point. Hopefully in the next couple of years!
My Pacific Crest Trail.
When?
April 26th - September 28th 2019
How long did it take?
154 days
Start and finish location?
Start: Campo, CA
Finish: Manning Park, BC
How many zeros?
I took roughly about 20 zero days, including a week waiting out the snow before heading into the Sierras.
Group or solo?
Plus one.
Describe your experience in one word or phrase.
Exhilarating.
I loved that we all shared this collective goal of walking to Canada. It was incredibly motivating and inspiring.
Favourite item of gear and why?
GSI Compact Scraper!
I found out about it early on in the desert and from that point on I raved about it to everyone. I was always too tired to clean my pot out every night with water and then drink the watery remnants of dinner (leave no trace)!
The scraper made my pot super clean without the extra effort.
Luxury item?
Massage ball & pillow.
My massage ball is essential in my view.
Plus, I was all about comfort and warmth on the trail so compared to some of the more ultra light hikers, I also carried an inflatable pillow, an extra warm sleeping bag and extra thermals!
Being cold on trail was my greatest fear, and thankfully, I never had a cold night.
“Best part.”
It was beyond everything I could have ever imagined or expected. Besides the incredible scenery and getting to walk every day, the best part was meeting so many like-minded, interesting and incredible people from all walks of life!
My favourite places along the trail were the Sierra Nevada, climbing Mount San Jacinto and Mount Baden Powell in the desert... all the snowy mountains! I had never snow hiked before the PCT so it was a big learning curve learning how to navigate snow and use an ice axe, but they were some of the most exhilarating and rewarding experiences of the trail. I came out of the Sierra believing that if I could do that, then I could do anything!
The camaraderie between thru-hikers on the trail was just amazing. Everyone was very supportive and encouraging of each other, particularly going through the Sierra Nevada in a big snow year. It was so lovely bumping into random faces on the trail and catching up in towns.
“Unexpected part.”
Prior to hiking the trail, they say that you should write out your reasons for hiking the trail to keep you motivated when times become challenging and the boredom sets in.
I was pretty surprised that I never really got bored with the trail or found it that mentally challenging. I really found my groove on the trail and thoroughly enjoyed just being out there walking everyday.
The simplicity of trail life and carrying everything you need on your back is the best feeling!
“If I could do it again, I would _____”
If I could do the trail again, I would hike it solo!
I hiked it with my ex-partner, and although we had a really great time together, I would love to go back again to do it solo. Hiking it with a partner meant that I never truly got to "hike my own hike" and often made compromises about my hike, so it would be nice to see what it's like to thru-hike solo.
Particularly after meeting so many strong, independent women hiking solo. It was pretty empowering!
What advice would you give to people thinking about hiking the PCT?
My advice for people thinking about hiking the PCT would be to stop planning it and just do it!
All you need to do is book that flight, get that permit and start walking. Don't overthink it, you will learn everything you need to know on the trail. And even though you might not be able to walk it this year or next year, it will be worth the wait.
Use this time to find local trails in your region and hike as much as you can. Go on day hikes, overnight hikes and multi-day hikes. Build up slowly. Your body will thank you for it when you finally get out on the PCT.
