Benedict Go - Pacific Crest Trail Data Book

The Journey of a Thousand Ri begins with the first step.Pacific Crest Trail Data Book 1st EDITION 1997 2nd EDITION 2000 3rd EDITION 2001 4th EDITION 2005 5th EDITION 2013 6th EDITION 2021 Copyright 1997, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2013, 2021 by Benedict Go and Keen Communications LLC ISBN 9780899979014 (pbk.); ISBN 9780899979021 (ebook) Cartography: Scott McGrew Cover photo: Section H in Southern California Jordan Summers Interior photos: Published by WILDERNESS PRESS An imprint of AdventureKEEN 2204 First Ave. S., Ste. 102 Birmingham, Alabama 35233 800-678-7006, fax 877-374-9016 Manufactured in the United States of America Distributed by Publishers Group West Visit wildernesspress.com for a complete listing of our books and for ordering information. Contact us at our website, at facebook.com/wildernesspress1967, or at twitter.com/wilderness1967 with questions or comments. To find out more about who we are and what were doing, visit blog.wildernesspress.com. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author and publisher. NOTICE: The author and publisher caution users of the data contained herein that land and resource managers along the route of the PCT can, and often do, make changes to the trails routing, thereby changing or invalidating the information. Post offices and resupply points may be closed for numerous reasons at any time, so verify mailing addresses before shipping supplies. While every attempt has been made to verify this data when this book went to print, contact the Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) and local agencies for current conditions and recent changes. Acknowledgments I would like to thank Wilderness Press and the authors of the PCT guidebooks, Laura Randall and Jordan Summers, for permitting the use of the guidebooks as the basis for the creation of the Data Book. Thank you also to the PCTA for all it does for the trail, Ray Jardine for publishing his ideas in long-distance hiking, Cindy Ross for sharing her journal, Halfmile for the revised measurements, and various trail users and maintainers who provided feedback on this book.

Send any changes or comments to Ben at . From the Author: The Journey It has been almost 25 years since I embarked on the most incredible journey of my life. Back then, I wondered what I would feel in the future and how the journey would influence my life, if at all. Well, the future is here, and Id like to share a few of my thoughts with those who dream of doing a thru-hike of the PCT. The lessons I learned about myself have been very helpful to me, especially as a father. The fundamental question of what I want to teach my kids, of what would undoubtedly shape their lives, is something that became clear as I hiked the trail.

Living on the trail, we are surrounded by life everywhere, from the trees to the animals to the sweet sound of creeks. One learns to observe how life progresses from a seed to a small tree to having flowers, bearing fruit, and ripening. Just as the great poet Rainer Maria Rilke once wrote about individuals ripening, so too must we work hard to provide children with a place where nature can take care of them and protect them from growing up too fast. Just as nature-ripened fruit tastes the best, so too will a nature-ripened child become the most beautiful. If my kids become long-distance backpackers, I would be very happy, not because they would have accomplished something but because of the life lessons they will learn and the skills and mentality they will develop. The trail will teach them how to adapt and survive, and with these skills, I know I wont have to worry about them for the rest of my life.

They will become resourceful enough to know what to do no matter where life takes them, and in the end, that is all that matters. For myself, I can honestly say that the lessons I learned in doing the thru-hike still guide me to this day: I learned the importance of taking care of family and health. I learned the importance of not limiting yourself to what you know, of having empathy; I cannot emphasize enough to my kids how important having empathy ismore so than having knowledge, for without it, one cannot relate to other people. The trail has a tendency to make one become emotionally, mentally, and physically balanced. If one of these aspects is way out of proportionif youre emotionally broken, mentally struggling, or physically hurtit will be a little difficult at first, but the trail in time will heal you. Nature heals everything as much as she can.

In times of difficulties, a little fresh air helps, and a bit of prayer doesnt hurt either. While hiking the trail, I have seen and experienced many things that I thought could not be possible, perhaps miracles. It led me to have an unconscious habit of praying, of giving thanks, whenever Im in nature. In hiking the trail, I learned to trust my instincts more than my knowledge; instinct is natures way of increasing your knowledge. The trail will be all new; the places will be fascinating; some hold unimaginable beauties, and others unknown dangers. The trail will take you to places that will make you happy and places that will scare you.

During all of these moments, your instincts will keep you safe. Everything, every goal, has its own time. Once you pass that time, it doesnt mean you cant achieve that goal, but it often becomes more difficult. Yes, the trail will always be here, but life can get complicated. We are creatures of nature, of Mother Earth, and we are given a brief moment to enjoy her gifts. These moments begin when we are born and end when we pass.

In between are stages when certain things are best done; let your instincts guide your path. Finally, in all journeys, there is an ending. It is probably the hardest part of the entire thru-hike of the PCT. Completing such a monumental goal can lead to loneliness, for there are few who can truly relate. Please be gentle with yourself and cry if you need to; know that you are not alone in crying. The ending is difficult but, to quote Rilke again, we must hold to what is difficult, for it is the only way we grow.

Embrace the solitude and these feelings. Everyone has their own story about their thru-hike. Many have written books, and some have created videos. Some of those stories are difficult to tell. To this day, I still am not capable of writing down my feelings about the experience. Descriptive words fail.

Poets may be able to succeed. To this day, we read plays and listen to music created by powerful people long gone. These are people who are not only able to transcend space but also time; I suppose it is as close to immortality as one can be. I made this data book as a way to give back to the trail, in the hope that it would be protected for future generations. Back in 1996, there were perhaps about a hundred hikers, and I thought that was a lot. But now, hearing that there are thousands of hikers, I can only imagine what it is like.

Giving back to the trail is my way of staying connected. To see the PCTA grow to become what it is now, to see the trail become protected more and more, is a privilege. A big heartfelt thank-you to everyone. To the younger generations, folks will get old, and someday it will be your turn. I hope you will continue to protect this most beautiful and wonderful trail. Doing a thru-hike of the PCT is the most beautiful gift that anyone can receive.