Good afternoon! We had an early release at school today so I got to come home at 1. My original plan was to put my extra time to good use and take the bike out for a spin. But since the heat and humidity is still a little out of control for my tastes, I guess I’ll stick with the treadmill!
One of the things I wanted to do when I started this blog was draw more attention to one of my favorite activities-hiking! Backpacking, especially, doesn’t seem to be something that a lot of people do. I get comments like this all the time, “Why would you want to strap a 30lb. pack to your back and walk?” So my public service is to show you into just how wonderful it can be!
I’ve put together a list (a bucket list, if you will 
) of some of the trails in North America that I would most like to do. Some of them I’ve been thinking about for a long time, while others are pretty new to me. They all have one thing in common-they all get me out into nature for long periods of time! This is going to be a two-part series since I don’t want to get overly wordy on you.
1. Continental Divide Trail
Let’s get the big dreams out of the way first. The Continental Divide Trail is a monster. There’s just nothing else to it. It stretches from the Mexican border in New Mexico all the way to the Canadian border in Montana. It’s about 3,100 miles, and is one of the designated National Scenic Trails. It would take about 6 months to complete the whole thing. Only a handful of people attempt it every year, and far fewer actually make it the whole way. This is definitely a dream, but with John and I both having full time jobs, and no foreseeable means of quitting those jobs, it’s just a dream at the moment.
2. Pacific Crest Trail
The PCT is a lot like the Continental Divide in terms of length. It’s 2,650 miles and runs from the Mexican border in California to the Canadian border in Washington. This one looks amazing. It’s slightly easier than the CDT just because you have a lot more opportunity for resupply (although anyone who has actually done it would probably object to my use of the term “easy”!). The PCT is also a National Scenic Trail, and passes through so many beautiful places including Yosemite National Park and Crater Lake National Park. If you are at all interested in this trail or would just like a good read, I highly recommend reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed or A Blistered Kind of Love by Angela and Duffy Ballard. Both of them were so good!
3. John Muir Trail
The John Muir Trail is in California. It’s a 210 mile trail that stretches from Yosemite National Park down to Mt. Whitney. I’ve read various articles that’s called it the most beautiful trail in the country. John and I have been talking about doing this one for awhile. It’s a possible trip for the summer of 2014, but even if we don’t do it that summer, I really want to eventually!
I’ll leave you guys there for now. You can see that my desire to hike is intense. I hope the overview of some of these trails inspires the same thing in all of you!
What are some of the trails you’d love to do? Anyone interested in giving backpacking a try?
Hiking, camping, backpacking–I’ve never tried these outdoor activities, but I definitely want to someday. Well, I did sort of experience camping at Girl Scout camp, but since it was only one night (and since we didn’t have to pitch tents or anything), I don’t think that counts.
There are some beautiful trails (I’ve heard!) in the Adirondack Region of New York State.
I’ve heard that too! In fact, when I was doing research for this post I read about a long trail in New York that sounded really cool!
I backpacked as my senior trip in highschool! Havasupai, and while only 35 miles round trip was probably the greatest experience of my life! I’m dying to go back! I’d love to get into backpacking, something about the simplicity of “living” off what you can carry is so exciting to me! The pacific crest trail looks like it has some gorgeous places!
Hey, 35 miles is nothing to sneeze at-especially for your first trip! It’s such an amazing experience. What I love most about it is the idea that we’re just completely away from the world. The PCT really does look amazing. You should read those books. They will definitely make you want to get out there!
Those pictures are absolutely stunning. I love hiking, but I don’t get to go nearly as often as I’d like to, and nowhere quite as pretty as those pictures! I usually hike some easy trails up in New Hampshire. You’ve just inspired me to send out a text “let’s go hiking!” haha
Yay! I can’t wait to get back on the trail. Unfortunately, it’ll be a few weeks before the weather cooperates. I’ve never had the opportunity to go to New England, but I think hiking there in the fall would be absolutely gorgeous!
I’m currently reading Wild! I sobbed through the whole beginning when she talked about her relationship with her Mom. I can’t wait to continue on reading it
I LOVE hiking, but I don’t think backpacking is for me 
You never know! Believe or not, I use to feel the same way
Wild is so well-written. You absolutely can feel that relationship and so the pain when she loses her is just horrible!
I love hiking too. The trains you posted are beautiful! Such a great idea to have a hiking trail bucket list
Thanks
These are definitely the dream trails! But I definitely plan on doing as many of them as I can!
After reading Wild, I would love to check out part of the PCT! But I mostly want to stick to Colorado 14ers!
Colorado is my first and true love too! That’s why I’d rather do the Continental than the PCT, but I wouldn’t turn down an opportunity to do either
First of all — I think that you and the hubby need to both fake mental breakdowns and take extended stress leave at the same time and escape to the trails!! I should let you know that I’m very adept at writing fake doctor’s notes … just throwing it out there!
Next up — I want you to know that you’ve inspired me. My next weekend off is in mid-October. I’m going to bike over to the Gatineau hills (just across the provincial border — an hour and a half bike ride maybe … maybe I can convince a friend with a car to join me. haha) and go running in the hills. While they’re not quite as pretty, and I won’t take an adventure route, I think you’ve bitten me with the “outdoorsy” bug!!
Good! That really sounds like a blast! I can’t wait to hear about that trip
And I think your right…..you could fake a note for us that says the best medicine would be to escape society for awhile. Brilliant plan!
Oh wow – these pictures are fantastic! I’d love to go backpacking, it looks gorgeous. Maybe something we can try after Ironman next year.
You absolutely should! You’re in the perfect place for it. One of the great things about backpacking is you get back into the backcountry that few people ever see, and really get to experience the most amazing scenery there is!
Those photos are absolutely breathtaking.
I’ve done day hikes, but never serious backpacking. I’m not sure that I could handle it…which I guess is actually all the more reason to try it!
Don’t sell yourself short! If you would’ve told me three years ago that I would be a serious backpacker, I probably would’ve laughed at you. Now I can’t imagine life without it.
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