Earthen Odyssey

My Journey to Earthen Odyssey

I have always loved the outdoors, but it wasn’t until 2021, at the age of 45, that I discovered my love for backpacking.

In my first blog post, I share how, after my first trip, I knew I had found something that was going to change me forever. I wanted to know everything I could about it, and I began listening to audiobooks—any that had anything to do with backpacking. Most of those books are the stories of people thru-hiking, and I knew that this was my calling too.

For me, the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) was the one calling my name, and after about two years of doing local backpacking trips, I sat down to determine the best timing to make this heart’s desire a reality.

Why 2027?

So, here we are, smack dab in the middle of my preparation journey.

I am preparing to hike the PCT in the 2027 season, which for this trail runs from late March through late September when going Northbound (NOBO).

I chose 2027 for one very specific reason and then one fate-inspired reason.

The specific reason is based on my children and their schooling. Three of my children are in consecutive grade levels, so I knew I would have three eighth-grade graduations in a row and then three high school graduations in a row. I would have one year in between the end of the eighth-grade run and the start of the high school run—2027.

This takes me to my fate-inspired reason—2027 is the year I turn 50.

What You’ll Find Here

This site is to document my journey.

Blogs to share my preparation journey and then my actual hike. A gear list that is always showing what gear I have chosen or am using. An interactive map, once I’m on the trail, where family and friends can look to see where I am on my adventure. And a countdown to my start date.