I love people who do big, crazy things, and when my room mate introduced me to the Second Chance Hiker, I was immediately enthralled.
Meet Cory, a man who recently embarked on the biggest adventure of his life: hiking the Pacific Crest Trail to lose 200 pounds.
The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a 4,265 km (2,650 miles) long trail that starts at the border to Mexico and goes all the way up to Canada.
Since the book (and subsequent movie) Wild, even non-hikers have heard of the PCT with its wild beauty, challenging mountain passes and the transformative power it possesses.
Over the last few months I have been learning a lot about hiking in general, and the PCT in particular, because my room mate is going to hike it herself next year. How amazing is that?! She shows me a lot of videos and Insta-accounts of hikers who have already done it, and her enthusiasm is so contagious, I'm almost as excited for her big adventure as she is.
Two nights ago she told me about Cory, and yesterday morning I spent a solid hour watching his videos before even making my first cup of coffee. And that's saying something, because usually nothing gets between me and my coffee in the morning.
But there's something about Cory. Once you meet him you will know what I mean:
He is so optimistic, so passionate, so funny and kind and open! I adore him. His goal of hiking the entire trail seems pretty impossible right now, but I have no doubt that he will do it if he really wants to.
What I love about the guy is that he is unapolgetically himself, and he doesn't dwell on the past or on the reasons why he ended up where he is today. He doesn't blame anybody or berates himself or regrets the choices he made. Cory focuses on today, on what he can change to make his life better, and he does so with humour and exuberance.
I will follow along on his journey, and I'll be rooting for him every step of the way!
If you want to see an incredible video of the trail, here is one that the Austrian videographer Peter Hochhauser made of his hike in 2016. He called it "This is not a beautiful hiking video" - but trust me, it is.
Over the last few months I have been learning a lot about hiking in general, and the PCT in particular, because my room mate is going to hike it herself next year. How amazing is that?! She shows me a lot of videos and Insta-accounts of hikers who have already done it, and her enthusiasm is so contagious, I'm almost as excited for her big adventure as she is.
Two nights ago she told me about Cory, and yesterday morning I spent a solid hour watching his videos before even making my first cup of coffee. And that's saying something, because usually nothing gets between me and my coffee in the morning.
But there's something about Cory. Once you meet him you will know what I mean:
He is so optimistic, so passionate, so funny and kind and open! I adore him. His goal of hiking the entire trail seems pretty impossible right now, but I have no doubt that he will do it if he really wants to.
What I love about the guy is that he is unapolgetically himself, and he doesn't dwell on the past or on the reasons why he ended up where he is today. He doesn't blame anybody or berates himself or regrets the choices he made. Cory focuses on today, on what he can change to make his life better, and he does so with humour and exuberance.
I will follow along on his journey, and I'll be rooting for him every step of the way!
If you want to see an incredible video of the trail, here is one that the Austrian videographer Peter Hochhauser made of his hike in 2016. He called it "This is not a beautiful hiking video" - but trust me, it is.
Happy Sunday!
xoxo
Miriam
I give props to anyone that does hikes like this. Over here on the east coast, we have the Appalachian Trail that runs from Maine to GA. I have had day hikes on it but cannot imagine major treks like this. My cousin met her once husband on the trail though. They almost completed it until he got to sick to continue.
ReplyDeleteI'm deeply fascinated by those long hikes (I think they call them "thru hikes") because my room mate wants to do the PCT next year, and eventually the Appalachian Trail and the Continental Divide Trail as well. All three together are 8,000 miles! Insane. It's not for me, but I admire people who are going for it!
DeleteThe camaraderie on the trail is supposed to be amazing, it must be a truly life-changing experience.
100% recommend the book "Grandma Gatewood's Walk" about a woman who walked the Appalachian trail three times, the first time at age 67 and the last at age 75, by herself, all the way through with a denim bag to carry her meager supplies. So inspiring and interesting.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendation, I already downloaded it! She sounds like an incredible woman! Proof that it's never too late and we are never too old.
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