When COVID-19 hit, it was a heartbreaking but easy decision to cancel my thru-hiking plans. States along the West Coast were mandating stay at home orders, small trail towns were asking tourists not to come, and the PCTA asked hikers to get off trail.
I hoped that I could start in May instead and looked into permits. When things didn’t get better I held onto the hope of a southbound hike beginning in July. Things did not get better. They actually got worse in a lot of areas.
As of July 2020, the PCTA is asking hikers to stay local and stick to self-supported trips that don’t require resupply. All the recreational areas in Washington State that the PCT passes through are now open. So, my new plan is to hike the 500 miles of the PCT that go through Washington. My friends and family will resupply me from Seattle so I won’t need to hitchhike or go into towns. I’ll bring a face covering for sections of trail where I’ll encounter a lot of other hikers.
I’m very lucky to live close to the PCT and have this much support from friends and family. I’m very excited to get on trail, even in this limited capacity! But 500 miles is still 500 miles and I plan to enjoy the heck out of them!!