Washington PCT 2015: Day 40 and post-hike

Goodbye, PCT

Our final day was one of both nostalgia and excitement. We had hiked 40 days across the entire state of Washington! Now it was almost over.  One thing about hiking is you spend a lot of time thinking. So we though and talked about the experiences we had shared, how we would miss some things, and how we both wanted to make space to do more of this.

Northern Terminus

Northern Terminus

PCT Selfie

After checking in at the north border, 6 miles from our campsite, we hiked another 8 miles to Manning Park. It was a really weird feeling to walk into a booming loud place after so long on the trail. We got food at the diner there and were allowed to stay in a hostel used for housing hikers. Many of our friends eventually caught up with us and we all had dinner together and swapped stories!
The next morning, we were on a bus for Vancouver BC, where Laura and I stayed the night. Then, we boarded a train back to our hometown.

Bus station in Vancouver BC

Nice room for the night

Dinner in Vancouver BC

I cannot explain what this experience meant to me. The closest I can come is this: I live in a modern world. Modern people don't go on adventures. They study, work hard, climb ladders in the social and professional world, and convince themselves that there is some important reason to play that game. I, unlike many PCT hikers I have met, do think that society has many things to offer and should be valued. But there is nothing like true self-reliance. There is nothing like waking up and planning out the days activities and knowing that everything you do will be new and challenging. I miss that feeling everyday as I live my normal life.

I also am so thankful that I could share this experience with my adventurous wife. She is a brave daring soul and I am proud to be her husband. Occasionally, when we are snug in our bed, she will ask, "Joel, will you tell me a story from the trail?"  And I will ramble on and on about a day of our hike, interrupted only by the occasional correction, describing every animal, person, turn of the trail, or other minor detail that I can remember as we drift to sleep.
 

Canadian candy for the train