Two Hikers to Attempt Pacific Crest Trail in Winter: Shades of Jack London!

Posted by skywalker on October 31, 2014 in 'Getting High--The Annapurna Circuit in Nepal', Pacific Crest Trail | 0 comments

http://www.rgj.com/story/life/outdoors/recreation/2014/10/27/hiking-pacific-crest-trail-winter-adventure-safety/18012573/

Folks, I know you get bombarded with a lot of material on the internet. But this article above really is worth reading about two hikers planning to thru-hike the 2,663 mile Pacific Crest Trail this winter. Just to give you a taste of what they are attempting, I traversed the renowned High Sierra in the latter part of June. Even then, I was scared to death half the time; when I arrived at ‘the chute’ leading to Forrester’s Pass, I specifically remember thinking, “If I had young kids, I would turn around right now and head back forty miles to the nearest bailout point.”

This journey is going to have shades of Jack London’s novels in the Alaskan Yukon and Canadian Klondike. Heck, snow levels in the High Sierra are legendary in early summer! At various point these two intrepid adventurers, Justin Lichter and Edward Forry, are planning to use snow skis, as well as snow boots. Who knows how it works out? Avalanches will be a constant concern.

But regardless of whether they succeed or fail, I will never second guess them. When you have that kind of talent, as well as unrelenting willpower, it’s all about using your abilities to their very maximum. Good luck, gentleman, and we will be waiting to hear.

Bill Walker is the author of several popular hiking books, including Skywalker–Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail. He is also the author of Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail and Getting High–The Annapurna Circuit in Nepal.