Me. Just me… and about 3000 other people I don’t know yet.  There is a saying in hiking and it’s ‘Hike Your Own Hike’ or HYOH.  This means that you alone are the sole decision maker in your hike without any mandatory compromises.  E.g.  If I wanted to hike 1 mile more or 1 mile less, watch the sun set over a mountain top, stay in a town for an extra day to rest, etc. I do not have to worry if the person or persons I am hiking with is ok with that. This gives me full control over my own hike; HYOH.  This doesn’t mean that I won’t be meeting people or hiking side by side with some of them for very long distances, but it will be my choice to do so.

I will not always be alone on the trail.  When the permits are released they limit the amount to a maximum of 50 per day over about a 60 day period, but that means ~3000 people will be trying to thru-hike in a given season.  I will also be coming across day hikers, picnickers, horse-riders (the trail allows horses as a thru-hiking option) and many townspeople in the 25+ places I will be picking up supplies.  Plus I know that some of you have expressed interest in meeting up with me along the trail, which is pretty cool.  Details and the ‘how’ we may be able to do that will be posted at a later time.

So yes, Me, just me.

• PCT