Each year thousands of people set out to hike along the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail through California, Oregon and Washington. Each year that hike can be drastically different. 2018 saw hikers struggling through smoke of wide-spread wild fires. Last year was another year of well-above-average snow pack.
Fresh off a two-year stint as a Peace Corps volunteer in Madagascar, 26-year-old Hillary Hunter of Petersburg started her northbound through-hike on the PCT April 17th, 2019. She stopped hiking October 8th, just over 295 miles shy of her goal, the entire length. She was slowed down by deep snow in California, and thwarted from finishing by early snowfall in Washington. Along the way she took photos on a cell phone and larger digital camera. She’ll be showing some of those photos and talking about her hike tonight in Petersburg.
Joe Viechnicki spoke with Hunter about some of the highlights and challenges of that journey.
Hillary Hunter says she wants to finish her remaining miles on the PCT at some point but isn’t sure if she wants to do another long through hike like last year. Hunter will be talking about her hike and showing photos as part of Petersburg’s Science Series Thursday, January 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Petersburg Public Library.
