Me 2007-07-16 HALF WAY!
July 16th, 2007No point beating around the bush, I’ve made it half way up the PCT. Quite where half way is can be debated ad nauseum but for me it was mile 1327.5 which is the midpoint between the Mexican and Canadian border ignoring the eight mile walk to the road at the end.
Tiki, Troll, Oblivious and FireBall also made it across the line. I assume Old Corpus did but I haven’t seen him since we re-found the trail this morning. I’d come off it at a dusty saddle and found him stomping around looking for it in the scrub. It was easily fixed by returning to the last marker and trying again.
So, half way, what’s that like. Well it doesn’t look much different but I sure do feel good. It’s not that I want this to be over but I came into this wanting to complete it and I’ve been gradually seeing it become realistic. No-one back home ever told me I wouldn’t finish, they thought I was a loon for trying but that’s understandable. It took me 89 days to get here and I think it’ll be 65 to do the rest. I’m stronger, the terrain is (mostly) easier, and there are less places to take time off.
I know this year has been much easier than others with the low snow fall in the sierras but there have still been challenges and it is by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I won’t be counting down the miles just yet, but I am aware that the end is closer than the beginning. In Echo Lake Steve told me that his son (class of ‘01) wouldn’t think about the end until it really was in reach. The size and scope of the endeavour was too much. I’ve thought about the end lots. About achieving that goal and completing a country sized walk in one go. That’s what has kept me on the trail. I know the high sierras are the highlight of the trail and I could skip up ahead to other good points, but it’s the whole thing that I’m here for and I won’t be done until I’m sipping Canadian Club and eating moose.
P.S. I passed a place called Butt Mountain today and thought that was funny.
More photos of this day’s journey can be found at Belden to Old Station
Distance today: 27.6 miles. Total distance: 1338 miles
July 18th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Congratulations!!! An excellent early birthday present
Not all of us think you’re a loon…
July 18th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Yay! *Little half-way celebration dance*
Good to hear that you’re past the half-way time mark too
And Craig… people have always thought you’re loony so nothing new there
Hehe.
July 18th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Hi Craig.
Well Done. The JIRA’s are stacking up for you and there shouldn’t be as many to be added as already have been
Keep going and we look forward to your return sooner now that it is since you went….if you can understand that :-/
July 19th, 2007 at 3:56 am
Halfway there – wow! What you have done is an amazing feat in itself Craig and when you complete it that amazement will have doubled! Congrats and I look forward to the day you cross the Canadian border!
July 20th, 2007 at 4:56 am
Blimmin’ heck. That’s amazing dude. You should be VERY proud of what you’ve accomplished. I’m just nearing the end of catching up on your journey so far now I’m back in NZ, and have been feeling overawed and very humbled by your achievement. Keep on trucking, and here’s to a big gooey jar of maple syrup at the end, and a well-earned Monteiths and steak pie when you get home
July 20th, 2007 at 5:15 am
Congratulations on reaching this significant milepost. The photographs you have accumulated are splendid.
Enjoy your big day.
Alison
July 25th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Congrats Craig – that’s a heck of a lot of walking!
And to think I complain about having to walk from my car to work! 
James