Local Voices: The end of the trail, August 6

A final report from Emily Quinn

The Lansing Journal has been following the adventures of Lansing resident Emily Quinn and her brother Michael Carrick as they hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Text and photos below are shared from Emily’s Facebook posts.

August 6, 2023

We made it from Stehekin to Canada! This section of trail was absolutely gorgeous even with it being smoky. Our final night on trail was reminiscent of our first night on trail: cowboy camping with an amazing sunset, listening to “big rock candy mountain,” and covered in ants. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

August 7, 2023

What started as a thru hike of the entire Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) ended up being more like four long section hikes:

• 703.4 miles of the desert
• 557.3 miles from Quincy to Mazama Village
• 197.9 miles from Mt Hood to White Pass
• And then 259.4 miles from Snoqualmie to Canada

All totaling 1718 miles of the PCT for this year! I’d love to finish complete it this year, but I’m tired and I don’t think my knees will make it.

I’m very grateful to have had this experience and especially to have done it with my brother. I think I would’ve quit within the first few weeks if he wasn’t hiking along with me.

I just want to thank everyone that helped us on this journey: friends, family, and strangers that sent us boxes, housed us, drove us around, bought us meals, or cheered us on. I think what I loved most about the PCT is the kindness we came across everyday.

There’s still 937.2 miles left to go on the PCT, and I hope to be back next season to complete those final miles or at least some of them!

View more photos from the final section of Emily and Michael’s journey in their August 6 Facebook post. We’ve enjoyed sharing sharing their journey along the Pacific Crest Trail throughout the summer.

About the Pacific Crest Trail

The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a long-distance hiking and equestrian trail closely aligned with the highest portion of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges. It is 2,653 mi long and ranges in elevation from roughly 110 feet above sea level near the Bridge of the Gods on the Oregon–Washington border to 13,153 feet at Forester Pass in the Sierra Nevada. The route passes through 25 national forests and 7 national parks. Its midpoint is near Chester, California (near Mt. Lassen), where the Sierra and Cascade mountain ranges meet. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Crest_Trail, cited April 22, 2023)

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