My fondest memories are with the people that I met on trail.
I SPENT ALL OF MY TWENTIES not really sure what I was passionate about. When I finally figured out what it was, I had to go for it and make it a longterm goal. I wanted to do something that would challenge me physically and mentally for a long period of time. I wanted to build resilience in my lowest moments and tell myself that any discomfort was only temporary. Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) was perfect for me in that season of life. I discovered that I truly love walking all day. As an early riser, there is nothing I enjoyed more than getting up each morning in the dark and watching the sun rise as I walked along a ridgeline. My fondest memories are with the people that I met on trail. They were complete strangers in the beginning who became like family in just a few days.
I do not want to thru-hike every year, because I want to spend my time directly helping the trail itself. I was living a very self-centered life preparing for, during, and after my hike. I felt I got what I “needed” from the PCT, but now, I want to volunteer trail maintenance, spread awareness to protect the trail, and educate youth about the outdoors. In the long run, I just want to be living a meaningful life that improves the lives of others.
KAREN K. WANG
