It was a tough decision but we ultimately decided to stop hiking for this year. We both were at that point where it wasn’t worth it anymore to hike in miserable conditions. But this does not mean we are done with the PCT forever! We are planning on coming back next summer and hiking the miles Carolyn missed in Oregon and then finishing the remaining 190 miles in Washington. This way we will both complete the PCT at the same time, which would really be amazing, and accomplish the primary goal that we had original set at the beginning: to hike the trail together.
But we did hike the trail together, no matter whether we connected footsteps from one border to the other in a single hiking season or not. That wasn’t the most important objective, even though sometimes it’s hard to see it that way. Hiking the whole trail gives an objective to an otherwise subjective experience. Each hike is different for each person. And this was our hike and it was an unbelievable experience and adventure.
We were outside on the trail for almost 5 months and nearly 2500 miles, hiking mostly everyday, through some of the most stunning desert, mountain and forest scenery we’ve ever seen. We shared numerous morning sunrises while hiking in the dawn hours, as the sun rose steadily into the sky, shimmering the usually clear horizon with salmon and creamsicle colored hues. We saw the deer and marmots and pikas that called this wilderness home play in the rocks and trees, and had snack breaks at too many lakes to remember, listening to sometimes nothing at all as clouds reflected off perfectly still waters.
We collected water from the streams and springs and creeks of the land, and made our home every night nestled in Mother Earths arms, under the seemingly infinite blanket of stars that twinkled like glitter within a nearly black canvas of total absolute darkness.
We forded rivers in the Sierra and glissaded down snowy mountain slopes. We used microspikes and ice axes for the first time in both our lives and lived to tell our tales. We reached the highest point of the contiguous United States side by side and both agreed it was overrated.
We got blown around by the wind and battered by the sun, complaining to each other how hot the earth was and pointing out our wind burnt cheeks and legs. We slept in an outhouse to get out of the wind and spent many nights wondering if the tent would simply blow away.
We stuck out our thumbs and got into cars with total strangers, sharing our stories and listening to theirs. We slept in motel rooms and city parks and peoples backyards and lived a nomadic lifestyle day after day, being present in the journey and never thinking more than a day ahead.
We laughed and cried and found joy and complete misery, sometimes all in a few hours. We experienced a stillness and calmness only dreamed about in books and movies, where the natural landscape takes on its own personality, as something that is both easily understood but enigmatic and difficult to master; a force of complete oppsites, of something that is so beautiful but also viscous and dangerous; a complete masterpiece.
But most important, we shared all these experiences together. When we were in Belden, CA we stayed at Mr. and Mrs. Braatens home. Now retired, they completed the PCT a number of years ago together. Mrs. Braaten told Carolyn that if you can manage to hike the trail with your significant other your relationship will last a lifetime. And this I believe with conviction.
Today we are traveling to Seattle, the city where Carolyn and I first met back in 2009. It is interesting how events in life tend to be so circular. You start somewhere and years later you find yourself in the same places with renewed perspective.
We are looking forward to spending some time with friends in Seattle and Portland and then spending a few days with my sister before flying back to the east coast.
I wanted to thank everyone who followed along and read this blog. I had a lot of fun writing and taking pictures and sharing our journey with all of you. We both appreciated everyone’s comments and words of encouragement and it was a big morale boost knowing so many people were rooting for us!
I want to especially thank my Mom and Dad for being our logistical support crew for the trip. They coordinated the shipment of all our resupply packages and were absoltely flawless with the execution. All 32 resupply boxes were on time and at the right location and I can’t tell you how unbielievably appreciative we are for your awesome help. You are the best trail angels and support crew hands down!
I want to thank my sister Gina and her fiancé Danny for letting us stay at their cabin for several days, and I also want to thank Linda and Dave, Carolyn’s parents for not thinking that I’m a complete wacko and actaully let me take thier daughter on this magnificent and daunting adventure.
Many thanks to the PCT community, trail angels and volunteers and small town business owners. You make the trail happen for so many people and without you it wouldn’t be the same experience.
And finally, thank you, Carolyn,my wife and hiking partner, for this amazing adventure. I didn’t think my love for you could get any stronger, but it did. I have never met a more joyous, beautiful, funny and creative person. You are amazing and I love you more than you could ever know.
Please check back periodically. The next adventure is right around the corner.
Adventure on.
-Domonick “Safety Officer” Zanarini
You two are an amazing couple. I have enjoyed reading every journal entry, loved the pictures! If the two of you come back to Toledo in the future, I hope we are able to spend some time together.
Best of luck!