thru-hike

Intrepid adventurers you should keep an eye on

Welcome to “Intrepid adventurers you should keep an eye on,” a new regular feature here on ericmurtaugh.com.

As the title suggests, we’ll track down a handful of adventurers and explorers who are currently in the process of planning something adventurous, are currently doing something adventurous, or have adventurous stories to share.

If you know of an adventurous soul we should keep an eye on, shoot me an e-mail at eric@ericmurtaugh.com or leave a comment below.

Moving right along…

1. AdventureCrow: Having already completed a thru-hike on the Pacific Crest Trail, AdventureCrow decided he wants to cycle 1,500 miles of the Pacific coast.

It sounds like he is debating between riding Highway 1 or Highway 395 through California. If you know anything about Highway 1, you know that it wouldn’t exactly make for a pleasant bike ride. The inclines are gnarly, landslides are common, and spaced out tourists are driving cars dangerously close to steep cliffs. Whatever he decides, I’m sure he’ll have a great time.

Following his two-wheeled journey down the coast, AdventureCrow plans on giving a PCT thru-hike another shot this summer. Talk about going big.

AdventureCrow is currently accepting sponsorships for his upcoming adventures. If you’re in a position to help him out, do so. And be sure to check out his blog if you get a chance.

2. Deano: Deano is one of those guys who is constantly on the go, having visited 48 countries so far. And he seems like the type who has done it all.

An Australian currently living in Seattle, Deano runs two very interesting blogs on his experiences abroad. Deano in America highlights his time in the States, while Deano Around the World is all about “an Aussies travels and experiences around the world.”

Pretty cool, huh?

If you have a minute, I highly recommend you read Deano’s “Travel Misadventures…I seem to have had a few!”

That’s it for this week. Again, if you know of an adventurer/explorer who should be on our radar, let me know.

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Thru-hike the PCT: ‘Best to do it earlier rather than later in life’

Jack Ross and his wife Barb must like each other. After all, they’re still married after a thru-hike on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Jack was nice enough to answer a few questions about life on the PCT, deep snowpacks, solitude, readjustments to home, and more.

Eric Murtaugh: Why did you decide to thru-hike the PCT?

Jack Ross: I read a National Geographic article from the late ’70s long ago that described it. Then the topic always came up when we were backpacking with friends. It was always in the back of my mind.

Plus, I wanted to do something really big and challenging in my lifetime and hiking the PCT is really big! It wasn’t on Barb’s bucket list but she signed on anyway (and logged over 1,000 miles before dropping out due to injury).

Jack and Barb on the PCT near Mt. Jefferson in Oregon.

EM: Take us through the preparation and planning stage of a PCT thru-hike.

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