The Long Way to Campo

The southern terminus of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is located on the U.S.-Mexico border in the town of Campo, California. In a few weeks I will touch the small monument that stands there, marking the beginning of my 2,650-mile journey to Canada. 

For 5 or 6 months I will have my sights set on reaching Canada. Reaching the border will be my north star, but often, the process of working toward a goal holds more value and significance than the goal itself. I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “It’s about the journey, not the destination.” That’s one thing that thru-hiking teaches you. 

If the point of the PCT was to get to Canada, I could do that in half a day on an airplane. Instead I’m choosing to stretch the journey over several months. 

Thru-hiking is the ultimate slow travel. It underscores the importance of mindfulness and appreciation for the slowly unfolding experience. Though having a goal is a great motivator, the real value lies in the immersive experiences, lessons, and memories gained along the way. 

I’ve decided to flex my journey-over-destination muscle before my thru-hike even begins. I’m extending the journey by making getting to the trailhead part of the adventure. Instead of simply flying to San Diego, I am taking a long, wildly inefficient, cross-country train trip. 

I love the idea of train travel. It has a sort of romantic allure that harkens back to a bygone era. It offers a leisurely pace without the stress of flying or driving, and often traverses landscapes that are inaccessible to other modes of transportation. Some of the routes on my trip are world-famous for their scenery. 

With the abundance of time I’ll have sitting on a train, I plan to work on my memoir. Being on a mini-retirement means I have the time to partake in luxuries such as these. 

I purchased the Amtrak USA Rail Pass in January on sale for $450 (normally $500). With the pass you can book up to 10 segments over 30 days. I used all 10 to create this route, spanning 25 days. I think I’m really getting my money’s worth! After weaving all over the U.S., I will end in San Diego where I can hop on a bus to travel the 50 miles east to Campo and start the PCT. 

My [Very Ambitious] 25-day Train Route

• Leg 1 – Northeast Regional – Norfolk to Washington DC
• Leg 2 – Crescent – Washington DC to New Orleans
• Leg 3 – Sunset Limited – New Orleans to LA
• Leg 4 – Coast Starlight – LA to Seattle
• Leg 5 – Empire Builder – Seattle to Glacier National Park
• Leg 6 – Empire Builder – Glacier National Park to Chicago
• Leg 7 – California Zephyr – Chicago to Salt Lake City
• Leg 8 – California Zephyr – Salt Lake City to Emeryville (San Francisco)
• Leg 9 – Coast Starlight – Emeryville to LA
• Leg 10 – Pacific Surfliner – LA to San Diego

I begin this epic trip in just 2 days. Stay tuned for updates!

This article originally appeared on The Trek, which you can read here.