July 31 PCT – The Real Finish

“Finish strong” – Breakfast Chicken, hiker

PCT Camp to Manning Park – 4.9 miles

Town day!

Stealthy and I made a quick dash out of camp with tunes a playin’. We had 2 Chocolate Outrage GUs left to celebrate at our ending, the Gibson Road Bridge.

The air was crisp, sun a shining, and all things were right. We sat at the bridge basking in all that had transpired over the last 26 days and contentment washed over us. I felt so blessed and full of emotion.

We talked and agreed that it took almost a month for our bodies to say, “Hey! Walking every day, all day, is good.” Right now IF we were hiking on, we would first take a zero rest day and then increase our daily food substantially. But that is for another time.

After quick laundry, breakfast, hot tub, pool, and showers, we decided to stay a day at the Manning Park Hostel. Tomorrow we take the Greyhound Bus to Vancouver, take in some sites in Van, then fly home.

Breakfast Chicken is riding to Seattle with Malcolm, a northbound PCT hiker that just finished the whole trail in 4 months. We talked to Malcolm many times over the last few days and enjoyed getting to know him a bit. Best of luck to you Malcolm in upcoming veterinary school.

Today was spent eating, sleeping, and posting the last 10 days of blog posts. 10 days! It is the longest I have ever been without cell service while on the trail.

Thank you readers for following along this PCT ongoing journey over the last few summers. You have inspired and pushed me along through the triumphs and struggles, making it a richer and more meaningful accomplishment.

Also, thank you for taking time out of your day to post comments. It is a BIG deal. I plan on replying on the blog soon when I have regular service. So many of you have posted great questions and suggestions.

It has been one heck of a great long ride.

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37 Comments

  1. So very proud of this completion. Can’t wait for next summer’s adventure.

  2. Wow, so much congratulations to you both! I can imagine the excitement you must feel!
    Thank you once again for sharing your adventure with us all. Your continued joy in these journeys inspired me to do the JMT this summer with my sister – we just finished last Friday, and had a most wonderful hike. =]

    • Christy "Rockin'" Rosander

      That is so exciting that you hiked the gorgeous JMT and hopefully finished before smoke filled the Sierras. So glad you shared your journey with your sister. So many memories to share. 🙂

  3. Congratulations!!! So exciting to see you finish the PCT. Thanks for bringing us all along!

    • Christy "Rockin'" Rosander

      Thank you for joining us. I will hopefully be hiking through Montana on the CDT again next summer. I am really looking forward to continuing that trek. The wedding was simply amazing.

  4. Congrats! You finished on the day that I started my section hike that put me a 1/4 finished with the trail. I too hope that my kids will join me for a section or the finish. Thanks for your inspiration!

    -GoalTech

    • Christy "Rockin'" Rosander

      You and your numbers. A marvel you are. Thank you for your awesome comments along the way. I sure appreciate the sharing of your experiences and thoughts. Congrats on a ton of hiking and climbing you completed this summer. Not to mention all the work it takes to log the stats. Man oh man.

  5. So enjoyed your trip with your daughter! Memories that the two of you will share for ever and ever <3

    • Christy "Rockin'" Rosander

      Thank you so much Cris. I am lucky to have this blog so I will absolutely be able to recall and share the memories with my daughter.

  6. overlyambitiousme

    Awesome! Congratulations! It has been fun following along….can’t wait for the next adventure!

  7. Congrats to all and thank you for sharing your journey. I always ask, what was your favorite section of the trail ?

    • Christy "Rockin'" Rosander

      Ah….the hard question…but this one was super easy “Goat Rocks Wilderness”!!!!!!! I am so going back. It was wild.

  8. Jill Wilson

    So happy for you!! Thanks for joining your Mom on this last leg, Stealthy. You have had many highlights this year but completing the PCT must be the crowning grace. Your blog and pictures bring me enjoyment and peace. Thank you!

    • Christy "Rockin'" Rosander

      Just think I started and ended the PCT with my family along side. All the inbetweens solo. I think that is pretty cool. Thank you so much for your kind words. It means so much to me.

  9. So glad you are enjoying a well-deserved celebration and rest!

    It seems that trail names continue to elude your wonderful, supportive husband, Dan. Makes me think he ought to be called “Sweat Equity” with as much as he continues to invest in you and your family all these years : )

    I continue to enjoy your blog because your world is so much bigger than the hikes, and you don’t neglect to share it all. Thank you!

    • Christy "Rockin'" Rosander

      Lynda,
      You make me laugh. What is funny is all the trail names he has acquired and not embraced for long. Here are just a few that have not stuck: Cheeto, Rock Hound, Jet Boil, Get er Done, and this trip it was Chairs. Yes, he does BIG TIME invest in me and my shenanigans. I love him and am thankful every day that puts up with all my planning and dreaming. It is pretty rare, I know.

      Thank you for taking the time to comment, read, and cheer us on. You rock.

  10. Congratulations on a great accomplishment! I love following your blog, and just hope one of my girls catches the hiking bug as I can’t think of a better way to spend time together.

    • Christy "Rockin'" Rosander

      Lissa, I’ll give you a little advice, just wait and it will happen. My kids didn’t embrace the trail until they were out of college and starting their Masters. Before that, it was mom’s thing. They own it now.

  11. Congratulations to the entire Rosander family. I know it was a team effort over many years. My blessings for many more adventures to come.

    • Christy "Rockin'" Rosander

      Boy howdy was it a labor of love and teamwork, as you know too well. I still am pretty amazed we all pulled it off. Thank you for following along. I love your comments.

  12. Ive enjoyed the journey! Well done!

  13. westywanderer

    Congratulations! You and Wired have had quite the season. I’ve followed you for several years and you are my favorite because your pics are the best, your delivery is the best (same age range) and . . . you’re also a teacher, about the most important role in our society. Some day I hope to begin through hiking and I predict ‘I’ll never be same’.

    • Christy "Rockin'" Rosander

      Your words mean so much to me. Taking photos, transferring them to my iPhone, editing, and loading them to a blog entry at night, late in the tent is sometimes hard. I love that you appreciate that.

      No, I don’t think anyone is the same for the good or the bad. But never the same. You have reminded me I need to get planning some hikes for my students at school. The weather is cooling off a bit and it is time to get out there and enjoy nature.

  14. Barbara Tieskoette

    Congratulations! And WOW!

  15. I enjoy your journey, your family and your blog. Thanks !

  16. I’m a new comer to your journey having just started following you this year. I have enjoyed every minute! I am a brand new backpacker and you are helping to open up this whole new world for me. Thank you!!!

    • Christy "Rockin'" Rosander

      Hello Lisa,
      Congratulations on your new sport. So great that you hopefully are starting off with gear that is not weighing you down and making walking miserable. Thank you for sharing. You are who Lady on a Rock is for.

  17. Skirted Walker

    Great series and adventure. Thanks for sharing. Congratulation to Stealth!

    • Christy "Rockin'" Rosander

      I like the word “series”. Never thought of it that way. Long distance hiking is a series of events, characters, steps, and settings. So fitting. Thank you for your kind thoughts.

  18. Awesome, just when I thought the day couldn’t get any better, the REAL finish!! Now I’ll have to wait for news of your next pursuits. Hope you have fun in Vancouver and a great end to your summer.

    • Christy "Rockin'" Rosander

      Warren,
      I hope your end of the summer trips have been fantastic and out of the smoke. You are my die hard fan. I so appreciate you. 🙂

  19. You two look pretty unruffled after what you just did. Way to go! The old Peregrine sends his admiration from Georgia and invites you to visit the Len Foote Hike Inn for free if you want to sing for your supper by doing an after-dinner program. You all are the best!

    • Christy "Rockin'" Rosander

      Peregrine,
      I have loved reading your book and following your very different, unique, and entertaining Bly Gap Gang. I am reading slowly because I don’t want the story to end. My son moved to Nashville this year and our family is visiting him over Thanksgiving week. One of my plans is to set foot on the Appalachian Trail. Is the Len Foote Hike Inn open that late in the year? Sure appreciate your words of support.

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