First Church of The Masochist Hikes

Instagram

Sadly no WTC snow camp this weekend due to the crazy conditions. So one more weekend local and then it’s off to start the big summer adventure. Theoretically I should be on the AZT hiking sometime on the 18th and then hiking or paddling fairly continuously until November ish. (So yes, videos, lots and lots of videos)

109 miles and 6 days later and it’s time for very reasonably sized margaritas. Birthday tradition and all of that

Day 2 of my little jaunt down memory lane on section A of the PCT. Colder weather, no people, less water, and the same exact signs. Hiked to the mound between Hauser and Moreno last night since I didn’t want to spend the night in the campground considering that’s our off trail habitation. And then was nearly blown off said mound this morning when the wind kicked up #pacificcresttrail #firstchurchofthemasochist

A little under 3 years after my first really long trail and I decided how better to spend my birthday week but to go get some miles on the PCT. This time I’m just out here for 5 or so days along Section A since I need to get back to teach the #wildernesstravelcourse but this will make for a good pre AZT+DHR warmup. Here’s to the start of a busy busy season #pacificcresttrail #thruhike #firstchurchofthemasochist #mysummeristoocomplicatedforahashtag

For the last 15 years or so I’ve had the pleasure of teaching the Sierra Club Wilderness Travel Course every January to March. In fact at this point the program is the main reason I come back to the SoCal area in between summer trip seasons. This past weekend was the second of the four outings where we spent the weekend out in Joshua Tree working on rock scrambling and navigation skills with an awesome group of students and fellow volunteer instructors. #wtckaweah #wildernesstravelcourse @scwtc #wtc2023

Jen and I this weekend on the summit of 4,377 during the @wtckaweah #wildernesstravelcourse outing

“When on a long trail there is no finishing, I am just existing.”

Today we sit down with Masochist, also known as Matthew, to learn more about his deep dive into this life of adventure.

Flash forward to his 39th year around the sun and he was ready for a change. We chat the impetus for the change, a mixture of loved ones passing away, the support of a wonderful partner, and the appreciation for learning you just never know how much time you have.

We chat the difficulties of balance when consumed with passion, a very irregular existence in general, and having more plans than available time. We chat travel fatigue, cravings of stability, and the treat of “nothingness.” We chat becoming antsy, campground conundrums, and volunteering with the Sierra Club. We discuss shorter distance trails losing some of their shine, surviving without zero days, and the feeling of just existing. It’s less about mileage he says and more about just the time on a trail.

We chat planning a long hike while actively finishing a long hike, aiming higher, and learning of the ECT’s existence. We then chat all things Eastern Continental Trail. We chat homeless encampments, being told by a person it was “my bush,” and $300 for one of the worst hotel stays ever. We chat magic, consistency, and the meat grinder that is called pavement.

We chat mentality around 5,000 miles, the Florida Keys, and how to avoid the scariest wildlife of all; aggressive dogs. We chat moose hunting, caribou mating, pit bulls, something called Meat Cove, a untouchable lighthouse, and a “snarl torpedo.”

We chat Matt’s choice that was not a choice to get of his CDT hike earlier this year. We chat altitude cough turned into a serious case of COVID. We chat being bedridden, feverish, and physically depleted. We chat being used to being in pain but the threshold that exists between “push mentality” and the unsafe. We chat bargaining, acceptance, and planning for the future. We chat deeper questions of existence and doing everything one can to continue.

Thank you Matthew for sharing your journey!

#outdoorpodcast #thruhike #pacificcresttrail #easterncontinentaltrail #thruhiking #backpackingpodcast

YouTube