Howdy! My name is Conor. I’m a sasquatch sized lover of the outdoors and decided to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail upon completion of my final year at The University of Texas at Austin studying Mechanical Engineering. The life of an engineering student is less conducive to epic outdoor adventures than I would like, and I realized that if I was going to have an adventure of the magnitude of one of the long trails, it would have to be between school and my first engineering job. Hence, the 2015 plan!
I decided to make a travel journal to discuss everything that is going into my SOBO hike of the PCT! Whoa!! Acronym overload. SOBO hiking is hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Southbound. This entails starting at the border of Washington and Canada and hiking the trail southwards to the Mexican Border of California. Most people hike Northbound (NOBO), and for a variety of reasons I have decided to go south. I’m sure I’ll get to those in a post at some point. For now, here‘s a map of the trail I’ll be doing!
Update: Thanks for checking out the blog! If you are seeing this update, chances are you are looking at the blog for the first time after I completed the trail! Feel free to checkout the side bar to the left for different groups of posts. All the travel-journal style of posts will be located in “The Journey” tab to the left, and I plan on keeping up with the blog going forward as a gear/itinerary review and guide. Questions about hiking the PCT in through or part? Wonder specifics about the SOBO journey? Feel free to email me at seepuckhike@gmail.com and I will try to respond in a timely fashion!
Here’s me upon completing the trail on October 28th 2015:
Always Wandering 
Good luck Conor, I’m also in Austin and if you ever want to talk to a recent (2014) PCT NOBO then contact me at bwatt at 1fifoto.com. I’d be happy to sit down, and chat over a beer sometime. Oh, and I’m at the other end of the age spectrum having grey hair and such. Sincerely, Tartan
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Howdy Tartan! That sounds great, thanks for reaching out! I’ll probably have loads of questions come spring time. I’m sure I’ll be in touch sooner than later.
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Best wishes Conor. We’ll be following your journey and cheering you on. Best wishes from your friends back home, Carol Brickell
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I dig what you’re doing and sharing on your blog! I have (also) nominated you for the Liebester Award, an award for up-and-coming bloggers and a way to recognize great work. Check it out: https://radiancount.wordpress.com/2015/02/22/reaching-out/
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Hi Connor,
My name is Bill A. I went to WTWhite with your dad. The AT and PCT are on my bucket list. I knocked out Grand Canyon rim to rim last year and hope to attempt it again but r2r2r this year. I signed up to follow your blog. Do you know about ADZPCTKO? If not go to ADZPCTKO.ORG.
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Happy Trails Conor and Mason! This is really a very amazing endeavor and I look forward to being on the trail with you guys. All the best! Melinda (Mel) (friend of your dad)
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Hola Conor, I’m Elba, your dad and I used to work for same company a few moons ago! He often spoke so proudly of you and Mason, I feel like I know you both just a little bit. I’m looking forward to follow your blog as you both enter this exciting journey. I will be cheering for you both along the way. I too have a son who is an avid outdoors man, I truly get your passion. Many blessings for a successful journey 🙂
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My wife and I met your Dad in Coronado. He spoke very highly your “quest” and was extremely proud of you both. What an adventure…..
for life is not a game
to be played in the shadows
of a comfortable tree
it must be brave
not simply convenient
for time is a thief
Best wishes for a great “journey”…….
Barbara and Gary Staggs
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Hello Conor & Mason,
I have worked with your father for several years and have learned of the many outdoor activities experienced by your family. Anytime I’m in a conversation about scouting, I always refer to the two young Puckett men and the stories from your father. I’m amazed by your current journey and the discipline it takes to complete such an endeavor. Good luck the remainder of the trip and I look forward to reading about your adventure.
T. Abalos
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Conor
Thanks for taking the time to chronical your and Mason’s SOBO adventure. I would like to start a SOBO trip this summer. Getting a late start as far as planning / logistics goes, I would enjoy speaking to you about your experiences.
Clint
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Absolutely, feel free to email me at seepuckhike@gmail.com
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Conor (Big Tex)- I was going through my desk yesterday and came upon the card you gave me with your blog address. I’ve spent most of the day reading every word. Fabulous job of documenting a life changing trip. Well done. I well remember our conversations when I ran into you and Saltlick on the way to Cascade Locks and the breakfast we shared there. I have often wondered how your hike went and it was such a gift to get the whole story in your amazing blog. Brings back lots of memories – especially the stretch from Echo Lake to Campo which I did a couple of years ago. I was delighted to find that you had met up with Blueprint and Darkside again and had hiked a good way with Blueprint after Darkside had to leave the trail for school. I wrote them a couple of weeks ago since I was wanting to make a trip to Portland to have dinner with them one of these days.
My friend Henry (Doc H) and I are planning to do Ashland to Echo Lake this spring- summer depending on the snowpack – thankfully there is one down there this year. We still have about half the trail to complete and will keep at it. Wish we could do 40s like you and your brother but we’ll be happy just to be out there.
When I left you at the restaurant at Cascade Locks I stood out front for about an hour hitch hiking without a ride. It was hot and I had my Chrome Dome out and was feeling pretty good about the hike from White Pass. Eventually a well dressed man crossed the parking lot and came up to me holding a dollar bill in his hand and said ” It’s not much sir, but I hope it helps…..” If it was a twenty there might have been a moral dilemma, but I smiled and thanked him but told him I was OK. I did snag a ride with a Native American fellow who got me politicized about Nestle coming in to Cascade Locks and taking all their spring water. He dropped me off 20 miles from Portland and I got a train into downtown Portland ($1 with my senior discount), spent the afternoon at Powell’s Bookstore and then hopped on the Bolt Bus and three hours later was back in Seattle.
Hope all is well with you and Saltlick – give him my best and thanks for all the work you put into your blog- an epic tome for an epic journey!
Never Better
Bill Affolter (billaff@gmail.com)
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