Pretty Good Western Loop

Overview

The Pretty Good Western Loop is a backpacking route through the western United States. It attempts to leverage existing trails to create a beautiful trip that is accessible to experienced backpackers, but not requiring elite athleticism.

Inspiration

I am nearing the end of my backpacking adventures. I wanted to find a “highlight reel” trip. I loved the San Juan Mountains of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), the southern Sierras on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in the Fall, and some of the desert hiking on the Grand Enchantment Trail (GET). I also wanted it to be physically achievable for me.

There is a legendary route called the Great Western Loop (GWL). It was developed by Andrew Skurka, a famous, quirky backpacker who was made famous via National Geographic. This route is over 6,000 miles. It uses most of the CDT and PCT as the north – south legs. In the north, the Pacific Northwest Trail (PNT) is the east-west connector. There is no official east-west connector, but typically some portion of the GET is used. To finish in a single year, a hiker must average more than 30 miles per day. As best as I can tell, only six people have completed the GWL.

Like most pastimes, backpacking has been infected with one-upmanship. Initially, it was achieving a Triple Crown of completing the three major north-south long-distance trails in a lifetime (the Appalachian Trail, CDT, PCT). Then, it was “fastest known times” or FKTs, seeing who could complete a long distance route the fastest. Next, it was “calendar year triple crowns” or CYTC which means completing the Appalachian Trail (AT), the PCT and the CDT in a single calendar year. Both an FKT and a CYTC present challenges in addition to speed. An FKT requires luck to avoid snow and/or forest fires. A CYTC, additionally requires commuting between trails. For example, a hiker may head north from the southern end of the PCT, reach snow, travel to the southern end of the CDT and head north there.

These kind of “I’m a bad-ass” challenges do nothing for me. In fact, as I age, it seems my chances of being fastest at anything are decreasing. I am more likely to set the record for Slowest Known Time.

Nerd Details

I will start in Tucson, Arizona. I will use 45 miles of the Arizona Trail (AZT) to go north for a few days. Then, I will join the Grand Enchantment Trail for 300 miles. I will connect to the CDT, going north for 720 miles. I will then turn west on the American Discovery Trail (ADT) from Colorado through Utah and Nevada, roughly 1,400 miles. Then, I will join the PCT via the Tahoe Rim Trail and head south for 840 miles. A little bit after Big Bear Lake, I will veer over and join a newish trail called the Winter Through Hike (WTH) which will get me back to Tucson on a 900 mile trip through the deserts of California and Arizona.

The total is a little over 4,200 miles. Over my recent backpacking adventures, this will get me past my goal of 10,000 miles.

If everything goes to plan, I will start at the end of April and finish in early December. I will obviously will hope to finish faster, but I know I’m not always in control.