Yesterday I rode my bike 18 miles around a small portion of the Grande Ronde Valley. It was easily the farthest my body has gone not in an automobile, and afterwards it felt like that.
So, when I hear that someone is trying to conquer the Pacific Crest Trail a few things come to mind. One, what is the Pacific Crest Trail? After hearing that answer, I think that whole thing can’t be paved so one would have to walk that. Which brings up the final thought, why would anyone ever want to do that?
In fact, when our Athletic Director Rob Cashell told me that EOU volleyball senior Danielle Kelley was making that hike, my reply was exactly, “Good Lord, why would anyone do that?”
“It's something I've always grown up hearing about,” Kelley said. “My family does a lot of backpacking and it's always just been something that's been talked about and it just got into my head and stuck.
“I guess my Dad would have been a big part of my inspiration for doing this. Like I said I've grown up hearing about it and he has a ton of books about the PCT and would talk about the trail. Both my parents have been extremely supportive.”
Let’s not confuse my somewhat lackadaisical and sedentary lifestyle for ignorance. I recognize and admire Danielle’s courage for making the trip. I think it’s amazing she has the ambition for such a quest and could only wish I had the discipline to do the Hood River county version of the trip.
For those of you who were like me before I went on Wikipedia.com, the Pacific Crest Trail is a 2,650-mile trek from Campo, California on the Mexican border to Manning Park, British Columbia just into Canada. The trail crosses through forests, over mountainous terrain, and across deserts.
The PCT weaves through 25 national forests and seven national parks. The Sierra Nevada and Cascade Range are passed along the trail, with the highest point of the march at 13,153 feet at Forester Pass in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the lowest point at Cascade Locks’ 140 feet here in Oregon. During the hike the elevation changes 300,000 feet, that’s 90,000 meters for you metric fans. I asked Danielle what she thought might be the toughest part of the trip.
“I would say just the general fatigue, both physical and mental, of doing something like this,” Kelley said. 
“There are going to be times when it's just not going to be fun anymore and you're tired and you hurt and you can't quite remember what made you decide to do something like this. But you just have to push through it because it's worth it in the end.”
The recommended time to pursue the trip is late April to late September, so Danielle is hitting it at the right time. The fastest hike of the trail was done in 83 days and five hours, but trips can take anywhere from four to six months. Most hikers average about 20 miles per day on the PCT.
The trail is one of seven National Scenic Trails across the nation. When Kelley completes the Pacific Crest, she can become one of the select few to attempt conquering the “Triple Crown of hiking.” Anyone who completes the PCT, along with the Continental Divide and Appalachian Trails receives this honor. But for now Danielle is content with pursuing the Pacific Crest and trying her hand at other endeavors in the near future.
“After the trail I am taking a year off and will hopefully get a job as a lab tech in some sort of pharmaceutical industry, hopefully in Southern California,” Kelley said. “After that, I plan on going to graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in an immunology/public health field. Right now I haven't decided on where I'm going to grad school but I'm looking at schools all over the country.”
Kelley excelled on and off of the volleyball court while at Eastern Oregon University. She defined what a student-athlete is by maintaining a 4.0 GPA throughout her collegiate career. The La Grande native appeared in 133 sets and totaled 122 kills in her career at EOU after excelling at La Grande High School.
“I very much enjoyed my time at EOU,” Kelley said. “I had such amazing experiences there, both academically and athletically, and I'm very glad I chose Eastern.”
This marks another reason why Eastern Oregon University is such a great school, the different interests
that students share. I, myself an EOU graduate, look at the three hazards listed on the Pacific Crest Trail website, severe weather, dehydration, and wildlife; and wipe my hands clean of ever thinking that would be something I’d like to do. But then there’s a terrific young lady like Danielle who sees the wonderful challenge and feeling of conquering something great.
With the Sierra Nevadas on my right and San Diego to the left; I’d turn left and spend all of my food money on Margaritas on the beach. Or I’d love to hear my Dad’s response when I call him from the top of Forester Pass saying I’m done … like there would be cell phone reception. Any place that is named like Farewell Gap and Devils Postpile are places I probably don't want to be. My hat goes off to Danielle and I wish her the very best on the trip.
With the Sierra Nevadas on my right and San Diego to the left; I’d turn left and spend all of my food money on Margaritas on the beach. Or I’d love to hear my Dad’s response when I call him from the top of Forester Pass saying I’m done … like there would be cell phone reception. My hat goes off to Danielle and I wish her the very best on the trip.
If you’d like to send your wishes to her along the way, she will have the ability to check her at very limited times but it is dsk.pct2010@gmail.com. I’ll do my best to not annoy Danielle and get updates for everyone throughout her trip, and maybe get some pictures if she chose to carry her camera. After doing research on the trail, I learned a lot on hiking; apparently it’s not wise to carry a lot. After her hard work at Eastern, Danielle wanted some much-deserved time to herself and reflect on her time while in Eastern Oregon.
“I want to do something for me,” Kelley said. “It's like my big adventure before going out into the real world I guess. Some people travel abroad, I'm walking to Canada.”