APPALACHIAN NOW PACIFIC CREST

Last week Kirt “Ricochet” Lewis took a direct flight from New Hampshire to San Diego! And so began his journey North on the second of three long trails. Ricochet reached approximately the 1,800 mile mark on the Appalachian Trail before early Spring conditions in the Northeast diverted him out West. Ricochet hitched a ride from the base of Mount Moosilauke, NH to the airport with a plan to return to New England somewhere during his Southbound hike along the Continental Divide Trail.

The Appalachian Trail this go round has been far from easy. Ricochet has delt with sub-freezing temperatures, extended amounts of solitude, and wet trail leading to bacteria eating away at the pads of his feet.

Still Ricochet exclaims he’s excited to begin the second leg of his journey. He looks forward to seeing more hikers on trail and being in dryer conditions with nicer graded trail. Ricochet stated that what most surprised him from this leg of the Calendar Year Triple Crown was how fast the AT seemed to go by. “Once I hitched with Wanderlost to the airport it felt like the AT happened within the blink of an eye.”

It is amazing how fast the journey seems to go by once it’s over. Ricochet and I talked on the phone saying we couldn’t believe it had been five years since we started the Continental Divide Trail in 2021.

Ricochet bought a flight the day he reached the base of Mount Moosilauke and with the help of two incredible hikers, Wanderlost and Tracks, he was at the Southern Terminus of the PCT the next day hiking off toward Canada.

Ricochet sends his appreciation and gratitude to all the trail angels, hikers, and family that helped him along the Appalachian Trail! Legacy Backpacking wishes him the best on the Pacific Crest Trail! HIKERS HIKE!

Ricochet and Tracks at the Southern Terminus of the PCT in Campo California

You can find his latest updates on his YouTube Channel at Kirt Lewis - YouTube