Continental Divide Trail 2011 close to 3000 miles through new mexico, colorado, wyoming and montana. May 1 start date.

I am sitting in a library in Vancouver, British Columbia. I made it to the northern terminus of the PCT on September 19th -- 5 months and 1 day after I started in April (with 28 days off for injuries, weddings, etc.) It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life, arriving at the terminus. There were 24 of us there all at once. This is unheard of. Oftentimes people finish solo and in the rain. We did have rain but the sun shone too and we celebrated together. Many of my favorite people were there and more and more friends kept rolling around the corner. We'd wait for them with hugs and congratulations. I spent the final 8 days of my walk with a group of 6. We left Steven's Pass together and traveled some of the most beautiful and challenging terrain in the North Cascades. Several years ago severe floods destroyed a 45-mile section of PCT trail but most of us still use it. There were a few river crossings where we had to balance across logs but we all made it safe. Our last town stop before canada was Stehekin, Washington--also the most beautiful--right on Lake Chelan. There were almost 30 of us there having a final meal together. There is also the best bakery in the world there so we spent 4 hours eating and did most of our resupplying with cinnamon rolls, scones and cheesecake. Eight of us walked the last 81 miles together to the end. We enjoyed the miles, taking long lunches and having fires at night. We laughed a lot and sang as we walked. Discussed everything we love and hate about long-distance hiking, all of us excited to reach the finish but not wanting to face the sudden end to our 5-month journey. I could never have imagined a better finish at the border with so many friends. We all walked the final 9 miles into Manning Park, Canada and found it to be the least friendly of all hiker towns. There was only one restaurant and half of us weren't seated. No communication or laundry facilities. It was a very anticlimactic ending to such a long journey, but the finish at the border made up for it. A big group of us took the Greyhound to Vancouver yesterday, stayed in a hostel and walked around town for several hours. We felt out of place and yet at home with one another. Tomorrow I fly to San Diego and begin work in Yosemite in less than a week! I think the recovery time will take a while, but I can't describe the deep satisfaction in having completed the PCT and all that I have to keep for the rest of my life from having experienced this. I will add pictures in a week or so! I made it!