Starting the Pacific Crest Trail (Episode 1)

I travel from my home on Vancouver Island to the start of my southbound (SOBO) thru hike of the PCT, Hart's Pass. I do my final planning and then get dropped off at the trailhead.
I had to start my hike northbound to reach the official northern terminus at the Canadian border, before turning back around to start my SOBO thru hike. I am immediately in awe of the stunning landscape and can't believe I get to share it with you in this video!
This is episode 1 of my Pacific Crest Trail series. I hope you enjoy!
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Thank you so much for watching :)
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[@briannorwick]

01:19 Driving towards the trailhead, Vancouver Island to Mazama, WA 02:18 Arriving at the trailhead, Mazama, WA to Harts Pass 03:35 Rest day and exploring Harts Pass area 06:53 PCT Day 1, departing Harts Pass, 11 miles hiking 08:53 PCT Day 2, 14 miles 11:15 PCT Day 3, reaching the US/CAN border, official start of the PCT

[@jamesadams2334]

I hope that you found what you were looking for while out there. Hike safe, Hike strong, Have fun! geek

[@KrystaNorwick]

I definitely did! Thank you!

[@ashleyyorke3343]

Oh my gosh, I cannot wait to see all your longform content of the PCT!!! I watched all your shorts through the PCT.❤I am so excited and thank you so much for sharing, and taking us along through your incredible journey

[@ChaylaDay]

That last bit about feeling whole again and finding yourself really resonated with me. What a powerful way to reconnect to yourself. I know you’re back from your hike now, but still wishing you infinite healing. Hope you got exactly what you needed from your journey. ♥️

[@KrystaNorwick]

❤️❤️❤️

[@yosoypatrick]

Your daily posts last year were one of my favourite things in 2023, I’m so excited to watch this journey again!

[@KrystaNorwick]

Yay! Thank you! Glad you're enjoying them!

[@avender93]

I haven't watched anyone doing SOBO before! Love your videos

[@Westcoastwater]

I haven’t seen your daily posts from 2023 - so I really look forward to watching your experience. Vancouver Islanders are the best, and I was so happy to see you used Strathcona to prepare! Your optimism is infectious!

[@KrystaNorwick]

Yay!! So glad you're here! I love Strathcona Park too - such a special place 🥰

[@chrisharmon5453]

I found your shorts a few weeks ago. I hike cross country for a living but haven’t backpacked in several DECADES and yet you’ve got me hooked on my old dream again

[@UntakenTrails]

We're excited to watch your PCT videos. We watched your GDT videos when we were prepping for our GDT section hike. Can't wait to see more from the PCT.

[@user-wx7wg5cn1m]

Just watched episode one- I am hooked! And subscribed. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and insights- loving this ! 😂🧘🏼🌿🙏

[@KrystaNorwick]

Welcome!! Thanks for subscribing!

[@wanderworm]

Beautiful Krysta. I’m glad you’re producing these longer versions of your adventure and appreciate how much effort goes into making each episode.

[@atrailoforangeslices3506]

Oh, happy day! I've watched and enjoyed all your shorts (does that sound weird 🤭?) and am so happy the full videos have started. Thank you for being so honest about mental health. We all struggle, but it's refreshing when someone else validates our feelings. Can't wait to watch the whole PCT adventure!🍊

[@satyasunshine9737]

I love goats,chipmunks,& deer!!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@jenniferknowles2023]

I live one county over (Ferry County), about 2 hour drive away, and yes, it's beautiful up here in the mountains 🌄

[@DavidWisehart]

Great video and great start to your adventure. Was enjoying your prep videos, but this is where it gets real. I love this stretch of Washington. I hiked SOBO in 2021 but had to stop due to wildfires. Will be attempting another SOBO thru this summer. Your videos are getting me even more excited about starting the PCT. Thanks for posting!

[@KrystaNorwick]

Yay! I'm so stoked for you! SOBO is such a great way to go, as you know! I hope you enjoy this series 🙂

[@kevingraham7039]

Great video! Cant wait to watch them all. I thru hiked the pct in 2016 nobo and it was the best decision I have ever done

[@KrystaNorwick]

Yay! So glad you enjoyed! And wow so happy for you that you've experienced the PCT yourself. Such an incredible trail 🥰

[@paulbrown7369]

The new camera was a great investment. The format and editing are on the mark. The trail is magnificent. This is going to be a fantastic adventure.

[@KrystaNorwick]

So glad you think so!! I had a lot of fun using it and getting to capture different moments that I hadn't been able to before!

[@michaelsalzer4362]

total respect for you. Did the trail in21 and 22 NOBO it is much more of a solo experience going SOBO

[@Susanrocci]

You are such an inspiration! Your positive energy, honesty, love of nature, planning, and so much more. I so enjoyed your short stories , & I look forward to seeing your adventure in its entirety! Keep being you Krysta, you are a gem!

[@vanessaellsworth9381]

So excited for this series!!!! Its like we can watch it all again, but this time even more in depth!!! Thank you for taking the time and all the work in doing this!!!

[@TheSwissHiker]

Hi Krysta, that area isn't that different from some places in Switzerland. Very beautiful. That spot with the lake is amazing. Greetings from Switzerland, Benjamin

[@jenniferknowles2023]

I had a friend that lived here, she was Swiss and she said it reminded her of home. She even had milk cows with the bells and she made cheese, just like her grandfather did.

[@ytubechannel997]

Really looking forward to watching your journey, especially since it is southbound.

[@puptrainer546]

I am excited to watch this. My dog and I are traveling to the border and other places in WA . I am almost 60 and health problems stop me from doing 2600 miles.

[@rushpinn]

This is lovely. Thanks for sharing. Will definitely follow along

[@michaelglentz1858]

I am excited for your excitement! What an amazing place

[@victoriameffe4099]

So excited for the next episodes! You are awesome

[@therealroblowe]

Really enjoyed episode 1 and looking forward to the rest!

[@jmcginnis4451]

Beautiful video! ❤

[@Badnewsfeminist]

Beautiful thoughts at the end, can’t wait to follow the series

[@satyasunshine9737]

Oh my gosh,Heart Lake in Mt.Shasta,lived & hiked there 13 years!!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@SharonWall-ki7mo]

Loved all your instagram and shorts during the hike, 11:14 really looking forward to these longer ones. ❤

[@djbreakfast]

This was an absolutely gorgeous, breathtaking, emotional, wonderful, inspiring first episode and I cannot wait for the rest of the series!! I was watching all your shorts last year as you were hiking and they were so amazing, I can’t wait to see what you do here in the full length version 😍

[@satyasunshine9737]

I'm excited for you,siStar!!!! I'm unable to wear a backpack on my spine,6 herniated disks,YET,LOVE hiking segments of PCT & Trail Angel!!! Much love & Blessings in your journey!!! I'm excited to follow your posts❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@amchen1219]

All the feels, Krysta! ❣ What a beautiful start to this series. I loved all of your other videos but can definitely see the quality improvement with your new camera! Your content is so heartfelt, really a joy to watch.

[@satyasunshine9737]

You are going to do AWESOME!!!!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@MaxandJacqueline]

We are quite excited to see the rest of your journey. Thank you for sharing much love Max & Jacqueline

[@KrystaNorwick]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@cherylparaschos7102]

So excited to watch your channel highlighting your experience on the PTC I have been watching your journey on tik toc and always wanted more lol now I can watch more of your hike and follow your experience more thank you ☺️

[@bryan5213]

Looking forward to this series!

[@lindiemoon]

So stoked for the long form videos!!! Yay!

[@KrystaNorwick]

Yay! Glad you're stoked 💜

[@leahwalker192]

That ridge view was so beautiful in the video and I know that digital view wasn't even a sliver of it's 'in person" beauty. Looking forward to seeing more long form videos of your journey!

[@blairpoisson6474]

Absolutely stunning, i wish i could hold off and binge watch later but i know as soon as i see the notifications im clicking!

[@mathompson4883]

We just watched while enjoying morning cuppas. You're such an inspiration! Thanks for sharing the hard work, gorgeous views and beautiful moments.

[@Lancelot1623]

Story! Absolutely beautiful shots from this first video. Totally loving it so far. Im so excited to see this series as you release it! -Lancelot

[@KrystaNorwick]

Lancelot!! Hi!! Yay I'm glad you enjoyed it! We get to experience the whole trail again 🥰. Hope you are well!

[@MattyDCCollins]

This is so well done Krysta! Can't wait to see more episodes!

[@KrystaNorwick]

Thanks Matty!! So glad you liked it ❤️

[@ruhiyyihrose]

Excellent video, I can tell you put a lot of time and effort in it. Thank you for sharing these - so inspiring!

[@KrystaNorwick]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sharamckinney575]

So looking forward to watching all your PCT adventure videos!!! Thx for sharing your journey with us!

[@KrystaNorwick]

Thanks for watching!

[@kyprice8092]

Can’t wait! Let’s go👍

[@KrystaNorwick]

🥰🥰

[@vsherbie]

This is great! I joined you through your shorts for the last two weeks of the trail, but now here's the whole thing!

[@KrystaNorwick]

Yay!! Glad you're here :)

[@barneyrubble1754]

good luck. yabadaba doo! 🤙

[@taylordeswert]

I can’t wait to watch these videos! I found your instagram a couple weeks ago and binged all of your PCT videos. You make me so excited so hiking season. Thank you for sharing everything! Much love from Bend, Oregon!

[@KrystaNorwick]

Yay! Thank you! So glad you like them! Bend is such a cool place 😎

[@Hanniballinda]

I absolutely enjoy your channel and this fantastic footage of an incredible nature. It always amazes me, how you stay so positive while facing this huge physical and mental challenge and how you still appreciate all the small beautiful things around you 😍 looking so forward to the next episode ❤

[@KrystaNorwick]

Glad you enjoy!! It's such an incredible trail and experience, I just tried to feel grateful every day I got to be out there!

[@Oli_BonBon]

So excited for this, I’ve been following you on TikTok!

[@KrystaNorwick]

Yay! Welcome!! 🥰❤️

[@davetreks]

Thanks for sharing your why.

[@sandrap3047]

Just subscribed. First time I’ve seen your channel. Looking forward to watching your PCT adventure!

[@KrystaNorwick]

Yayyy thanks so much for subscribing!! I hope you enjoy this series 🥰❤️

[@kikiandjasmine]

Hoping to go learn a few pointers for my Pacific Crest Trail SOBO hike in 2024 👍

[@KrystaNorwick]

Yahoo! So stoked for you!!

[@mars4697]

I am so excited for you!!! I am excited to watch h your transformation into being whole again. I have had some medical conditions that have threaten my life more than once. Having to say good bye to my children and husband was a painful but beautiful thing. Realizing i made it through has been a blessing of course but i too am not whole. I am unable to do what makes me whole so i look forward to your and will “follow in your footsteps”to see if i am able to heal sone if the things that this experience has caused.

[@jimmyjenkins9240]

You popped up on my feed this morning and I’m so happy you did. If I understand correctly, you did the hike last year and posted, but this is an extended version? In any case, it is all new to me and I look forward to following along.

[@KrystaNorwick]

Welcome! Yes that's right, I hiked in 2023 and posted shorts filmed and edited on my phone. But now I'm posting all the footage I captured on my camera and wow it's so nice to go through it all! I hope you enjoy 🙂

[@satyasunshine9737]

Gorgeousness!!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@katlw136]

Thank you for sharing why you were out there. It really resonated when you said you lost a grasp on yourself and felt like a shell of yourself, and that you feel most like you when you're thru hiking. Really powerful to have someone I relate to put words to an experience I can relate to. 🙏💜

[@KrystaNorwick]

Aw I'm so glad I could create that connection by sharing my why! 💜

[@delwinelder2116]

Great video. I’m looking forward to experiencing your adventure. What or where was that lookout tower you hiked to on the first day?

[@betsyclarke185]

Riveting!

[@MoosebearAdventures]

Nice vid. Happy hike 😊 Greetings from Sweden

[@rushpinn]

Another Swede following. But from London :) Hej!

[@KrystaNorwick]

Thanks so much!! And thanks for following 🥰

[@hikinghermit]

Great! I hiked the trail Nobo in 2015 but been thinking about doing it again Sobo in the future. When did you start? Really looking forward to this series!

[@hikinghermit]

Alright now I saw the date :D Too impatient :D

[@KrystaNorwick]

Great idea!! Started 3rd week of July, 2023

[@marthawade5297]

Your videos have inspired me. Figuring out logistics now for a hike. Can you tell me if there is parking at Hart's Pass?

[@KrystaNorwick]

Yay! And yes there is!

[@ianw3058]

Hey! Def going to enjoy your journey with you! Just have a quick question... why not start in manning park? Hike to the border is less than from harts pass yes? Or is there rules around crossing that direction? Cheers!

[@KrystaNorwick]

Not allowed to cross the US border on foot! But you can go the other direction!

[@TheDailyWipeout]

nice introdution - how to get to the canadian pct starting point etc.

[@KrystaNorwick]

Thanks!

[@sandyhancock2020]

Good luck .. say hi when you make it to Idyllwild

[@KrystaNorwick]

I hiked the trail in 2023, so I've already been through there. Beautiful place!

[@sandyhancock2020]

@@KrystaNorwick Yes it is .. I love my little town. .. And it’s always fun when the hikers come through

[@mjeh1]

Generally I consider slack packing cheating and complete BS but this is the first instance of it that actually makes sense and doesn't seem like a lazy cop out.

[@johnkrall6573]

Hi Krysta, Is the trail from Manning Park to the monument closed? I know there was a fire in the area a couple years ago. I'm looking forward to watching your journey on the PCT!

[@KrystaNorwick]

Hi! The trail is open and if you are hiking northbound you can hike across the border into Canada with a special permit. However, there is no such similar permit to hike from Canada into the USA, so that's why I had to do an out and back! Thanks so much for watching!

[@johnkrall6573]

@@KrystaNorwick That's so strange! I think someone in the PCTA needs to make a few phone calls! : )

[@jakeva9802]

I started a week before you did last year. Sobo also.

[@carsonpecknold4916]

Hi. I'm thinking you might have some advice. ? If I start the trail on June 9th SOBO and do a thru hike is it okay weather or too late. ? And Krista said she started her hike in july 15th last year. Does that sound right? Am I too worried about leaving in early June or is that normal ?

[@jakeva9802]

@@carsonpecknold4916 historically that is very early. Typical start is first two weeks in July. Google snow level at Harts Pass. Once the snow is gone there, typically snow is gone everywhere else in Washington. During my hike there was only patches of snow in the goat rocks.

[@jakeva9802]

@@carsonpecknold4916that’s early but it is a low snow year. Typical start is first two weeks in July.

[@alexclawson6107]

👍

[@yayasanwismaremajaindonesi4568]

Hello from Indonesia

[@scottb9937]

Need that chili recipe!

[@KrystaNorwick]

Will be up on my website soon!! krystanorwick.com

[@briannorwick]

Chilli recipe is now up on the website 👍

[@DJslopp10]

1:36 is Canada's or BC's sale tax higher than 10% if so waste of money on your end, I will gladly enjoy the tax money as a Washington resident (JK I'm not rich so the sales tax doesn't do much for me)

[@KrystaNorwick]

I don't think you can bring a bunch of food across the border .. it's generally not a great idea, so it was the best option to buy it over there.

[@jhayft0703]

Doing the PCT again?!

[@ulrichschluter9120]

As a Canadian why didn't you start at Manning Park on the Canadian side?

[@mikeb7117]

It's been illegal to cross from Canada to the US on the PCT since 2010.

[@jimandersen6669]

Wait what!? Maybe 2020. Not 2010

[@mikeb7117]

@@jimandersen6669 No, it was definitely 2010 that crossing from Canada to the US on the PCT was banned. Crossing in the opposite direction from the US to Canada was suspended in 2020 but was reintroduced in 2023.

[@CosmicJestar]

You remind me so much of Elizabeth Zharoff from The Charismatic Voice....you happen to be related?

[@rya7642]

I want to start NOBO 2025 or 2026