Travel Talk: Up and Down the Pacific Crest Trail

The plan sounded simple: set off alone from Mexico and hike the Pacific Crest Trail all the way to Canada. I took the preparation seriously, studied everything I could, and then got six months of hands-on training in the desert, high mountains, forests and human relationships.

Along the way, I faced several challenges: putting up a tent using trekking poles, a sleeping bag that was constantly wet, a broken heart, a sprained ankle, and the rather unpleasant realization that time was moving faster than I was. Fortunately, there was also plenty of beautiful scenery, humour, friendship and people who taught me things along the way that you simply cannot learn from the internet at home.

During the talk, I tell this story as openly as I experienced it. According to previous audiences, at times you will feel like you are hiking those 3,200 kilometres with me.

Up and Down the Pacific Crest Trail is an honest story about how a fairly simple plan – “I’m going to Canada” – turned into six months that changed much more than just my calves. And about how you can grow into big things along the way.

About the speaker:

Bára Strihová is a mountain photographer, traveller and speaker from the Beskydy Mountains. She has a soft spot for long-distance hikes, deep conversations and ideas that often require a backpack, a plane ticket, or both. For her, the mountains are also the place where she most enjoys photographing people, because she believes that it is there that their true character comes through most clearly. When she is not somewhere with her backpack or camera, she is probably planning where to take them next. For inspiration and mountain adventures, follow Bára on Instagram @bramborienka.