I am Darren Drake and I was born with a love for the outdoors.

My childhood was filled with scouting, camping trips, and outdoor adventures that fueled my love for nature.  Whenever I went backpacking, I remember always wanting to go farther or get to the next peak when everyone else wanted to stop.  Once in college, my thirst for nature grew, and the piney woods of East Texas (while beautiful in their own right) were not enough to satisfy that thirst.  I jumped at any opportunity to get to the mountains.

On my first trip to Yosemite National park, I first heard heard about the Pacific Crest Trail.  The PCT is a long distance hiking trail stretching 2650 miles through California, Oregon, and Washington.  It passes through 7 national parks and countless national forests and wildernesses. After hearing about it and a little more research, I distinctly remember thinking to myself "Wow, I have to do this trail!"

My Brother Will Always Be With Me

Growing up, nearly every outdoor experience I had was shared with my younger brother Nathan. He too shared the same love for nature as me.  When I first heard about the PCT, I immediately thought of my brother for a hiking partner.  I remember him being just as excited as I was when I first told him about it. We didn't know when we were going to do it, but we both knew we wanted to hike the PCT together.  As fate would have it though, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and passed away only weeks after me telling him about the trail.  Since his passing, I carry his ashes with me on all my trips and spread a few whenever I get to a scenic spot. I'll be taking some of his ashes on the PCT with me and signing his name along side mine at all the trail registers, so in spirit, he will still be hiking with me.

This Is Why I Hike, This Is How I Heal

There have been so many events in my life that have led to me to this trail.  I'm hiking the PCT because I love the outdoors and nature, but I'm also hiking it because it is a chance to heal and grow.  Heal from the death of my brother, a failed engagement, and chronic depression among other things.  Being alone for such an extended period of time, away from all worry and stress of everyday life, surrounded by the most beautiful scenery imaginable has the incredible ability to heal the mind.  On the trail to learn more about myself, gain new perspectives, and grow from all my past life experiences, good and bad. 

While my goal is of course to make it all the way to the Canadian border, I'm going into this knowing that anything could happen.  Injury, mental fatigue, money, illness, snow, fires, and many other things outside my control could stop me before I get to Canada.  My ultimate goal though is to just have fun on this amazing journey that I'm embarking on however far I make it.