I did everything I was “supposed” to do. I worked hard in high school to get good grades, graduated from a top-rated Canadian university, and landed a job at a Fortune 500 company—Amazon. I climbed the corporate ladder, got promoted, and bought a house. On paper, I was set. But underneath all those checked boxes, I felt unfulfilled.

Then I hiked the Pacific Crest Trail—and everything changed.

The PCT isn’t just a hike. It changes you. It pushes you to your limits, strips away distractions, and forces you to confront who you are. But how does the PCT change you?  Throughout my own hike, I realized there were five key ways the trail changed me—and if you set foot on the PCT, it will change you too.

1. Clarity

One of the biggest ways the PCT changes you is by building unshakable confidence. 

Spending weeks—and eventually months—in nature does something profound: it drowns out the noise of everyday life and makes you question what you truly want. Before the PCT, I had let society’s definitions of success guide me. The moment I stepped on trail, free from relentless work emails and social pressures,

I realized how much of my life had been lived to meet others’ expectations, not my own.

That’s how the PCT changes you: it teaches you to stop doubting, stop second-guessing, and start owning your choices. And once you learn that lesson, you carry it with you for the rest of your life.

My Post-PCT Reality

• I quit my job at Amazon.

• I moved out of my house in France.

• I began traveling and working remotely.

I gained clarity on what truly mattered to me: adventure, freedom, travel, self-sufficiency, and health. The trail taught me that if I was going to pursue those values, I had to let go of the life path that wasn’t serving me.

Ask Yourself:

• What truths have I been ignoring in my daily life?

• Which values feel most authentic to me—and how can I start prioritizing them?

2. Confidence

Nothing boosts your self-confidence quite like carrying your home on your back and relying on your own instincts day in and day out. On the PCT, there’s no manager or coworker to delegate to.

You make the decisions about where to camp, how far to push each day, and when to bail if conditions are unsafe. Each choice can affect your safety or success.

Before vs. After

• Before the PCT: I often doubted my decisions and let others’ opinions guide me.

• During/After the PCT: I had to trust my gut and take responsibility for every outcome, which empowered me to believe in myself more than ever before.

A Real Trail Moment:n 2023, a record-high snow year caused most hikers to skip the Sierras and flip north. For a while, I assumed I would follow suit—until I realized I was basing that decision on others’ choices, not my own. What would happen if I fully trusted myself instead? So, I went to see the snow-covered Sierras for myself. I hiked from Kennedy Meadows to Kearsarge Pass while many others took an alternate route. That single act of trusting my instincts changed how I make decisions—both on and off the trail—forever.

Tip: Start small by trusting yourself in everyday life. Whether it’s choosing a new hobby or making a tough career decision, practice being the driver of your own life.

3. Comfort with the Uncomfortable

“Embrace the suck.” You’ll hear this mantra over and over on the PCT because the trail is a masterclass in discomfort—blisters, mosquitoes, scorching heat, frigid nights. But here’s the twist: those tough moments become your biggest teachers.

My Toughest Stretch:Washington in September taught me what true discomfort feels like—cold, relentless rain for three days straight. I was soaked, shivering, and couldn’t properly stop for lunch because walking was the only way for me to keep warm. Eventually, I hitched into Trout Lake earlier than planned. With numb fingers, I fumbled for my phone to find a way out. Even though it was miserable, pushing through those conditions—and making a tough call on my own—proved how capable and resourceful I was becoming.

Why This Matters in “Real Life”:Life off-trail is packed with uncomfortable moments—job changes, relationship hurdles, personal challenges. Learning to “embrace the suck” on the PCT reminds you that discomfort is temporary and surmountable. You’ll face everyday curveballs with more resilience and grit.

Why This Matters in “Real Life”:Life off-trail is packed with uncomfortable moments—job changes, relationship hurdles, personal challenges. Learning to “embrace the suck” on the PCT reminds you that discomfort is temporary and surmountable. You’ll face everyday curveballs with more resilience and grit.

4. Capability

As your confidence grows and you become more at ease with discomfort, your sense of capability skyrockets. When I started, I could hardly imagine walking over 2,600 miles. By the time I finished, my perspective had changed forever.

Connecting the Dots:

• Confidence + Comfort with the Uncomfortable = a powerful belief that you can handle whatever comes your way.

• Completing a thru-hike reveals that you’re stronger—physically, mentally, and emotionally—than you ever thought possible.

The Magic:It’s not just that you’ve hiked from Mexico to Canada. It’s that you’ve proven to yourself, day after day, that you can endure and adapt. Once you return to “normal” life, you’ll find yourself tackling new challenges with the same can-do attitude.

5. Community

One of the biggest surprises on the PCT was discovering a trail community that felt like an instant family. After all, bonding over the shared insanity of hiking from Mexico to Canada is a sure way to create some of the strongest friendships you’ll ever experience.

Why It’s Special:

• Everyone on trail already shares a deep appreciation for the outdoors and a certain adventurous spirit.

• You lift each other up on hard days, celebrate each other’s milestones, and swap tips for surviving the next stretch of trail.

Beyond the Trail:Some of my most cherished friendships have come from this community. We still meet up, go on hikes in new places (like the Fisherman’s Trail in Portugal!), and encourage each other in our post-PCT endeavors. Wherever you go, the trail family is forever.

Conclusion: Your Life Is About to Change—Forever

If you’re planning to thru-hike the PCT or even just flirting with the idea, brace yourself: your life is about to be turned upside down in the best possible way. The PCT Life Change Formula—Clarity, Confidence, Comfort with the Uncomfortable, Capability, and Community—will fundamentally alter how you see yourself and the world around you.

So, what happens next? In my upcoming posts, I’ll share how to navigate life after a thru-hike, because trust me, once you’re done with the PCT, the adventure has only just begun.

Until then, keep dreaming, keep preparing, and remember:

The trail is out there, waiting for you to take that first step