Long Distance Backpacking

It’s interesting how much of a role hitchhiking plays in thruhiking. A few years ago, I would have shuddered at the thought of hitchhiking because I was told from a young age that it’s not safe to get into cars with strangers. But after many positive experiences hitching around trail towns on both the AT and PCT, I’ve started catching rides all over the place.

I can’t believe the number of fascinating folks I’ve met hitchhiking—people I would’ve never been exposed to otherwise. I’ve gotten rides from Trump supporters and Trump haters. Jesus freaks and vocal atheists. Rural Americans in beat-up trucks blasting country music. Chinese tourists in a rental car who barely spoke English. A district attorney in a luxury sedan on her way home from work. Climbers and vagabonds livings out of their vans. Cement pourers. Students. Pot growers. Former long distance hikers repaying their karmic debt for all the rides THEY got when thruhiking. I even spent an hour in a car in the eastern Sierra discussing water politics with an employee of the LA Department of Water and Power.

I’m not saying hitchhiking is for everyone. People of color and trans/queer folk might have difficult if not dangerous experiences hitching. And I know that, as a woman, I have to be careful. For sure I turn on my “Spidey sense” when hitchhiking. I generally prefer to approach people in parking lots, so I can assess their vibes from afar before asking them for a lift. But if getting picked up from the side of the road, I chat for a minute with the driver before getting into their car to make sure we feel comfortable with each other. I also sometimes take a picture of their license plate and text it to a friend.

After countless hitches over the past three years, I have never felt unsafe. Not once.

Again, I’m not trying to say that everyone should start hitchhiking. I just wanted to talk about it because it’s been a big part of my journey over the past three years. Along with thruhiking, it’s taught me one of the most important lessons of my life—that you can choose rational caution over irrational fear when making decisions and taking risks.

It’s also cemented my belief that most people, despite their flaws, are inherently good.