I am retired in March, 2015 with the express purpose of hiking the entire Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada.
This Blog originally documented my journey of hiking the entire PCT. I started in 2015 and, due to injuries, finally finished in 2018.
Since then I’ve added a few personal things, such as my awful trip to Alaska. This year, 2025, I’m traveling to Yellowstone.
Who am I?
- Real Name: Michael Booth
- Trail Name:
To be DeterminedHalf-Fast - Age: 73
- Retired IS Manager from AT&T with 44 years.
So Many Mountains, So little Time 
MJ from CBC sent me a link to your blog. Good luck on your trip and I will keep checking on your progress
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Hey Michael,
Saw your blog listed on Facebook and subscribed. I’m scheduled to leave Campo on April 8. See you on the trail.
Ross Judice
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Thanks, Ross. Mine is the 11th. See you on the trail.
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Hi Michael,
Good luck on your journey. My dream is to hike the PCT & the ATP. I’m a widow. My husband & I loved to hike, bike, canoe, ski….anything outdoors. Our first date we went hiking. We use to talk about doing the ATP after we retired. I’m going to make it happen. I happened on your site while doing preliminary research. This will be fun as well as enlightening while I follow your blogs.
Happy trails (as my late husband used to say).
K
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Thanks for the good wishes and I wish you all the best in your travels!
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What is the ATP?
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I assumed Kendra meant the Appalachian Trail. (AT)
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Best of luck on your hike. I’ll look for you when you get to Big Bear.
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I wish you well and look forward to your observations.
Same age, same dream.
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Michael, I would like your permission to re-post some of your images from the PCT on a website I maintain with photos and stories from the trail . . . http://www.pcttrailsidereader.com. I would link to your website and give you full credit (perhaps with a little of your backstory). I’ve been hiking on the PCT for the last 34 years and still love it as much as ever.
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Rees, you have my permission for non-commercial use. Thanks for asking!
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I should have mentioned too that I would like to follow your progress and periodically post images from your journey as your move north. I can let you know when I am going to post . . .
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Michael, wishing you the best of adventures. As an avid backpacker, I appreciate your blog and relish your venture from afar. Gods grace, TomCat01
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Michael; as someone who is preparing to hike Next year; I have read a lot of these Journals. Yours by far is my favorite so far. Every couple of days I like to log on and see how “Halfast” is doing. So thanks for sharing your experience with us. Sending you good vibes… sorry it couldn’t be a pack mule
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Trying to get heat acclimated. Did mile 1 in Campo. Bought 3 bottles of water in the store and drove along the trail near Mt. Laguna. So today I got to walk from home in Port Angeles up to Hurricane Ridge lodge in the HEAT. I think I can do this.
Hope you are in enjoyment mode.
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One of the lessons I learned re Heat is not to hike in it. Hike early till 10-noon, hide in the shade till 3-4 and hike late. Some people hike at night, but I find that too disruptive to my sleep schedule. You might not make as many miles, but the savings in water weight is worth it.
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I agree about not hiking in it. Yesterday a woman died at 10 AM on a trail in Palm Springs.
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