After receiving a fantastic trail request, we started talking and were inspired by his enthusiasm. Therefore, we are excited to introduce you to Brian, as he enthusiastically shares his experience of hiking the Trans-Catalina Trail through this interview. He grew up in the Midwest and had an excellent outdoor and survival education from his father. Earlier this year, Brian and a mate hiked the Trans-Catalina Trail, and we are thrilled that he wants to share his experience on the trail with us!
*All pictures in this post are from Brian his hike of the Trans-Catalina Trail 😊 . Thank you, Brian, for sharing these with us to make the interview more alive and personal!
Before going into the interview, let’s provide a quick summary of the Trans-Catalina Trail. Just 27 Miles of the coast of California, you find the beautiful Catalina Island. The island is rich in things to do and is also home to the Trans-Catalina Trail. The trail crosses the island's full length, from Avalon to Two Harbors, over 38.5 miles. Wildlife encounters along the way could be with Bison, the Catalina Island Fox, and if you are lucky, you can spot the Bald Eagle. Most hikers walk the trail in 3-5 days, and with a total elevation of 10,000ft and rugged terrain, it is not for the faint-hearted.
With that in mind, let’s dive into the interview!
To start, would you be able to tell us a bit about yourself?
Growing up in the Midwest taught me how to tolerate the elements, appreciate every inch of elevation, and seek extreme adventure. I like to think I am an amateur explorer and sensation seeker. I am constantly trying to do epic things outside. I feel alive pushing the perceived limits. Racing road bikes back in the day fuelled my obsession for speed, exploring new roads, and the great outdoors. Personally, I think the best vantage point is on two wheels! During the week, I am a Recruiter for Mercy Ships in Tyler, TX. On the weekends, I love camping with my dog, hiking with friends, and learning about sustainable ways to eat and farm. My biggest bucket list item is to reach basecamp at Mt. Everest.
How did your passion for hiking and the outdoors start?
I believe my passion for hiking and the outdoors began on my first camping trip with my Dad in 8th grade. My Dad, former Eagle Scout, passed down a lot of outdoor and survival knowledge to me. This may be ironic, but that camping trip to Wisconsin turned into a nightmare. We experienced the worst rain and windstorm overnight. I loved it. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Were we going to survive? Obviously, yes. However, this heightened my reverence, awe, and beauty of Mother Nature. Cycling then accelerated my passion for the outdoors. Cycling took me through the flatlands of the Midwest, mountains of California, and the Bush in Australia.
“I am constantly trying to do epic things outside. I feel alive pushing the perceived limits”
You hiked the Trans-Catalina Trail; what a fantastic achievement! Was there a specific reason why you chose this trail? And did your expectations match with the actual experience?
I think the idea to hike the Trans-Catalina Trail was born out of procrastination. My roommate, Brett, and I talked about hiking the Trans-Catalina Trail for a couple of years but never pulled the trigger. Since we lived in Santa Monica, the proximity was perfect and it seemed challenging enough for a couple of beginner backpackers to do over three days. I thought the trail was going to be a “walk on the beach” considering this was an island. I was pleasantly and painfully surprised when we found ourselves hiking up and down 38-degree gradient trails. The trail was much more physically demanding than I expected. I expected some great views, but the 360-panorama view of the Pacific at any point on the trail was breath taking. I did expect better markings on the trail, especially leaving out campsites. I would have studied our entrances and exits a little more. In addition, the ferry ride from the mainland to the island was the coldest part of the weekend! Overall, we lucked out weather wise. It was perfect during the day averaging mid 60s and sunshine!
What is the best memory you have of the trail?
There are so many! My favorite memory of the trail was the last morning waking up to waves crashing on the beach after 38 miles under our belt. We proceeded to do a quick yoga session watching the sunrise over Los Angeles. The coastline was extremely clear from Catalina. We could see from Orange County up to Ventura! We knew the hardest part of the trail was behind us and only had 7 miles to go. The fruit ice cream bars were the most refreshing thing I have ever tasted when we finished at Two Harbors.
It seems like a beautiful trail crossing the full island of Catalina, can you walk us through how you prepared for the trail?
The first step I took in preparation was drawing a map. I knew I had to get oriented with the trail and would only have myself to blame if we got lost! I drew a map of the entire trail, our route each day, and the topography. This does not sound conventional but CrossFit training helped strengthen my legs & bag for the hike. Every morning and night for about a month, I walked my dog in my hiking books. Since Covid began and the closest REI was about 100 miles away, I watched their training videos and hiking blogs so I could learn as much as I could about endurance hiking, jet boiling, and packing the most essential items. I also tried to read about other people’s experiences on the trail to strategize our route, and mentally be acclimated to the trail. I tried to visualize each day the best I could.
Even though you prepared well for the trail, did you come across any (major) challenges that you would never have thought of?
Well on the third day, we ran into a bison sized challenge! We literally encountered a bison standing in the middle of the trail. We were warned to keep our distance from these beasts. On our left was a drop off to the ocean and to our right was a field of cacti. Our only option was to go around, so we chose to trudge through the cacti and worry about the thorns later in our boots. That set us back about an hour, which resulted in us descending the last 2 miles of our day in the dark. Nothing we could not handle!
