April 25, 2012 3:18 PM
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Keep pace
Follow Alex Zinda's journey along the Pacific Crest Trail at
www.headnorth2012.
blogspot.com.
About the trail
• The Pacific Crest Trail climbs nearly 60 major mountain passes, traverses three national monuments, seven national parks, 24 national forests and 33 federally mandated wildernesses.
• It crosses the San Andreas Fault three times.
• As the crow flies, the distance between Mexico to Canada is about 1,000 miles.
• The trail features six out of seven North American eco zones.
• The route passes through the Mojave Desert, the Sierra Nevada, Mt. Whitney, Yosemite National Park, Marble Mountain, Mt. Shasta, Mt. Hood, Crater Lake, Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Rainier and the Northern Cascades.
Source: PCTA.org
Keep pace
Follow Alex Zinda's journey along the Pacific Crest Trail at
www.headnorth2012.
blogspot.com.
About the trail
• The Pacific Crest Trail climbs nearly 60 major mountain passes, traverses three national monuments, seven national parks, 24 national forests and 33 federally mandated wildernesses.
• It crosses the San Andreas Fault three times.
• As the crow flies, the distance between Mexico to Canada is about 1,000 miles.
• The trail features six out of seven North American eco zones.
• The route passes through the Mojave Desert, the Sierra Nevada, Mt. Whitney, Yosemite National Park, Marble Mountain, Mt. Shasta, Mt. Hood, Crater Lake, Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Rainier and the Northern Cascades.
Source: PCTA.org
HESPERIA • Being alone in the wilderness without cell phone reception would be a deal-breaker for many young adults, but Alex Zinda isn't your average 22-year-old.
The Hesperia native is attempting a "thru-hike" on the 2,665-mile Pacific Crest Trail. The trail starts at the Mexican border town of Campo and winds through the mountain ranges of California, Oregon and Washington, eventually ending in British Columbia, Canada.
Each year, about 300 people attempt a thru-hike, most of them starting their adventure with an official kick-off party in late April. Alex, however, started over a month ago, on St. Patrick’s Day, crediting the early start to a lack of the physical training experts recommend beforehand.
“Every day is different and challenging, nothing is ever handed to you and it wouldn’t be too hard to get yourself really hurt or killed if you’re not careful,” Alex said in a phone interview from the trail. “I’ve had more experiences in this last month than I did in the last five years.”
He hopes to complete the trip in the average time of five to six months. So far, he’s completed almost 350 miles on foot, battling deep snow drifts and sub-zero conditions — and he’s still in Southern California.
“He started at about 10 miles a day,” his father, Scott Zinda, said. “Now he’s up to 20.”
Alex, who carries a GPS with him, chronicles his experiences in a blog that details his triumphs and struggles along the way. Although some days are rough and the terrain can be difficult, sleeping under the stars and maintaining a “rock star” status to his three younger siblings helps keep him positive.
“It’s the greatest thing I’ve ever done,” the 22-year-old said. “I feel closer to God. I don’t even tolerate the idea of quitting. They’ll have to drag me off this trail.”
Before he planned this trip, Alex — who graduated Hesperia High School in 2007 — worked as a commissioned sales representative for Sears in Brea. He lived in Orange County and, with no vested attachment to his job and a supportive family, waited until the lease on his apartment was up, locked his belongings in a storage unit and quit his job. His girlfriend, Sara Parks, 23, was shocked at his decision, but has been supportive of her boyfriend.
“This was a huge leap of faith for me,” Alex said.
Elizabeth Zinda describes her son as a walking encyclopedia. She is a principal at Puesta del Sol Elementary School and uses her son’s experiences to inspire students to formulate life goals and to create plans of their own.
“They’re not too young to think about college or a life plan,” his mother said. “He’s a go-getter. He inspires people to follow their dreams.”
Alex’s parents have maintained unwavering support of their son since he first started talking about hiking the PCT and are very excited to help him pursue his life dream.
“A lot of friends and family thought we were nuts for helping him do this, but the emotional growth he’s had so far has made this trip is well worth it,” Scott Zinda said.
“This has been a positive thing for our family,” his mom said, thrilled at how much her son has already accomplished and learned. “Since he’s started, this is the most interaction we’ve had with him. He’s been isolated and he has a chance to really discover who he is.”
Already Alex says he’s come to realize he’s tired of the city, done with paying “a thousand dollars a month for a studio apartment.”
When he returns from his trek, he plans to move up to the mountains where he can still see the stars and start saving for his next 2000-mile journey — either the Appalachian Trail or the Continental Divide Trail. Or both.
Get complete stories every day with the "exactly as printed" Daily Press E-edition, only $5 per month! Click here to try it free for 7 days. To subscribe to the Daily Press in print or online, call (760) 241-7755, 1-800-553-2006 or click here.
The Hesperia native is attempting a "thru-hike" on the 2,665-mile Pacific Crest Trail. The trail starts at the Mexican border town of Campo and winds through the mountain ranges of California, Oregon and Washington, eventually ending in British Columbia, Canada.
Each year, about 300 people attempt a thru-hike, most of them starting their adventure with an official kick-off party in late April. Alex, however, started over a month ago, on St. Patrick’s Day, crediting the early start to a lack of the physical training experts recommend beforehand.
“Every day is different and challenging, nothing is ever handed to you and it wouldn’t be too hard to get yourself really hurt or killed if you’re not careful,” Alex said in a phone interview from the trail. “I’ve had more experiences in this last month than I did in the last five years.”
He hopes to complete the trip in the average time of five to six months. So far, he’s completed almost 350 miles on foot, battling deep snow drifts and sub-zero conditions — and he’s still in Southern California.
“He started at about 10 miles a day,” his father, Scott Zinda, said. “Now he’s up to 20.”
Alex, who carries a GPS with him, chronicles his experiences in a blog that details his triumphs and struggles along the way. Although some days are rough and the terrain can be difficult, sleeping under the stars and maintaining a “rock star” status to his three younger siblings helps keep him positive.
“It’s the greatest thing I’ve ever done,” the 22-year-old said. “I feel closer to God. I don’t even tolerate the idea of quitting. They’ll have to drag me off this trail.”
Before he planned this trip, Alex — who graduated Hesperia High School in 2007 — worked as a commissioned sales representative for Sears in Brea. He lived in Orange County and, with no vested attachment to his job and a supportive family, waited until the lease on his apartment was up, locked his belongings in a storage unit and quit his job. His girlfriend, Sara Parks, 23, was shocked at his decision, but has been supportive of her boyfriend.
“This was a huge leap of faith for me,” Alex said.
Elizabeth Zinda describes her son as a walking encyclopedia. She is a principal at Puesta del Sol Elementary School and uses her son’s experiences to inspire students to formulate life goals and to create plans of their own.
“They’re not too young to think about college or a life plan,” his mother said. “He’s a go-getter. He inspires people to follow their dreams.”
Alex’s parents have maintained unwavering support of their son since he first started talking about hiking the PCT and are very excited to help him pursue his life dream.
“A lot of friends and family thought we were nuts for helping him do this, but the emotional growth he’s had so far has made this trip is well worth it,” Scott Zinda said.
“This has been a positive thing for our family,” his mom said, thrilled at how much her son has already accomplished and learned. “Since he’s started, this is the most interaction we’ve had with him. He’s been isolated and he has a chance to really discover who he is.”
Already Alex says he’s come to realize he’s tired of the city, done with paying “a thousand dollars a month for a studio apartment.”
When he returns from his trek, he plans to move up to the mountains where he can still see the stars and start saving for his next 2000-mile journey — either the Appalachian Trail or the Continental Divide Trail. Or both.
Get complete stories every day with the "exactly as printed" Daily Press E-edition, only $5 per month! Click here to try it free for 7 days. To subscribe to the Daily Press in print or online, call (760) 241-7755, 1-800-553-2006 or click here.
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