Walking the Original PCT with Trail Pioneer Carolyn “Ravensong” Burkhart

In 1976, long before the Pacific Crest Trail became a well-marked route supported by modern gear and digital navigation, Carolyn “Ravensong” Burkhart set out to do something no woman had done before: walk the entire length of the PCT from Mexico to Canada. Spanning nearly 2,700 miles through desert, alpine wilderness, deep forests, and remote mountain passes, the PCT is a journey defined by vast landscapes, extremes of weather, and long stretches of solitude. Ravensong experienced it in its rawest form, navigating faint tread, unmarked routes, and long distances between resupply points with little more than determination, basic equipment, and a deep trust in the land. Join us as Ravensong shares stories from her historic thru-hike, offering a rare glimpse into the early days of long-distance backpacking in the American West. She’ll reflect on the gear she carried, the challenges of route-finding along the original trail corridors, and the resilience required to keep moving forward day after day with limited resources and no online beta to lean on. About our speaker: Carolyn “Ravensong” Burkhart is the first woman to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail and a longtime supporter of the PCT community, hosting and helping hundreds of hikers as they pass through Mazama, Washington. Her experiences bridge the early history of the trail and the modern thru-hiking movement, offering perspective, inspiration, and a deep respect for the journey itself.