This summer, PUC President Ralph Trecartin embarked on a three-week hike along the John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada mountain range with his wife, Virginia, and brother-in-law, Dr. Jonathan Bourne, while his sister-in-law, PUC alumna Penny Bourne, supported them by providing car shuttles and resupplying their needs. 

Before venturing on their adventure, they spent two days in Mammoth to acclimate to the 8,000-foot elevation. They rode the ski resort gondola to the top of Mammoth Mountain at 11,000 feet to spend a couple of hours there, allowing their bodies to adjust and alleviate some altitude sickness.

Tuesday, July 29, marked the first day of President Trecartin’s trek with his wife and brother-in-law. They began at the Horseshoe Meadow Trailhead, located on the Cottonwood Pass section of the Pacific Crest Trail, and headed 20 miles south of Mount Whitney. Within the first two days, they hiked at elevations ranging from 9,000 to 11,000 feet, reaching a peak of 14,505 feet on the third day when they climbed Mt. Whitney. Although the altitude and exertion were taking a toll on President Trecartin, he accomplished the climb and also helped rescue another hiker who was suffering from altitude sickness. 

During their three-week hike, they added 20 miles to the already existing 210.5-mile trail. With several major passes to climb and descend, they averaged 9 miles per day on some days, while on others, they hiked 15 miles. At the start of the hike, President Trecartin was so exhausted that he wasn’t even hungry or couldn’t even keep up with conversation. 

Their excursion finished on Monday, August 18, at Happy Isles, covering 20 miles in Yosemite Valley– a “tourist-crowded valley,” according to President Trecartin. “After weeks of experiencing the most sublime wilderness views and hiking and amazing scenery on the last day, just like every day, the extra crowds did make it a bit of an anticlimactic ending,” he shared. “The pizza that evening in Curry Village was terrific, though.”

President Trecartin answered some questions to give us an insight into his hiking experience. 

What inspired you to take this three-week hike on the John Muir Trail? 

We love challenges and thrive on physical activity in beautiful natural settings. I am getting older and wondered if I would lose the ability to participate in a long-sustained excursion. I believe the JMT is one of the most famous trails and definitely one of the most breathtaking in beauty. It also does not cross a road as it winds through an expansive wilderness. The sense of accomplishment is very high, and our shared experience is priceless.  

In the past, both Virginia and I have climbed the 46 high peaks of the Adirondacks in Upstate New York, and my boys and I have canoed over 1500 miles in Quebec and Ontario, Canada, ending our journeys at James Bay/Hudson Bay in the far north. So, the JMT was just another challenge. One that was hard enough to make it a true test of our abilities.  

The last reason is that, as PUC President, numerous worries weigh on me year after year. I needed a chance to reset my perspective through vigorous physical activity, allowing me to “not think” at first and clear my mind, and then to think deeply about PUC from an independent and objective point of view as I climbed and descended through the amazing terrain created and preserved by God.   

How did you prepare for this hike? 

I started in January, walking 8 miles per week, and then added 2 miles per week until I reached 32 miles per week. There were weeks when this was not possible, such as at the General Conference in St. Louis. However, over the last month, I also started hiking on some days with a backpack, carrying 20 lbs., then 28 lbs., and finally 35 lbs. Ultimately, I was prepared, but I was still not in perfect shape for this undertaking. 

Virginia went running with her 20 lb. weight vest all along. On her long runs, she often does 10, 12, or more miles in a day. She was well prepared. 

What surprised you the most during the hike? 

I was not surprised by the beauty, but it was beyond expectations. I was surprised by the number of flower varieties. I have photos of over 100 species – many growing in the most austere places, such as the tops of mountain passes. 

I was shocked, but not surprised, by how cold some of the water coming off the snowpacks on the mountains was. Taking a dip in a mountain lake or washing the sweat from my shirt was exhilarating – and that is an understatement. I also did not expect the amount of dust and sand that the pack mules stir up on some of the trails. It seemed like I was walking on the beach some of the time.

How did your physical or mental state change throughout the hike? 

I grew stronger as the days went by, but I was also sore and stiff all the time. Initially, there was some doubt about how my body would hold up and whether I would be able to keep up. After the fourth day, I knew I would make it unless there was an accident or I developed a fracture of some sort. 

My physical state became stronger, and my mental state also improved. However, there were times when I had to concentrate on taking one step at a time, counting to 100 steps so that I could reward myself with a 10-second rest period. On hot, sunny days, I would hike quickly between locations with shade, and then stop for a few seconds. I’ve developed several self-motivation techniques to keep my progress going and give me something to look forward to in the near future, rather than longing for the end of the day or hours in the future. 

What was the most beautiful moment you experienced? 

I had many, such as after toiling up the switchbacks on one of the mountain passes, like the Palisades Mountain Range, only to have an expanse of mountains and lakes open up on the other side. Another moment is when my body stretched out to its full length and my eyes shut as I fell away into blessed sleep after a rigorous day, and when my heart stopped as a new bird, a Sooty Grouse, for my life list crossed the trail in front of me and stopped for a photo opportunity. 

One beautiful moment is when your hot apple cider finds your tongue on an icy, cold morning. Many of the most beautiful moments involved watching, talking, and sharing with Virginia. All of these moments with her end up being magical. 

The most truly beautiful moment for me on this trip was a life lesson on how God cares about and deals with me as a person. As I took one step after another, breathing deeply after each step at high elevation, I realized that my overweight backpack was a metaphor for how God loves and cares for me, even when I may make errors in judgment and mistakes. 

Were there any pieces of gear you were happy to have or wish you had brought?

It was cold at night in the middle of the summer. Sometimes there was frost in the morning at the high elevations where we camped. At our final resupply, I grabbed my wool long-johns and wished I had them the entire time.  

What was your favorite part of the trail? 

The end – ha ha! No, I loved every part, but especially the Palisades Range, Palisades lakes, and the streams flowing from them. 

Did you learn anything new about yourself during this experience?

My body is getting older. I can’t move as quickly or as easily as I did when I was younger. But, with time and preparation, it is incredible what anyone can accomplish when they set their minds and actions towards a goal. 

Would you do another hike similar to this one? 

Perhaps when I retire, I look forward to finding someone to carry my pack for me. Someday, I dream of completing one of the long trails, such as the Pacific Crest Trail. However, I will also welcome shorter hiking days and more resupply detours. It would be nice to have some real salad and non-dehydrated savory food every week, followed by some cold milk and pie.

Before this exhibition, President Trecartin received advice about how much to pack and how much his backpack should weigh. Despite recommendations from others and carrying lightweight gear, he overpacked food for the first two weeks. “I was trying to get 60% of the anticipated calorie usage,” he said. “As a result, my backpack weighed 40 lbs. on the first day before adding water. Trying to hike fast, up-hill over Forrester Pass (13,153 feet) about did me in. This was the day after pushing myself up Mt. Whitney.”

Hauling this much baggage mile after mile was the most challenging part of the hike for President Trecartin, to the point where his brother-in-law offered to carry his belongings the rest of the way to the pass. “God does the same thing,” said President Trecartin. “He has given us advice, but never stops loving us if we ignore Him. He doesn’t scold or embarrass us when we finally realize that He was right in the first place. He picks up our pack (if we let Him) and gives us a breather in our journey of life. After all, He is the one who said, ‘My yoke is easy and my burden is light. Wouldn’t it be better if you had less weight on your hips and shoulders? Why don’t you let me carry that for you now?”

After the first six days, he organized his backpack from most important to least, continuing to reduce the weight as the days went by to make the hike more manageable as he became stronger. While training for this three-week hike, President Trecartin lost 15 pounds of body weight during his program and an additional 15 during the hike. 

President Trecartin is most proud of finishing this journey with his wife and brother-in-law. “We did it together.” Now back home from his hiking adventure, President Trecartin looks forward to the upcoming school year, which starts later this month, and creating a stronger environment at PUC where students can experience their own adventures and grow in character as a result of those experiences. 

“I want students to undertake more wilderness adventures like mine, more mission adventures, more other adventures, if they choose to do so,” he said. “I want our students to experience more and build memories for a lifetime while growing in wisdom and in strength and in favor with God and man.”