I am writing this newsletter the day before leaving for the PCT. We left Tennessee last week to spend some time at my in-laws in Mississippi before hitting the trail. We will be flying to San Diego on Monday and officially start hiking on Tuesday, April 8th.
As we packed up the truck and locked the door to our home in Tennessee, I felt a wave of grief. Cade and I have worked tirelessly for the past year in order to afford to go on another thru hike. So much planning and effort has gone into the hike, and we haven’t even started yet. I am excited to once again be a thru hiker, but know that I will miss the life I created for myself at home.
Teaching my last yoga class at Soluna Sage was bitter sweet, as was working my final shift at Publix. I have lived a very abundant life in Greeneville full of friends and opportunities, but in order to pursue the PCT I had to let go of my previous. So much of these past months has been spent looking ahead to my trek from Mexico to Canada, but I tried to savor my last few days of normalcy at home.
Staying at my in-laws has felt like a placeholder. One chapter has closed and I’m on the verge of another. We have spent countless hours packing and repacking our bags, sorting through resupply boxes, organizing our mail drops, and finalizing our travel plans. I can’t believe the thing we’ve been waiting for is finally here, and yet it feels like there’s still so much left to do.
I feel ready to start and yet am still in disbelief that it’s actually happening. Maybe it will sink in on the 4am drive to the airport, or once I finally arrive in Campo. I have lived on the trail for months before, but this time feels different. I am happy with who I am in this moment, but know that the trail changes a person. Who will I be on the other side? How much more drastically can thru hiking shift my life? I am both eager and weary to find those answers on the dirt path leading north.
Blog
Aside from PCT prep, I have been busy writing some last minute articles for The Trek. I have been writing for The Trek since 2021 and blogged my hike on the AZT in 2023. I will be blogging my PCT thru hike this year as well! My posts will publish to The Trek first, but I plan to upload them to my blog. I will send out blog posts as they go live, hopefully about once a week.
I got the chance to test and review some new gear on my training hikes for the PCT. How cool is it that I prepared for the PCT by hiking on the AT? My article “My Secret Weapon Against Blisters on Trail? Hiking in Toe Socks” is live and is a review of Injinji toe socks. I’ve got to review REI’s new Traverse Modular Bear Canister and Half Dome 2 tent, both posts should be live soon. Keep an eye on my author page for The Trek if you want first access to those posts.
PCT Gear List
My long awaited gear list is finally live! I made similar lists for the AZT and AT. When I first got into backpacking, I relied on other backpacker’s gear lists in order to make informed purchasing decisions. Buying gear is a huge investment, and now that I have logged several thousand miles I am confident in what gear works well for me. If you have questions about what I use or want a recommendation, feel free to reach out via my contact form.
Read the article here: Magic’s 2025 PCT Gear List
Podcasts
Did you know I’ve been a guest on several hiking podcasts before? I love listening to podcasts and being a guest on some of my favorite shows has been a dream come true. If you want to learn more about me and my story, you can listen to any of these podcasts to get the inside scoop on all things Magic.
New Podcast Appearances Airing Soon
Prior to the PCT, I was interviewed on several other podcasts that will air once I’m on trail. Click the links to listen to my episodes when they are live! I’ll try to include them in a future blog post as well.
Hikes and Mics: airing early April
Might Blue on the Appalachian Trail: airing mid April
Hiker Trash Radio: airing late April. Doc and I plan to record several more episodes while I’m on the PCT, so I will be a returning guest throughout my hike.
Ways to Support Magic on the PCT
Words of Encouragement
Friends and family often ask how they can support me while hiking. The easiest way is to offer words of encouragement. Replying to my emails, messaging me on Instagram, or sending me a text with kind words helps me to stay motivated on the hard days.
Thru hiking isn’t always fun and it’s easy to get down when the weather is bad, my body hurts, I’m tired and hungry, and I still have many miles to cover. Knowing that I have a support system cheering me on helps me to stay upbeat and continue putting one foot in from of the other.
Buy Me a Coffee
If financial support is something on you want to provide, I have set up a Buy Me a Coffee website. If you just enjoy reading my blog, like my content on Instagram, or want to provide a little virtual trail magic this is the place to do it.
Affiliate Links
I have begrudgingly accepted that I am “an influencer” who “creates content” on Instagram. I cringe as I type this, but my I have recently had a variety of opportunities pop up as a result of my silly posts. I figure I should lean into this newfound title and see where it takes me. I am partnering with two brands (so far) to promote their products. I now have affiliate links with Injinji and Stay Wyld Organics. Purchases made through my affiliate link allows me to earn a small commission and can help to support me on trail.
I used Injinji sock liners on the AZT and they were a game changer when it came to blister prevention. As a result I have turned into a toe sock convert and can almost always be found wearing a pair on Injinij socks. I run, hike, and work in my toe socks. Toe socks help to prevent friction by limiting toe on toe friction, manage moisture, and utilize your whole foot. I will be wearing Injinji Women’s Liner + Hiker Crew combo while on the PCT.
Stay Wyld Organics reached out to me about partnering to promote their line of mushroom based supplements. Stay Wyld Organics use the power of mushrooms to create high quality products that boost immunity and energy. Their energy products use natural caffeine from green tea, and their immunity products have a blend of seven different mushrooms. I love the convince of their LST strips and will be carrying their energy strips and immunity strips on the PCT. You can use the code ANNAMCKINNEY10 to receive 10% off at check out from Stay Wyld Organics.
The next time I pop into your inbox will be from the PCT! Thank you so much for subscribing and for reading. Happy trails!
Magic in the Mountains 
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