Keith Foskett was born in West Sussex. He has dabbled in various professions including salesman, chef, dustman, financial adviser and decorator. Once described as an anomaly (it was apparently a compliment), he is partial to a decent bottle of Rioja, a plate of Paella and woolen underwear. He now divides his time between walking, running and the odd cycle ride. This is his second book. The Last Englishman A 2,650-mile hiking adventure on the Pacific Crest Trail Keith Foskett www.keithfoskett.com The Last Englishman By Keith Foskett Produced by Createspace.com www.keithfoskett.com ISBN: 978 1480169111 Copyright © 2014 Keith Foskett. All rights reserved. The right of Keith Foskett to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988 This book is sold subject to the conditions that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the author’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is produced and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Back cover portrait by Jeremy Rowley Cover photo by Josh ‘Pockets’ Myers www.trekkingphotography.com Praise for The Last Englishman “I’m not sure if Keith Foskett knows it but he has penned a hiking classic. I just wanted to pack up my bags and head off into the wilderness.” - Spencer Vignes (The Observer) “Fewer people have hiked the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail than have climbed Everest. In The Last Englishman, Keith Foskett tells of his seven-month hike from Mexico to Canada, crossing desert and mountain and meeting everything from eccentric hikers to rattlesnakes along the way. Easy to read and at times laugh-out-loud funny, it will make you want to pack your rucksack and go.” - Rosie Fuller (Adventure Travel magazine) “Off all the thru-hikers, Keith Foskett is the darnedess, do-or-die doggedest, and his book reflects not only his determination but also his appreciation of the Trail itself, the opportunity that put him on it and the hazards, human or otherwise, he met along the way. A fine read, entertaining, exciting and full of humour.” - Ingrid Cranfield (Author: At Last Michael Reeves) “Long-distance hiking is tragically romantic: it’s not all about fresh air, aesthetic majesty, and colorful company. Fozzie's account is refreshingly honest about the difficulties and day- to-day monotony. But it also captures the rewards of this oversized effort to hike the United States end to end.” - Andrew Skurka “The Last Englishman takes you on a grueling walking journey on the Pacific Crest Trail. The characters read so much like a well-crafted fiction novel, it’s hard to believe they are the living, breathing people that exist in this world. Laugh (and cry) your way through the trials of wilderness walking, the elation of new friendships and the revelations of a life well embraced. Take this experience with the author and be reminded of the importance and eventual hilarity of being truly alive, where the journey is all there is, and which leads you triumphantly back to yourself.” - Kimberlie Dame (Author: All Who Wander − Living outside of it all) “An entertaining account of a walk along one of the world’s most challenging and spectacular trails.” - Chris Townsend “The Pacific Crest Trail is one of the most beautiful and diverse long distance trails in the world. The Last Englishman allows you to experience this amazing trail through the eyes of a thru-hiker. If you cannot take the time to hike the trail, then you should definitely take the time to read about it.” - Jennifer Pharr Davis (Record holder for the fastest thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail) “Fozzie is a grand adventurer and also a grand story teller. From rattlesnakes, snowstorms to all the interesting people he meets along his journey, this book will have you staying up late turning pages to see what happens next.” - Teresa Dicentra Black (Author: One Pan Wonders) “It’s rare to find a book that captures the experience of long distance backpacking so well, and that is also fun to read. Fozzie’s account of his Pacific Crest Trail hike is educational, inspirational and hilarious. A must read for aspiring thru-hikers and outdoor adventure seekers.” - Erik Asorson (Author: The PCT Atlas) Other books by Keith Foskett The Journey in Between (ISBN: 978 - 1480176393) A 1000 mile walk along El Camino de Santiago in France and Spain. Coming in 2015 Balancing on Blue (ISBN: 978 - 1480176416) A 2,178 mile hike on The Appalachian Trail In memory of my Nan Chapter 1 Escaping Volcanoes There's no sense in dreaming small, moderation is for monks. Charlie ‘HoJo’ Mead Few things in life are certain. I can tell you that the Pope is Catholic, that NASA did fake the moon landings and that Tottenham Hotspur are the greatest football team ever to grace the playing field. What’s also certain is that I don’t like cold weather and I get grouchy when it gets too hot. I have an aversion to rain and if there is even the slightest chance of snowfall, I head south. Getting dirty makes me uncomfortable and I become grumpy if I don’t have enough to eat. Sleeping well in tents doesn’t come naturally and I get scared in the woods after dark. Hardly impressive credentials, then, to hike the 2,650 or so miles that make up America’s Pacific Crest Trail, otherwise known as the PCT. So why attempt it? It was a question that I was asked many times before, during and after my hike and at some point later on in this book, I promise I’ll tell you. Before I explain why, allow me to explain what. The PCT is arguably the greatest long-distance hiking trail on Earth. It’s not the longest, but the PCT is not about length, it’s about its diverseness. Starting under a searing Californian sun just south of a small cluster of houses known as Campo near the Mexican border, it winds its way north (and indeed east, west and frustratingly even south) through scorching desert, the magnificent Sierra Nevada Mountains, the volcanic landscapes of Oregon and Washington, the northern Cascade mountains and finishes at the border with Canada. The route was first explored in the 1930s by members of the YMCA. Once its feasibility became apparent, the federal government was lobbied by two men, Clinton Clarke and Warren Rogers. Because of the sheer amount of work involved, they had to settle for several trails that already existed but were disconnected. During the ensuing years, hikers and equestrians worked to link these routes together and fill in the gaps. Eventually, in 1968 it was designated a scenic trail by Congress and in 1993 it was dedicated. A thru-hike of the PCT means an attempt to hike its entirety in one attempt. Around 300 people take on this lunacy each year, 40% of whom drop out in the first month alone. As the months pass, the numbers that are still on the trail dwindles further, until you are left with the small number who finish the walk. I