Meanwhile it is the beginning of August and the summer is in full swing - Corona unfortunately still is. Following a short update.
Originally Olli would have flown to the USA on August 3rd to walk the remaining 700 km from Quincy to Ashland (Northern California) - to complete his personal PCT. This is unfortunately not possible due to the current situation. He will try again next year. Instead, Olli will fly to Iceland in mid-August (no risk area) to cross the island from south to north - through Europe's largest national park (Vatnajökull = the largest European glacier in terms of ice volume, its ice cap is up to 1000 m thick) and the largest desert area in Europe. Quite a contrast to the landscape of Northern California!
Sprengisandur near Nýidalur in the Icelandic highlands (photo by VJóna Þórunn)
But back to the PCT: The planning for the PCT post-shoot had to be postponed due to corona. The same applies to crowndfunding for financing the shooting. We will make a new start for the crowndfunding in autumn, with shooting now scheduled for spring 2021. Let's hope that Corona will allow this! Apart from that we are busy sifting through our film material and working on a first "sighting cut". We have passed through Southern California, in Oregon we are approaching Craterlake. That's almost 3.5 hours of film - for a quarter of the distance! The shortening at the end will be a challenge (maybe even a two-parter will be created). But how nice to see the footage a year later, it was a damn great time! The freedom on the trail 2019 versus Corona shutdown this year.
At this point a small advertising break: Most of you (PCT hikers) know Scout and Frodo. Scout and Frodo from San Diego have been recording Pacific Crest Trail Hikers for 15 years before they set off in Campo. American hikers for one night, international hikers for up to 3 nights. Scout and Frodo have canceled the whole 2020 season because of Corona, with a heavy heart: 1200 hikers had already registered! Small consolation: We received an email with the news that Scout made his dream come true and published a book about his PCT-Hike 2007 (together with Frodo and 2 other, younger, couples). The book "Journey North" can be ordered at amazon.com.
Get it!
We wish you all a great summer!