Courtesy of Barbara Waight
Ian Waight had his banjo, but little else, to keep himself company during a grueling summer 1998 trek from Mt. Shasta to Mt. Whitney.
Special to the Town Crier
Resident Profile
As a student at University of California at San Diego, Los Altos resident Ian Waight pinned a huge map of California on his wall and eyed it as he studied. The 24-year-old promised himself that after finishing his biology major, he'd walk the Pacific Crest Trail from Mt. Shasta to Mt. Whitney.
So, following his graduation ceremony last June, Waight decided to tackle the trek alone, inviting friends to join him for portions of the hike.
Waight, a former Springer, Blach Intermediate, and Mountain View High school student, headed off to Shasta one week after his graduation ceremony last June 15. He and his younger brother, Andrew, attacked the Shasta summit with crampons and ice axes before Andrew left him at the trailhead. Ian then wandered off into the wilderness, alone with a 75-pound backpack and his banjo for company. His trip would take approximately 90 days.
"It was pretty lonely," he said. "I was thinking, 'Jeez, I've got to do this for another 30 days until my first friend comes to meet me?' There was a lot of apprehension. 'Can I do this? Can I commit to this?'"
A week later, Ian reached his first supply station and phoned home. "My parents wanted me to carry a cell phone, but I thought that defeated the whole purpose," he said.
Ian didn't bring a watch either, preferring to take in the days and nights without staying on a strict schedule. Where other hikers on the trail were averaging 40-50 miles a day, Ian averaged around 10. He took time to climb the occasional mountain and take in nature. "Toward the end, it was more of a religious thing for me," he said.
Ian was lost for a few days as snow blocked the trail. The snow was piled high as a result of El Niño, forcing Ian to "draw on his skills as an Eagle Scout to navigate, avoid bears, and survive in general," said Ian's mother, Barbara.
At one point, he encountered a group of Boy Scouts on a 50-mile hike. Upon learning of Ian's 900-mile trek and past affiliation with Los Altos-based Troop 33, Scouts honored the former Eagle Scout at their campfire.
During his trip, he wrote in a journal, drew pictures, composed poetry and took hundreds of photos. He also played his banjo to thank others who shared meals with him along the trek to Mt. Whitney. Six friends joined Waight for short periods of time.
While on the John Muir stretch of the trail, Waight and his school friend, Mike James, began discussing Chuck Purdy, their beloved physical education teacher during their Blach days. Both decided that Purdy, who passed away a few years ago, would have approved of their venture. After seeking out an unnamed peak on the map, they scaled it and named it Purdy's Peak in his honor.
Waight said the last 10 days of the trip were wet ones as it rained heavily in the Sierra. The grizzled hiker was drenched as he arrived at his destination. Waight was "very thin and very hairy," his mother said.
Although he had prepared for the trip logistically, allowing for adequate food and places to sleep, there were some benefits of the trip he hadn't counted on.
"One was the physical aspect - I was ready to run a marathon when I was done," he said.
He spent the next week compiling an album of his mountain odyssey. Not only did he learn much about nature and ecology, but Waight walked away having learned much about himself.
He plans to do a few shorter cross-country backpacking trips this summer, including another hike in the Sierra.
Bruce Barton contributed to this story.