Gillette hiker completes 2,650-mile trail after mouse infestation

Jordan Thorn, a native of Gillette, completed the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail on Sept. 30, ending a trek that began in April. The journey took five and a half months and marked his second of the three Triple Crown long-distance trails.

Thorn faced several challenges along the route, with small rodents proving to be the most persistent annoyance. He spent much of the trip in Oregon and Washington dealing with mice that damaged his gear. “The mice were so, so bad, it's wild,” Thorn said. He noted that the animals destroyed his tent netting and even ate a hole in his water bladder on the final day of the hike.

The trail was also affected by fire closures in northern California and Washington. The 2021 Dixie Fire created a 150-mile stretch of burn zones with minimal shade, forcing hikers to walk in high heat. At Seiad Valley, the last town in California, Thorn waited at a cafe until the temperature dropped from 107 degrees. In Washington, the Ptarmigan Fire closed a section of the trail, requiring hikers to use a narrow corridor or take alternative routes.

Thorn started his hike in Campo, California, on April 14, after arriving the previous evening. He had originally planned to attempt the trail in 2020 but delayed the trip due to the pandemic and later focused on the Appalachian Trail. He described the PCT as a “luxury cruise line” for most of the route, noting its gradual slope compared to steeper trails. However, he acknowledged the logistical difficulty of resupplying in remote areas, which led him to restock in Seattle after a mailed package arrived too late.

The hiker wore five pairs of shoes over the course of the trip, corresponding to different terrain sections. He also estimated killing at least 30 black flies daily during the desert segment. Despite these hardships, Thorn found the social aspect of the hike beneficial, noting that a larger group of hikers and support volunteers made the mental strain easier to manage. He encountered international hikers, many of whom were from Germany, and found the diverse group helpful during difficult stretches.

Thorn reached the northern terminus at Monument 78 on the U.S.-Canadian border. Because he had to jump ahead of a fire closure near Rainy Pass, he felt the final stretch was less satisfying than a continuous walk. “Finishing out at the terminus, it honestly felt more just like picture day,” he said. After traveling 30 miles back to the nearest town in Washington, he reunited with hikers he had not seen in a month, which provided a greater sense of accomplishment.

The Pacific Crest Trail runs from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington. Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 people attempt the full thru-hike each year, with an estimated 600 to 800 completing it. Thorn’s completion adds to the small percentage of hikers who finish the entire distance without breaking the trail.