Shoaler takes on the Pacific Crest Trail

Matthew Kelly on the Pacific Crest Trail

On any given workday earlier this year, you would have ordinarily found Matt Kelly representing Shoal on a defence or space client site. As a Systems Engineer, he’d be embedded into a client team, supporting capability definition or undertaking verification and validation activities.

But that hasn’t been the case for the past five months.

From the 17th of April 2024 and for the next 143 days, Matt walked 3,837km (4,900,000 steps) and a total elevation of 139,859m during 1,142 hours of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. The freedom and simplicity of life on the trail didn’t dampen his enthusiasm for numbers, with his first update back to our shoal being these key statistics!

Matt has returned to Shoal just a couple of weeks ago and we were all keen to share in his adventures.

Q. What inspired you to take on the Pacific Crest Trail challenge?

Matt. My sister completed the Pacific Crest Trail in 2023, and it got me thinking. I’ve never taken a gap year, like many of my generation, and I wanted to do something significant, something that pushed me to my limits. Running is a big passion of mine, and I’ve always loved being outside, so the idea of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail —such a long, tough trail—was really appealing. I wanted to see what I was capable of. Plus, I’ve never been to the US before, and this seemed like a perfect way to experience one of the most spectacular stretches of nature on earth.

Q. How did you prepare for the challenge?

Matt. The first thing to do was to put my name into the ballot to get a 2024 permit. I missed out on the first batch but, thankfully, was successful in the next round. I bought my flights, got my US visa and started training. As a recreational runner, I was confident that this would serve as a solid foundation for the Pacific Crest Trail.

To start a long term endurance challenge like this, I tried to gain some extra weight and started to do some weighted hikes around Canberra, then ‘gear shakedown’ hikes with my partner to Pryors Hut, in the Brindabellas, and wharf to wharf, Merimbula to Tathra. I used a great tool called ‘LighterPack’ to plan what to take

Q. How did your conversation with Shoal go?

I went to see my manager and shared what I wanted to do and the time I’d need to take off. He said, “That sounds awesome, let’s make it happen!” Honestly, I was blown away with the support I received from Shoal. I was on client work full time and knew it would be an inconvenience to the business, but I never felt anything but support.

Personally, it was very stressful, winding up my rental and planning things, but work wasn’t one of the stresses. Shoal’s Canberra Social Club even arranged a going away dinner. Shaun (our CEO) was really encouraging. He dismissed any notion of inconvenience to the business. “You’ve got to go out there and do things like this,” he said.

Q. Describe your first day.

Matt. Those first few days were such a weird mixture of excitement, making friends, tiredness and figuring things out. Day 1 was probably my hardest day on Trail. I hadn’t slept on the flight over and spent the night before at Scout and Frodo’s (who host hikers before they start the trail). I was tired, jetlagged, missing my partner and had been running on overdrive to get there. To make things worse, my first dinner was a cold soaked ramen bomb – cold water added to instant mash and two minute noodles. It was absolutely foul, and I couldn’t get it down. It snowballed me into thinking I was out of my depth.

As it turned out, day 1 was the hardest day of the whole journey, and the only time I waivered.

Matt Kelly at the beginning and end of the Pacific Crest Trail

Image: Matt at the beginning and end of the Pacific Crest Trail

Q. Share some of the challenges that you encountered.

Matt. Initially, I thought injury might be the thing to end my trip early, but the mosquitoes became a real contender! During a four-day stretch in the Sierras, just past Yosemite, they were relentless! So bad, they’d bite through my clothes! You couldn’t stop moving, as they’d would just swarm you. It was miserable, and the frustration would stay with you even after retreating to your tent at night. Thankfully, it only lasted for four days, but those days felt incredibly long.

Another significant challenge was the sheer exhaustion of the Sierras. Carrying heavier packs for the colder conditions, with extra gear like ice axes and layers, combined with high elevations and constant climbs, left me more tired than I’ve ever been in my life.

After hiking with my trail family for 99 days, I made the emotional decision to split from the group and continue solo, partly because of differences in risk tolerance regarding fire closures in Northern California and partly to experience the hike solo. It was a hard choice, but one I knew I needed to make.

Matthew Kelly on the Pacific Crest Trail

Image. Matt with his trail family at Forester Pass

Matt on the Pacific Crest Trail

Image. Matt at the top of Mt Whitney

Q. Share some of your highlights.

Matt. One of the biggest highlights of the Pacific Crest Trail was the simplicity of the lifestyle. I drew joy from very basic things like:

  • Being warm
  • Instant coffee
  • Eating two minute noodles
  • Getting into my tent
  • Sitting in the shade.
Matt on the Pacific Crest Trail

Image. Water Cache with soda in the Southern California Desert

Matt on the Pacific Crest Trail

Image. Matt at Cutthroat Ridge, Northern Cascades, Washington

Q. Tell us about your last day.

Matt. After 80 days of hiking together earlier in the journey, I had made plans to meet up with a friend, Brad from New Zealand, and finish the hike together. We had arranged to meet at a junction just four miles from the Canadian border, despite not having any reception to communicate. I arrived at the meeting point at 8am and, amazingly, Brad showed up just 20 minutes later! We couldn’t believe how perfectly it worked out. It was incredible to reconnect and share the final stretch of this monumental hike together.

Once we reached the border, it didn’t feel real at first. After months of living in my tent, it was hard to imagine going back to apartment life and regular meals. Instead of being overwhelmed with emotion, I felt a deep sense of pride and happiness for what I had accomplished.

After reaching the border, we hiked another eight miles into Manning Park, Canada, where we stayed at a lodge and celebrated the completion of our journey. The next day, we travelled to Vancouver, and that night, I was on a flight home, reflecting on the incredible adventure that had just come to an end.

Matt on the Pacific Crest Trail

Image. Matt at the Canada-US border with Brad

Q. Now that you are back and reflect on your journey…

Matt. My body is recovering – it was totally fine while I was hiking but now, I’m really feeling it. I’ve been sleeping and resting and enjoying some fried chicken!

Matt on the Pacific Crest Trail

Image. Sunset with Matt’s Pacific Crest Trail family

Q. How’s life back in the Shoal?

Matt. Life is good back in the Shoal! I was warmly welcomed back on the 30th of September and have been catching up on training. I have moved from Canberra to Melbourne, so it will be quite different and I’m looking forward to it – another challenge!