PCS grad hikes Pacific Coast for good cause

by shari friedel

the grant tribune-sentinel

Grant native Jaden Dietlein is a young man who is going places…specifically, north to south on the Pacific Coast, from Canada to Mexico…on foot.

Jaden is hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, 2,653 miles of rugged terrain and breathtaking scenery from the Canada/Washington state border to the California/Mexico border on the south end. He was inspired to take the challenge by a friend and mentor who had hiked the Appalachian Trail on the country’s east coast. 

His journey began June 15, and he expects to finish the hike toward the end of October or mid-November. He has already logged approximately 700 miles, completing about 25 miles a day, and has made it into Oregon, having finished the state of Washington.

Jaden graduated from Perkins County High School in 2019, and continued his education in Crete and Lincoln. He graduated with a degree in biochemistry this spring, and was employed through college and continued after graduation at a Lincoln clinical facility where he processes lab samples. The company has allowed him the time off to complete his hike.

Jaden has always been drawn to any physical challenge, especially long distance endurance. He participated in track and cross country in high school and college, and has stayed in touch with former high school cross country coach, Paula Wurst. “I am incredibly thankful that Jaden and I have remained in contact,” Wurst said. They both believe that his experience in the sport of cross country has been beneficial to him in a hike of this magnitude.  

There was a stretch of over a week at the beginning that Jaden’s mom, Kathleen, didn’t hear from him at all. Since, they have worked out a way to communicate even in areas without cell phone service, and he is able to get a daily message to her to let her know he is safe and everything is okay. The more frequent contact has been a relief to Kathleen, and she appreciates the phone calls and loves hearing about the adventures he’s having. 

Along the way, Jaden decided to make his walk even more meaningful and, as a cancer survivor, has made it a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, with the goal of raising $2,653, one for every mile he hikes. “I want this journey to bring about positive change not only in my own personal life but also have an impact on something that is bigger than myself,” he said.

Although he is hiking mostly solo, Jaden said that he meets several people on the trail every day. Most fellow hikers will exchange a short greeting, or a few minutes’ chat. He enjoys the camaraderie amongst hikers, and said that they form an almost instant, strong connection as they are in the same situation, striving toward the same goal. He has met a variety of people from all walks of life, including many international travelers. 

He has been impressed by the generosity of other hikers. One graciously gave him a knee brace when Jaden had been limping due to knee pain. Another shared some blister tape that he had packed. Hikers just look out for each other on the trail, Jaden said.

For meals, Jaden orders boxes of food to be shipped to towns he is approaching. He keeps non-perishable, high calorie items such as oatmeal, granola bars, peanut butter, and rice. He carries a small camp stove that he can boil water on, as well as a tent, sleeping bag and extra clothes, equaling approximately 17 pounds. He camps as well as stays at lodges and hostels along the way.

In prepping for the hike, Jaden had been running regularly, but feels he wasn’t as prepared as he should have been physically. Initially, he experienced a lot of pain and admits there were times he wasn’t sure he could finish the trail. His emotions ran the gamut from “absolutely loving it, to wanting to quit,” he said. 

It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the enormity of the entire endeavor, and it seems to work best for Jaden to focus on smaller challenges at hand, and not think beyond a day or two. “It’s very mental,” he said.

The further into the hike he gets, the more physically able he becomes, and the more relief he has from the pain. He is able to complete more miles in a day than at the beginning, and his confidence in his goal of completing the hike continues to grow. 

He has been bolstered by other hikers he has encountered, with three in particular becoming his “trail family.”

A fan base of family and friends on the home front also helps. He has been keeping a blog to inform everyone of his progress and experiences on the trail.

Hikers are also helped along the way by Trail Angels.

This experience will undoubtedly have a profound, lasting impact on Jaden’s life. Long stretches of being alone with his thoughts and the monotony of the walking has created an opportunity for a lot of thinking, and getting to know his own mind, he said. Through his trail journey, he has learned the importance of pushing through difficult circumstances. Hard times won’t last, he said, and you just need to keep going. 

He has already experienced some major life challenges: a cancer diagnosis when he was still a teenager; the unexpected deaths of his father and a cousin. 

Describing himself as an introvert, he feels the experience is helping him become a little more people-oriented, and able to find commonalities with the strangers he meets. “You just need to be curious—everyone has a story,” he said.  

Along the way, Jaden decided to make his walk even more meaningful and has turned it into a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, with the goal of raising 2,653 dollars, one for every mile he hikes. “I believe that I want this journey to bring about positive change not only in my own personal life but also have an impact on something that is bigger than myself,” he said. 

Anyone wishing to donate can go to www.gofundme.com/f/pct-thruhike-american-cancer-society-fundraiser.