Transformation Through Adversity and Generosity
By John Crawford
John Crawford
As a high school senior in 1972, I read The High Adventure of Eric Ryback. I decided I was going to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. In 2008, more than 35 years later, I started out from the Campo area and for the next 10 years—during a few weeks every summer—I worked my way northward.
Midpoint on the PCT
I love the PCT for its variety, how well it marked it is, the incredible vistas and the solitude. It was such a pleasure to be out hiking. I couldn’t say it was even a challenge, that is until the last four years, when with 450 miles to go, I developed Parkinson’s disease. Then it became a real challenge and taught me what I could do despite Parkinson’s. At the age of 65 in 2019, I completed the trail.
John with friends on the trail
When I look back on my life, I’m so happy to have experienced so much of the outdoors. This culminated in my hike on the PCT. Last year, I hiked 60 miles in the Dolomites, and next spring, I will be on the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail in Japan.
Out of gratitude for what the PCT did for me, I have designated part of my estate to the trail through the Pacific Crest Trail Association. It is my hope that others can experience something of what I have on the PCT, for generations to come.
Enjoying all the trail offers
Like John, you can make a gift in your estate plan to ensure the Pacific Crest Trail is protected and maintained for future generations. Contact Angie Williamson at 916-285-1849 or awilliamson@pcta.org to explore your options.
John Crawford is a former board member and former chair of PCTA’s board of directors between April 2012 to March 2019. He is a retired consultant and finance and technology executive from San Diego, California.
Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.