UC 424: From Mexico to Canada: Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail with Daniel McKinnon

Listen to this episode from Up For A Chat on Spotify. In this adventure-filled episode, Cyndi and Kim sit down with Daniel, a 36-year-old travel enthusiast and content creator, to unpack his extraordinary 4.5-month hike of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), a 4,260km journey from Mexico to Canada. Daniel shares the highs and lows of the trail, the physical and mental resilience it required, and the personal epiphanies it inspired. They explore the deeper motivations behind long-distance hiking, Daniel’s passion for storytelling and content creation, and the emotional impact of solitude and nature. The trio also discusses trail safety, hiking gear, wildlife encounters, and how to stay present while facing discomfort and uncertainty. From practical advice to philosophical reflections, this conversation is a reminder of the power of action, adventure, and personal growth. Key Topics Covered Daniel’s start at the Mexican border and 4.5-month journey to Canada Mental and emotional challenges on the Pacific Crest Trail The importance of solitude, presence, and self-reflection in nature Trail angels, wildlife encounters, and night hiking How Daniel met his hiking partner Cam and their shared love of AFL Advice on safety, gear, and resupply logistics The idea of turning his story into a book Struggles with creativity and using AI to support storytelling Hiking plans for the Great Ocean Walk and the Great Southwest Walk Reflections on fear, faith, mortality, and purpose Resources & Mentions Trail App: Far Out Book Reference: Wild by Cheryl Strayed Daniel’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielmck17/ Brand Partnership: Altra Running Quotable Moments “We often wait for the perfect moment. The trail taught me to just begin.” “Discomfort doesn’t mean something’s wrong—it means something’s happening.” “Fear of death drives me to fully live.” Cyndi O’Meara Links Website – https://thenutrition.academy/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/cyndiomeara/ https://www.instagram.com/thenutrition_academy/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/cyndi.lovetto https://www.facebook.com/thechnutritionacademy Kim Morrison Links Website – https://www.kimmorrison.com/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/kimmorrison28/ https://www.instagram.com/twenty.8.essential/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/KimMorrisonTraining https://www.facebook.com/twenty8essentials