PCT: 1770 km on Foot from the Mojave Desert to the Bridge of the Gods

"…and suddenly the wilderness was no longer foreign to me, it became my home. I loved that feeling of strength — that a girl from a small spa town could walk alone through American wilderness for long days without meeting anyone except bears hungry for my food and rattlesnakes thirsty for my blood…"

Martina Kužmiaková from Karlovy Vary set out in spring 2025 completely spontaneously — armed only with Cheryl Strayed's book Wild — on the Pacific Crest Trail, one of the world's most challenging long-distance hiking routes. She crossed the vast Mojave Desert, conquered the Sierra Nevada mountain range including Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the USA (4,421 m), and finally reached the Bridge of the Gods — a total of 1,770 km.

At the lecture, she will describe the journey and its darker sides: days when she wanted to stay in the mountains forever, and days when she was closest to buying a one-way ticket home. Beyond the story itself, you'll learn practical information — how to obtain a permit, apply for a visa, and what gear to bring. There will also be stories about encounters with bears, airport mix-ups, and what it's like when you run out of water in the middle of the desert.

Children and dogs are welcome.